European Opportunities

Erasmus+ is the most well-known European programme that supports cooperation and exchanges in education, youth, and sports. It allows you to go abroad for studies, internships, youth exchanges, training courses or other non-formal educational activities to gain experience, contacts, and self-confidence. The programme is open to individuals (students, young people, volunteers) and organizations such as schools, NGOs, or youth groups.

You don’t have to be a student! Any young person aged approximately 13 to 30 can take part in a youth exchange – even if you’re not studying. You just need the motivation to learn, meet new people, and actively participate. For training courses for youth workers, there’s no age limit – as long as you’re involved in working with youth (e.g. as a leader, trainer, coordinator, or volunteer). Participation is always arranged through an organisation (school, NGO, youth group).

Youth exchanges usually last 5 to 21 days (most often about a week). You’ll meet peers from different countries and work together on a specific topic. Training courses for youth workers usually last 4 to 8 full programme days and focus on developing skills that you can use in your work with young people.

Where to find more information?

What is Erasmus+?

Who is the programme for?

For how long?

What do you get from it?

You’ll improve your language skills, learn how to function in an international team, and gain new skills (communication, collaboration, facilitation) and practical knowledge on the topic. You’ll expand your cultural horizons, build new contacts, and increase your chances of future employment. You’ll receive a Youthpass certificate, which helps you show what you’ve learned. And most importantly – many great memories and friendships across Europe. And all of this is completely free!

How to get involved?

Follow the websites and social media profiles of NGOs, which often publish open calls you can apply to. You can also follow accounts that regularly share opportunities – such as @erasmus_plus_czechia_slovakia, @angazuj.se, @erasmus_plus_projects, or Facebook groups and pages like Aktuální projekty Erasmus+, Erasmus+ Youth Projects, and Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges. Training courses are also listed on the SALTO Youth platform. You can follow us too – mainly on Instagram @Czech_Horizons or on Facebook, we’ll be glad!

If anything is still unclear, you can find detailed and verified information about the programme on the European Commission’s Erasmus+ website. If that doesn’t help either, feel free to reach out to us! For youth exchanges, check the website of the Czech National Agency – Dům zahraniční spolupráce, or again the European Commission’s website. For training courses, the same pages apply.

DiscoverEU is an initiative of the European Union that allows young people around the age of 18 to explore Europe with a free Interrail ticket. Each year, thousands of 18-year-olds get the opportunity to travel by train across Europe for free – for a period of one to up to thirty days. The goal is to help young people discover European culture, heritage, and meet people from different countries. Selected participants receive a travel pass (Interrail), which they can use to travel within a set number of days and visit selected countries (mainly EU ones). They also receive a European Youth Card, which offers discounts in many areas (e.g. museums, sports events, transport, accommodation or food). In short, you can travel and explore Europe without it costing you anything – your journey across the EU is covered!

The programme is for young people aged 18 (specifically those who turn 18 in the year of the call) from EU Member States. You don’t have to be a student – any 18-year-old can apply, whether they study, work or have just finished school. All you need is the desire to travel, discover new things and try something new abroad. If you have a disability or specific support needs, that’s not a barrier either – the programme aims to be inclusive and can provide support (e.g. special equipment, assistant, etc.). DiscoverEU is a one-time opportunity – you apply for the competition only once, and if you're selected, you get the travel pass.

Where to find more information?

What is DiscoverEU

Who is the programme for?

How long does it last?

What do you get from it?

You’ll experience an unforgettable adventure and many new experiences. Thanks to DiscoverEU, you’ll travel independently abroad for the first time, discover new cities, cultures and people from different countries. You’ll improve your language skills, spend your days surrounded by other Europeans, and gain confidence and self-reliance – whether you travel alone or with friends. In addition to fun and exploration, you’ll gain useful skills and practical knowledge: how to plan routes, book transport, navigate maps or unexpected situations. You’ll also get a European Youth Card full of discounts, helping you save on attractions, accommodation and food. And most of all – the freedom to travel like never before. And it’s all almost entirely free, since the programme covers the pass (you only pay for food or extra accommodation).

How to apply?

You join the programme by entering a competition, which is announced twice a year (usually in spring and autumn). You apply through the European Youth Portal, where you fill in a short form and answer a short quiz about Europe (no worries – it’s super simple). You can apply as an individual or as a group of friends – in that case, only one of you fills out the form, and the others join using a code. The selection is based on answers and number of tickets available per country. If you’re selected, you’ll be contacted by the European Commission or their national partner and given instructions. Then it’s just about packing your bag, planning your trip and heading out across the border. If you don’t want to travel alone, join the Facebook group DiscoverEU, where travellers connect and arrange trips together.

The best source is the European Youth Portal – that’s where you’ll find the application deadlines, rules, how to participate, FAQs and the application form itself. More information can also be found on the website of the Czech National Agency (Dům zahraniční spolupráce), or by contacting them directly. Don’t forget the Facebook group “DiscoverEU”, which is full of experience sharing and tips from young travellers. Important info is also regularly posted on the Instagram and Facebook pages of the European Youth Portal – so follow those too if you’re interested in applying.

You can plan your trip for a few days up to about one month. It’s up to you whether you take a short week-long route through neighboring countries or almost a full month-long adventure across Europe. The DiscoverEU ticket is flexible – you can visit more places and organize your route just the way you like. Each round has a set travel window (usually within one year), in which you can activate your pass. For example, winners of the 2025 round can travel at any time between summer 2025 and spring 2026, provided that the total travel period doesn’t exceed 30 days. You also don’t have to travel all at once – it’s up to your personal preferences and plan.

The European Solidarity Corps (ESC) is a programme of the European Union that allows young people to get involved in volunteer projects both at home and abroad, and also to implement their own solidarity projects in their community. ESC gives you the opportunity to go abroad for up to a year as a volunteer in an organisation, or to carry out a local project that benefits your surroundings. In both cases, it’s about activities that strengthen solidarity, tolerance, and civic engagement among young people. One of the biggest advantages is that all costs are covered by the programme – you receive financial and organisational support, so you can fully focus on your experience.

ESC is open to young people aged 18 to 30 from all over the EU and other partner countries. Anyone in this age group can take part – you don’t need any special education, experience or qualifications, the most important thing is your motivation and desire to help. Volunteering projects are ideal if you want to go abroad and work for a non-profit, community centre, school, library, environmental organisation or any other public-benefit institution. Solidarity projects are for young people who want to improve something in their local area – for example, gather a group of friends and carry out a community idea together. The programme is open to individuals (volunteering) or informal youth groups (for solidarity projects).

Where to find more information?

What is the European Solidarity Corps?

Who is the programme for?

How long does it last?

What do you get from it?

As a volunteer abroad, you’ll experience life in a different country, a different culture, improve your language skills and gain valuable practical experience. You’ll learn to work in a team, adapt to a new environment and solve problems – all valuable skills in your career and personal life. Volunteering also gives you a chance to try out a job that interests you more than spending your days behind a cash register. Most importantly – you’ll help where it’s needed, which brings meaning and personal fulfilment. Many volunteers also build friendships for life and contacts across Europe. At the end of your experience, you’ll receive a Youthpass certificate, which describes what you learned – and can help you in future studies or job hunting.

If you choose a solidarity project, you and your friends will implement your own idea and gain experience in project management from A to Z. You’ll learn how to plan activities, divide roles in a team, promote an event, cooperate with local communities or even local authorities. It’s hands-on and often led by young people who don’t have much experience yet – that’s the point. You’ll improve organisational skills, communication, creativity and self-confidence, and you'll see the real impact of your work. Of course, you'll also meet new people and feel good knowing you’ve made a difference.

Participating in ESC (whether as a volunteer or project coordinator) boosts your chances for the future – universities and employers love to see this kind of experience. And the best part is, it costs you nothing – in volunteering projects, your accommodation, meals, insurance and even pocket money are covered. In solidarity projects, you get a grant to cover all your activity expenses (monthly flat rate + extra funds for inclusion if needed). You don’t need to worry about money – just invest your time and energy.

How to apply?

For volunteering in ESC, you first need to find a suitable project that interests you. There’s a database of current opportunities on the European Youth Portal – you can register there and search offers from all over Europe. You’ll see project descriptions, dates, location, and what you’ll be doing. Once you find something, you apply through the sending organisation, usually by sending your CV, a motivation letter or by filling out an application form. You can also contact accredited organisations in the Czech Republic (called sending organisations) – they’ll help you choose a project and guide you through the paperwork (agreement, insurance, travel planning, etc.).

For solidarity projects, it’s a bit different, because you are the organiser. First, you need a group of at least five young people (friends, classmates etc.) who share the same idea or want to solve a local problem. Together, you come up with a project – what you want to do, for whom, and what your concrete goals are. Once your idea is ready, you submit a grant application to the ESC programme via the European Youth Portal or through the Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps platform. Applications are submitted twice a year; keep an eye on the DZS website for current deadlines. The application includes a form where you describe your idea, expected impact and budget. You don’t have to do it alone – you can ask an NGO for support, especially if it’s your first time. Before submitting, your idea is reviewed by the national agency, and once approved, you can start implementing your project. Don't be afraid – national agency mentors are available and happy to help. All you need is a good idea and commitment, the programme will guide you from there.

The most detailed information is on the European Youth Portal – that’s where you’ll find all the deadlines, participation rules, FAQs, and the application forms. Additional resources are available on the website of the Czech National Agency – Dům zahraniční spolupráce (DZS), where you'll find detailed info about both volunteering and solidarity projects. If you’re unsure, you can also reach out to them directly – or use social media. For example, the Facebook group "Volunteering projects in ESC" is great for sharing tips and connecting with others. DZS also shares updates and calls on Instagram and Facebook – follow their pages to stay up to date. You can also contact the Eurodesk Info Centre for Youth, who will help guide you if you’re not sure where to start.

Project duration in ESC varies depending on the type of activity – it can last just a few weeks or up to a full year. Volunteering can be either long-term and individual, or short-term and group-based.

Individual volunteering usually lasts 2 to 12 months – meaning you can spend several months working for a host organisation abroad. Most people leave for 6–12 months to fully immerse themselves in the local community and project.

Group volunteering projects are shorter, usually about 2 weeks to 2 months. A larger group (typically 10–40 volunteers from different countries) joins and the project often takes place during holidays. These are great for those who can’t go for long, but still want to experience volunteering. Even if you start with a short project, you can still go again later – you can spend up to 12 months in ESC in total, so short-term projects count towards that.

Solidarity projects (those you come up with and run yourself) last 2 weeks to 12 months, just like volunteering. Unlike volunteering abroad, you don’t work full-time – the project is usually planned part-time and done in your free time, so you can combine it with school, work or other duties. For example, you might organise regular weekend activities for seniors in your town, or run a community garden, club or event.

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) is a programme of the European Commission that helps aspiring entrepreneurs gain experience abroad. It works as an exchange placement – if you’re planning to start a business or already have a small business, the programme allows you to go abroad for 1–6 months and work alongside an experienced entrepreneur in your field. You’ll spend time in a host company in another European country, observe how it operates, and learn directly from an experienced business owner (mentor). It’s important to note that this is not regular employment – it’s more like a learning stay, so you don’t get a salary, but the programme provides you with a stipend to cover your costs. You can think of it as an Erasmus internship for entrepreneurs – you’ll broaden your perspective in an international business environment, without having to pay for everything yourself (the EU covers most of the costs).

The programme is designed for "new or aspiring" entrepreneurs – people who want to start a business or have only recently done so. Ideal candidates include recent graduates or young professionals with a business idea and a developed business plan that they want to test and grow in practice. You can also apply if your business is already running – the only condition is that your business/startup is less than 3 years old. In practice, most participants are around 20–30 years old, but there is no strict upper age limit. You must have permanent residence in one of the participating countries (EU countries and selected partner countries) and be over 18 – which you most likely are as a young entrepreneur. You don’t need a business degree or a million-euro investment; what matters most is a strong motivation to start a business and a willingness to learn. You’ll need to show that you’re serious about your idea – that means at least a well-thought-out business plan and preferably a concept that is already running (or is realistically ready to launch). The programme is open to all sectors – whether you’re planning an IT startup, a café, a craft business or a social enterprise.

Where to find more information?

What is Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs?

Who is the programme for?

How long does it last?

What do you get from it?

This experience can literally kickstart your entrepreneurial career. During your stay, you’ll gain hands-on experience in running a business – you’ll be part of the team, see real-life challenges, learn how to deal with customers, suppliers, planning, and innovation. You’ll go through everything side-by-side with someone who’s already been through it. Mentoring from an experienced entrepreneur is invaluable – you can consult ideas, get feedback, and learn from both success and failure. You’ll also gain international insight – discovering different business environments, working styles, technologies and markets, all of which can open new perspectives. You’ll improve your language skills, especially English, which is often essential, and sometimes also the local language. And of course, you’ll build valuable contacts – meeting people in your field, as well as potential business partners or customers abroad.

A very practical bonus – the programme provides you with a monthly stipend during your stay, which covers most of your costs, so you don’t have to pay out of pocket. The amount depends on the host country (e.g. it’s lower in Poland, higher in Norway) and is usually between €600 and €1100 per month. That should cover your accommodation, food, and travel. So you can participate even if you don’t have savings. Overall, you’ll gain know-how, contacts, self-confidence, and financial support – the key ingredients you need to turn your business idea into reality.

How to apply?

You don’t join Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs automatically – there’s a set application and matching process. First, you need to prepare your business plan – this is a key document showing what your idea is, what you want to achieve, and how. It doesn’t have to be 100 pages long, but it should include a clear business concept, goals, timeline, and basic financial plan. With this plan, you register on the official programme website as a New Entrepreneur. When registering, you’ll choose your intermediary organisation – this is the organisation that supports you throughout the programme. They’ll help you with the selection of your host entrepreneur and administrative matters.

Once registered, you can search the database of host entrepreneurs – these are experienced business owners from all over Europe who have joined the programme and are open to mentoring. You can filter by sector, country, length of stay, etc. If someone interests you, you contact them, send your profile, and start communicating. Usually, you email or call them, introduce yourself, explain your goals, and together you develop the work plan for your stay – what you’ll do, how long, what you expect, how you’ll be supported, etc. This “learning plan” is submitted to the central platform (European Commission system), and once approved by both sides, you can officially begin.

In short, the steps are: 1. Register online (with your business plan), 2. Find a host (with help from the intermediary organisation), 3. Agree together on the learning plan, and 4. Go abroad for your placement. The whole process isn’t too complicated – the programme has existed for many years and helps thousands of people build their entrepreneurial careers.

The best source is the official Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs website – there you’ll find complete information about how the programme works, registration forms, country contacts, and FAQs. You can also find a summary on the website of the Czech National Agency – Dům zahraniční spolupráce (DZS), or simply contact them directly. If you're looking for examples of good practice or want to connect with others who’ve been through it, it’s worth checking Instagram or LinkedIn, where participants often share their experiences. Or just reach out – we’ll be happy to guide you further.

The length of stay is flexible – you can go abroad for a minimum of 1 month and a maximum of 6 months. The exact duration is agreed upon with your host business depending on what makes sense for your learning and business plan. The most common stay is around 3–4 months, which gives you enough time to gain insight into how the company operates and develop your own business idea. The placement is usually full-time and continuous, but it’s also possible to split the stay into smaller segments – for example, two shorter stays of a few weeks each. However, it’s recommended to go for the full period so you get the most out of the experience. If you’re already working or studying, the flexible structure makes it easier to fit the exchange into your schedule – you can even do the first month earlier and return for the rest later. You must complete your stay within one year from the start date.