I know what you are going to do this summer

Are you a master of procastination and planning to spend the summer on your couch? Well, we have bad news for you: Good things are happening outside of the four walls as well.

Having an Internet connection is a blast. Information is flowing in the online space, without any limitations. Everything is accessible, there is basically nothing in the world that you cannot look up in Google.

But instead of spending your days with watching cute animal videos on YouTube, we have a few tips for you, in case you would like to

• Travel
• Make friends
• Practice your language skills
• And have fun!

Tip #1: Volunteering

Volunteering is the most unique personal experience you can ever have. If you’re bound to your home, pick a local organisation or institution to help to, e.g. the local refugee center. If
you would like to see bits and pieces of the world, check out the European Voluntary Service, which is open to young people between 17-30 years, for the time period of max. 12 months.

Tip #2: Youth Exchanges

By contacting youth centres or organisations, you might not only get involved in local, regional or national activities, but also, in European ones, such as international youth exchanges
financed by the Erasmus+ Youth Programme. You might also find such opportunities online, e.g. via Facebook groups like „Youth in Action” or „Youth projects”.

Tip #3: Workcamps

Working during the summer? No, thanks! „Workcamps” are not like you might imagine them. These camps are volunteering opportunities as well, organized e.g. by the SCI network worldwide. Helping to set up a music festival in Belgium? Taking care of children during their
English camp? Cultural, youth, environmental and social projects – take a look in their database!

Tip #3+1: Woofing

Woof? Well, sometimes dogs are also involved in the projects, but primarily, WOOF stands for „Worldwide Opportunities for Organic Farming”. If you are not afraid of getting your hands dirty with Mother Earth and enjoy being close to nature, here you have a great chance to spend your summer with. Contact farmers all over world and enjoy the countryside experience.

Follow Youth4Media to be up-to-date in international opportunities.

And most importantly: Have a nice summer!

Ágnes Horváth

(Photo by Joshua Earle)