Postojna – An event celebrating the International Day of Young Volunteers took place in Postojna, approximately 50 kilometers southwest of Ljubljana. This occasion focused on youth work and showcased the European programs Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps. According to Mreža MaMa, a non-governmental organization that represents youth centers in Slovenia, Slovenian volunteers continue to favor their home country for volunteering opportunities compared to other EU nations.
Officials highlighted that both European youth programs yield positive outcomes with minimal investment. Since 2021, 1,368 volunteers have been planned for projects under the Movit Institute, the national agency overseeing both programs. Notably, Slovenia remains the top choice for volunteering among EU countries. By the end of March this year, 981 of these volunteers had completed their service. Across Europe, a total of 64,160 volunteers were planned for projects in the same timeframe, with 47,002 having successfully finished their volunteering commitments.
This programming period has seen the highest number of young volunteers from France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and Turkey participating in projects in Slovenia. Meanwhile, Slovenian volunteers tend to select Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands, Poland, and Croatia for their volunteer experiences abroad.
Since 2021, over 25.5 million euros have been allocated to youth initiatives through these programs in Slovenia, resulting in the acceptance of 645 projects submitted by 252 distinct organizations. Given the collaborative nature of these projects, the total number of participating organizations rises to 1,091. (April 15)
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