The European Solidarity Corps: “a free dream fulfillment!”

At Leipzig’s Sociocultural Center “Die Villa,” volunteers from across Europe spend up to a year contributing to local community initiatives. A former participant shares her experiences.

Staying in a foreign country, meeting new people, and gaining hands-on experience in fields you’re passionate about – all for free! That’s the promise of the European Solidarity Corps exchange program, a unique opportunity open to young people across Europe. The program encourages civic engagement and solidarity, while giving participants room to grow both personally and professionally. Volunteers live and work abroad, discover new cultures, and develop practical skills, often in areas they might never have explored at home. For many, it’s not just an exchange, but a steppingstone to new opportunities and lasting connections. 

Each year, up to 25 young people from Leipzig have a chance to volunteer abroad, while international volunteers come to the city for up to a year. The sociocultural center, Die Villa, manages the program locally, coordinating both hosting and sending of the volunteers. ESC coordinators Meliha and Johanna explain how the process works. Die Villa recruits Candidates through fairs, talks, and monthly info-events at their venue. With up to 3,000 applicants annually, selection is competitive. Applicants who make it to the final stage participate in a video call with the coordinators discuss their goals and motivations for the program. „Selecting only 25 people is always a challenge”, Johanna says.  

Throughout the application process and during their time in Leipzig, the coordinators provide guidance and support, always keeping an open ear for any questions or concerns. When volunteers arrive, the coordinators pick them up at the train station and help them settle into shared flats located close to their volunteering place. Participants have a wide range of placements to choose from. They might volunteer in schools, kindergartens, youth centers, assisted living facilities, or projects hosted by Die Villa, such as “die Medienwerkstatt”. Every volunteer is encouraged to pursue an independent personal project, allowing them to explore a passion and learning how to develop their skills.  

Meliha took part in the project a few years ago. Interested in music and culture, she started performing in a band with other volunteers. Her days were filled with assembling and dismantling stages, tuning instruments, organizing events, managing social media and experimenting with photography. “During my first week as a volunteer, I gave my first ever performance in front of people”, she recalls. “But thanks to the Villa’s supportive community, I only felt nervous at the beginning.” 

For Meliha, the ESC program did more than just offer cultural immersion – it became a career path. From volunteering to working a Mini job, and eventually becoming a coordinator, she now helps welcome and guide the new participants. „If you truly engage with your project, the city, and the people around you, you never know what opportunities will open for you”, she explains. Looking back, she describes the experience as “a free dream fulfillment”, one she recommends to any young person seeking meaningful international experience.

Cover: Meliha Kuyulu Rost

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