European Voluntary Service

Since 2006 PHZ has been hosting volunteers from all over Europe within a EU programme called European Voluntary Service. For over 20 years, volunteers not only from Slovakia have been coming to Sekier to try out a life closer to nature, however prior to the involvement in the EU programme it had been difficult to provide a financial base to cover their living costs and to develop the Sekier farm.

Thanks to the support of the European Union young people from abroad now have all living costs covered for a period of 6-12 months, and PHZ can moreover provide additional educational activities.

The volunteers are involved in the management and maintenance of the Sekier farm house and its surrounding properties, as well as various other local projects, for example in the local forest kindergarden. Indirectly the financial support benefits also volunteers who come to Sekier without serving an EVS, as well as guests participating in the monthly craft workshops.

Being also an EVS sending organization, PHZ has had the opportunity to seize offers for volunteering opportunities from its partner organizations within the Global Ecovillage Network and thus has sent Slovak volunteers for an EVS to Sweden, Finland, Portugal, Spain and France.

The European Voluntary Service is an excellent opportunity for young people to discover another culture, learn a language and many skills. This programme’s support  however is limited, it gets granted through a longer process of project preparations and contracts of all involved parties. If you are interested in serving an EVS, you are up to 30 years old and European resident, feel welcome to contact PHZ or visit www.erasmusplus.sk