Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) Projects: Funding, Writing and Implementation

Description

Schools often focus on Erasmus+ mobility projects, yet the programme also offers opportunities that go beyond student exchanges.

This course introduces participants to Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) projects, powerful tools to promote civic engagement, creativity, and active citizenship among students.

Through practical, engaging, and interactive sessions with peer feedback exercises, participants will learn how to conceive, write, and manage Erasmus+ Youth Participation projects, ESC volunteering projects, and solidarity projects that connect learning with community impact.

In fact, understanding, accessing, and managing these types of projects requires a series of skills and knowledge that schools are often unfamiliar with.

This course will provide step-by-step guidance on project design, funding schemes, success criteria used by evaluators when assessing proposals, and practical strategies to support students in leading their own initiatives.

Participants will be introduced to responsible and strategic use of artificial intelligence tools, which can help write projects, but should never completely delegate the writing of a project, something that is currently penalized by evaluators.

Also, they will discover alternative funding opportunities to the classic Erasmus+ exchanges, since these types of projects do not require a European partner and can be applied to your local area.

Special attention will be given to the importance of selecting and motivating young people for a project, along with the most common mistakes to avoid.

By the end of the course, participants will return to their schools with a draft proposal for a youth-led solidarity or participation project; a practical template to guide them in project planning and application; and a clear understanding of how to guide and motivate students in non-formal education projects that align with Erasmus+ and ESC priorities.

Concept by Enrique Gallardo

Learning outcomes

The course will help participants to:

• Understand the key Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps (ESC) funding opportunities for non-formal and youth-led education projects;
• Identify relevant calls, eligibility requirements, and application procedures for youth participation, solidarity, and exchange projects;
• Design and draft clear, goal-oriented project proposals: from analysing needs and defining objectives to planning activities, outcomes, and impact;
• Guide and support students in taking an active role as project applicants and coordinators, fostering ownership and participation;
• Plan and manage essential project components such as task distribution, timelines, budgeting (eligible and non-eligible costs), and evaluation strategies for sustainability and quality;
• Apply responsible digital practices, including the ethical and strategic use of AI tools to support project writing, structure, and clarity without compromising authenticity;
• Collaborate and exchange with peers to develop practical project templates, strengthen school participation in EU programmes, and expand local or regional youth engagement initiatives.

Tentative schedule

Day 1 – Course introduction and Erasmus+ youth programme

• Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities;
• Icebreaker activities;
• Presentations of the participants’ schools;
• The structure and aim of the Erasmus+ Programme;
• Comparing Erasmus+ KA1 Youth and ESC programmes;
• Key priorities, objectives, and terminology of youth-oriented projects;
• Navigating Erasmus+ platforms: registration of education centres and youth groups;
• Workshop: mapping how your education centre or your youth group could benefit from youth participation projects (and how to register it).

Day 2 – Prepare your youth project idea

• Understanding project logic: from problem to goal;
• Identifying needs, beneficiaries, and potential partners;
• SWOT analysis of project ideas;
• Choosing the right call and understanding eligibility criteria;
• Writing clear objectives and defining expected outcomes;
• Workshop: drafting a short project summary and work plan.

Day 3 – Plan and manage your youth project

• What happens after approval: steps for implementation and coordination of the European Youth project;
• Risk analysis and mitigation strategies;
• Managing youth groups: roles, motivation, and shared responsibilities;
• Monitoring and evaluation tools for ongoing supervision;
• Workshop: role play of project management scenarios.

Day 4 – Impact, dissemination, and communication of your project

• Defining impact and measuring project success;
• What and how evaluators evaluate in assessing a project proposal (quality, relevance, innovation, and sustainability);
• Designing effective dissemination and communication strategies;
• Workshop: writing an impact and visibility section for your proposal.

Day 5 – Plan and manage your budget

• Understanding Erasmus+ budget structures: lump-sum and analytical models;
• Eligible vs. ineligible costs; direct and indirect costs;
• Workshop: building a realistic draft budget for your project;
• Project Presentations and Final Evaluation (relevance of the project; quality of the project design and implementation; project team; impact).

Day 6 – Course closure and cultural activities

• Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
• Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance;
• Excursion and other external cultural activities.

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