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Our Articles
In this section you will find all our articles related to Erasmus+ projects, volunteering, tips and all other stuff that can be useful to be an active citizen who make the most out of the opportunities that we have, so have a good read!
Support your network in ESC.
Our highlight from the month of may is the Partner Building Activity we hosted in the Youth Centre of Maracena. On the 14th we welcomed all of our partners and officially started the training course. For a week we had the opportunity to network, learn from each other and share best practices related to European Solidarity Corps (ECS) projects. This training was meant to strengthen connections, build new ideas and collaborations, and improve our skills. In the end it was a highly positive and useful training. It is difficult to put into words an experience that brings together a group of people and ends up transforming them in the best ways. On the surface this was another training course, existing because of the professionals, youth workers,and mentors who wanted to grow and improve their ESC expertise. Beneath this short description there is a world of ideas, experiences, and lessons shared. The training started with discussing our expectations and a team building treasure hunt. We discussed the priorities of ESC and got to know each others' organizations, activities and values. The second day we focused on some ESC foundations and useful information. We did a lot of gamified activities and built healthy competition. For example we facilitated a Who wants to be a volunteer? quiz. The participants also started working on new volunteering project ideas and developed them throughout the week to a more detailed proposal. Another highlight of the project was an interview role play that allowed participants to share best practices when interviewing volunteers. This activity was very entertaining and useful to learn from each other. Participants also had the opportunity to share past experiences and improve their interviewing approaches. It highlighted the power of non-formal education because it was both engaging and great for learning.The following workshop Bridging Cultures handled the topics of inclusion and multicultural respect and allowed for a deeper conversation on how we can be more self-aware as individuals and organisations. The participants had multiple opportunities to experience Spanish and Andalusian culture. We visited the city of Granada and its picturesque neighbourhoods. In the evening we attended a Flamenco performance and visited the renowned ceramics factory Fajalauza. A multigenerational workshop allowed locals from Maracena and the training participants to get to know each other. We cooked traditional tortilla de patatas and painted tie dye shirts. This workshop strengthened connections and inspired participants for future civic engagement activities. As it came to a close, this project allowed us to reflect on our gained and improved competences, evaluate what we learned and make plans for future volunteering projects.
1st of June 2026
ESC Volunteering - Infoday
On February 6th, we organized a fun and informative event on the topic of European Solidarity Corps volunteering. The event informed our young people about the many opportunities they have for volunteering. To start the activities, we quickly summarised what the ESC is and what a volunteering project could be. For example, as a young person between 18 and 30 years old, you can do any project for up to 12 months. Doing ESC volunteering can be very enriching. It exposes you to new languages and cultures and allows you to gain practical and socially relevant experience. You do not have to worry about many practicalities because most projects provide and arrange accommodation, as well as cover the costs for flights, monthly expenses, and health insurance. This is also a big opportunity to contribute to social causes and learn more about yourself and what you want from your future. The event continued with vision boards. Each participant presented their dream volunteering project in a vision board format. Everyone was chatting and exchanging ideas. We also had a special guest, Maria, who is a previous ESC volunteer. She has done her ESC in Ireland and shared many interesting experiences and advice with us. We explored the ESC platform that allows you to search for projects you are excited about. What is always most important is that you can contribute through your experience, skills, interests, and energy. New projects are uploaded to the platform every single day, and there is something for everybody. The event closed with a Q&A and a lot of conversations about the importance of volunteering. Do not hesitate to explore this option if you are uncertain about your next step, and contact us; we can support you during this exciting process.
23rd of February 2026
Guide on
Youth Calls
We know that there are many opportunities in Europe to study abroad, do volunteer work or internships, and that these can sometimes seem scattered. Thanks to the work of the Andalusian Youth Council, we now have a practical and accessible handbook for young people in Andalusia with all kinds of experiences abroad and practical advice on how to apply for them. Check out the link below and, if you need help, don't hesitate to contact us or come and visit us at the Espacio Joven in Maracena. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dP3gCggPR1ejeVEIrhYzMHaIVFeohkHP/view
4th of February 2026
Get The Net is coming to and end - our results
We are happy and proud to share that the project Get The Net is coming to an end after a whole year working on that with our partners from all over Europe. Our aim was to strengthen young people's participation in democratic processes and their involvement in the affairs of their local community that can and do affect aspects of their lives. To get this we worked in a strong connection with our local young people, promoting mental health awareness in the High Schools, creating short podcasts and also participating in local activities about Environmental Justice, traditional games with children and also moderating seminars about New Technology and Cyber Awareness. All these works together made a powerful impact both on us working for this through the whole year and both for the people involved in the activities. But this is not the end, in 2026 we will continue with the second edition of Get The net so more projects and activities are coming!
28th November 2025
Green Horizons - the training course in Maracena
From the 7th to the 13th February, Maracena Erasmus hosted the Training Course “Climate Change & EU Agenda Learning Activity” in Maracena, Granada, with more than 20 people from all over the world, from China to Burundi, from Italy to Germany, everyone was deeply committed to the topic. We started the training with icebreaking and presentation of the different associations and all the participants, then on the following days we worked on the main topics of the meeting: ecoactivism and youth participation through workshops and activities also with guests from Andalucia. It was the perfect occasion to see how a local municipality works thanks to the Ayuntamiento de Maracena, we had the possibility to find out great initiative like ReforestApp thank to Cristina Martínez Carríon and also we had the opportunity to have Marta Moreno Muñoz on the last day of the training who shared with us her ideas about environment and activism and also we saw together the experience she had, walking from Granada to Helsinki. Thanks to our partners Youth Eurasia from Turkyie, Eurobox from Italy, Via Kreaktion from Germany and Solidaritet for Ungdomens Framtid from Sweden and to all the participants with their enthusiasm, it was a pleasure to have you here!
20th of February 2026
How to start an ESC Project
What is the European Solidarity Corps? The European Solidarity Corps is an initiative funded by the European Union that brings thousands of volunteering opportunities to young people and allows organisations to host them. In this way volunteers contribute to socially meaningful projects. Organisations coordinate and develop such projects for the good of the communities. What are the requirements? Application happens through the European Youth Portal where under Volunteering you can find individual details about volunteering projects and their requirements. General requirements for participation include: you have to be at least 18 and at most 30 years old when the project activities start (for Humanitarian volunteering the age limit is 35 years old) you are a resident of one of the covered countries (EU countries, Countries Associated and Countries not Associated to the programme) you can only apply to activities open to people from your country of residence You have a choice whether to do Volunteering in a group or individually, a Solidarity project for which you always need a group or do Humanitarian Aid Volunteering. How can a person do an ESC project? You can apply by first registering on the European Solidarity Corps portal. From your personal dashboard you can start selecting the opportunity you want to apply to and following the application steps they specify. Usually you have to send your CV and motivation letter through the platform. It is always best to choose projects that reflect your personal skills, experience and aspirations. Why do an ESC project? participate in socially impactful projects intercultural exchange language learning grow personal skills and self-knowledge youth competences make new friends and connections Benefits ESC projects cover your accommodation, travel, and living expenses each month. They also provide health insurance. During the volunteering you are assigned a mentor who helps you navigate local culture and life, and helps you with any questions or uncertainties you face.
19th of December 2025
Our school collaborations
As great actors and believers in the power of youth and community, we at Espacio Joven de Maracena are happy to share that we have expanded our collaboration with local schools focused on languages. We aim to equip youth with the skills and experiences they need to shape a better future. One of the key skills is English speaking and conversation. Last year, we initiated our collaboration with one school in Maracena by having one of our ESC volunteers in multiple classes practicing English with the students. This year, we are happy to share that our collaboration has expanded to three local schools. Three of our five volunteers are facilitating English conversation activities every week. This collaboration offers great opportunities for all. In addition to English practice and interesting activities, we are also able to share other Erasmus+ activities and opportunities with the students. This November, two of our volunteers held an informative seminar on the topic of Mental Health and Wellbeing at one of the schools. We are very grateful to the school coordinators and teaching staff for this partnership, and most of all, we are happy to contribute to the language skill development of young people from Maracena.
21st November 2025