The French Agency (INJEP) is responsible on behalf of the European Commission, the implementation in France of the European Programme Youth in Action (PEJA) (2007-2013). For each European countries, it exists a National Agency in charge of Youth in Action. You can find more information on the European Commission website dedicated to youth.

Youth in Action is the EU Programme for young people aged 15-28 (in some cases 13-30). It aims to inspire a sense of active citizenship, solidarity and tolerance among young Europeans and to involve them in shaping the Union's future.

Youth in Action is a programme for all! It promotes mobility within and beyond the EU borders, non-formal learning and intercultural dialogue, and encourages the inclusion of all young people, regardless of their educational, social and cultural background.

Youth in Action is the successor of the YOUTH Programme (2000-2006). Building on the experience of the previous programmes for youth, Youth in Action is the result of a large consultation with the different stakeholders in the youth field and aims to respond to the evolutions and needs of young people at European level.

With a total budget of 885 million euros for seven years (2007-2013), the Programme supports a large variety of activities for young people and youth workers through five Actions.

Among the main actions, the European Voluntary Service and youth exchanges.


The European Voluntary Service

Within the European "Youth In Action" Programme, EVS offers young people an opportunity of taking part in a non-profit making, unpaid activity for the benefit of the genral public in a country other than their country of residence.

Through EVS, young people contribute to social cohesion and solidarity and considerably enhance their personal, professional and intercultural skills and competences.

Essential elements of EVS are preparation and follow-up activities in the country of residence as well as ongoing pedagogical, personal, and task-related support like traning activities in the host country.

EVS is carried out in partnership between a young volunteer, an organization in the country of residence and an organization in the host country. It last up to 12 months.

Offering the added value of a European dimension, European Voluntary Service is quality-checked regarding content criteria and implementation.