The European University Sports Association (EUSA) and the EUSA Institute are pleased to announce the new volunteering opportunities for 2026.

Both long-term and short-term placements are available. Long-term volunteers will join the EUSA Office for a period of one year, while short-term volunteers can participate for 7–10 days during the European Universities Games, which will take place in Salerno, Italy. Additional short-term opportunities will also be available at two European Universities Championships scheduled for 2026.

The next application deadline for volunteering projects within the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), the successor to the European Voluntary Service (EVS), is February 15, 2025. The long-term volunteering period at EUSA will run from September 1, 2026, to August 31, 2027.

Volunteering has a strong tradition within the European Union, offering young people meaningful opportunities to contribute to society through active engagement. This initiative seeks to promote solidarity, intercultural understanding, and tolerance, strengthening social cohesion and encouraging active citizenship among youth.

Through the European Solidarity Corps, young people work together to create a more inclusive society, support vulnerable groups, and respond to social challenges. The program is open to motivated young people aged 18–30, especially university students and graduates with an interest in sport or university sport, some previous volunteering experience, and the ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

EUSA is looking for adaptable and open-minded candidates. Volunteers will be selected, with attention given to gender balance and geographic diversity. In addition to contributing to host organizations and local communities, volunteers will gain valuable skills that support their personal, academic, and professional development.

Volunteers will take part in structured training during their service and will agree in advance on learning objectives, methods, and expected outcomes. Participants will receive accommodation, meals, insurance, and a modest monthly allowance throughout the project.

Successful implementation of the ESC project depends on close collaboration between three parties: the sending organization in the volunteer’s home country, the host organization (EUSA), and the volunteers themselves.

Participation in the ESC should not be viewed as a holiday; it is a learning-focused internship designed to support personal development and improve future employability. For full details and application instructions, please visit: www.eusa.eu/projects/european-solidarity-corps.

In addition to long-term ESC placements, EUSA also offers short-term volunteer roles during the 2026 European Universities Games. Together with its Student Commission (EUSA STC) and local Organizing Committees, EUSA invites students to take part in organizing and delivering major university sports events. Applications for this opportunity are now open, with a deadline of March 15, 2026. 

The primary aim of this volunteer program is to offer students interested in sport and event management a unique and rewarding experience, allowing them to explore the values of sport while gaining practical, hands-on experience through volunteering.

More details about the application process and other information related to short-term volunteering opportunities at the European Universities Games in Salerno, Italy, can be found here.

For more information on the EUSA Volunteering programme, please see https://www.eusa.eu/projects/eusa-volunteer-programme