The VOLT study visit focused on ESC volunteering Team projects
16-20.3.2026 Youth Centre Villa Elba became a meeting place for reflection, learning and shared experience as VOLT – Volunteering Team Activities Unlocked, an international study visit, brought together youth work professionals working with European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteering teams.
A total of 17 participants from eight countries (Bulgaria, Sweden, Italy, Turkey, Germany, France, Slovakia and Finland) took part in the visit. The activity was co‑funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme.
Throughout the week, participants explored a central question: How can volunteering team projects be organised in a way that truly supports young people’s wellbeing, learning and sense of belonging?
The beginning shapes everything
Across workshops and discussions, one message became clear: the first days and weeks of a volunteering project have a long‑lasting impact. How volunteers are welcomed, prepared and supported at the very beginning strongly influences motivation, group dynamics and learning throughout the project.
Participants looked at volunteering team projects as a full process, from preparation and arrival to daily support and reflection. A shared understanding emerged that clear but flexible structures create safety, inclusion and space for learning.
When processes are visible and understandable to both staff and volunteers, trust grows. And trust is the foundation of meaningful volunteering experiences. Also when interviewing and selecting the volunteers realistic and informative communication both ways is needed.
“I learned to receive our volunteers to feel welcome and comfortable”
Volunteering teams rooted in real community needs
The discussions also returned repeatedly to the purpose of ESC volunteering teams. It was emphasized that projects should respond to clearly identified local community needs, while also supporting young people’s learning, empowerment and active citizenship.
When community needs and youth goals are aligned, volunteering teams become solidarity‑based partnerships. In these projects, volunteers do not simply “help”, but become part of a shared process that benefits both the community and the young people involved.
Clear roles create safer teams
Another major theme of the study visit was the importance of staff roles in the hosting organisation. Volunteering team projects rely on different kinds of support, and clarity around “who does what” was identified as essential.
Participants highlighted four key roles:
- Project Coordinator, responsible for the overall project
- Work Leader, guiding daily tasks and activities
- Mentor, supporting wellbeing, reflection and personal learning
- Buddy/Support person, offering support, especially during the first phase
In smaller organisations, roles may be combined, but unclear responsibilities were recognised as a clear risk. Particularly for volunteers’ emotional safety and sense of security. Knowing who to turn to makes a real difference.
Mentoring must be visible, not hidden
Mentoring was a central focus of the study visit. Participants agreed that effective mentoring should be present, accessible and human. Not something that exists only on paper.
Good mentoring includes regular check‑ins, one‑to‑one conversations, safe spaces for reflection and easy access to support. It was noted that support should be felt, not searched for.
When mentoring is proactive, volunteers are more likely to reflect on their learning, address challenges early and feel genuinely supported. How to introduce Youthpass and support the volunteers learning process was also one key element of the study visit.
Learning that continues beyond the visit
VOLT offered participants time to slow down, reflect and learn from one another. It strengthened international networks and created a shared language around quality, mentoring and solidarity in volunteering team projects.
Challenges were recognised as a natural part of the process. What matters most, participants agreed, is how those challenges are handled: with listening, flexibility, empathy and trust.
The week at Villa Elba made one thing clear: successful volunteering team projects do not happen by chance. They are built through conscious choices, everyday practices and a genuine commitment to supporting young people, throughout the project but especially at the very beginning.
Some materials used during the week:
