Would you like to live in France for a while, improve your French and get to know young people from all over the world while living in the country?
Our French partner organization Solidarités Jeunesses is looking for volunteers for various long-term voluntary services through the European Solidarity Corps .
Solidarités Jeunesses welcomes international volunteers throughout the year in local projects called 'Délégations'. The Délégations are mainly located in rural areas and are housed in historical local places, for example a former factory, a former communal campsite, a village house or a castle. The houses have been renovated over the years by many volunteers and permanent staff who live and work there together.
Vaunières (April 15th to October 31st 2026)
Vaunières near Grenoble is one of the host towns of the Villages des Jeunes in the middle Alps, embedded in the heart of the mountains. Most of the houses here date from the 17th century. In the 1950s, almost all residents left the region in search of better-paying jobs. In the 1960s, the Villages des Jeunes association bought the hamlet of Vaunières to start a project. Step by step he started welcoming local and international groups to the hamlet.
The main goals of the project are to meet, to create a constructive dynamic and to break stereotypes and prejudices through cooperation and living together. Villages des Jeunes believes that we can all teach and learn without formal educational pathways.
You can find the detailed description of the Vaunières project here.
Le Faï (April 15th to October 31st 2026)
Like many other farms in mountainous and remote areas, the Faï farm was abandoned at the beginning of the 20th century due to the collapse of agricultural and pastoral activities.
When the association settled on the Faï farm, most of the buildings were in ruins.
Thanks to a renovation project and international youth work camps, the hamlet has developed into a national and international meeting centre. The renovation work was carried out almost exclusively with the participation of socially disadvantaged young people, international volunteers, families, etc.
For 20 years, the association has also been organising music and land art festivals at the Faï farm, taking advantage of the farm's unique geographical location: it lies at the foot of a valley in the Alps and is surrounded on one side by a 400-metre-high semicircular cliff, which creates an original sound effect and is used as a ‘natural organ’.
You can find the full description of the project in Le Faï here.
Conditions of participation
Volunteering through the European Solidarity Corps is open to all young people aged 18-30. Of course you should be motivated for the project. A driver's license is strongly recommended in all projects as they take place in rural areas.
Apart from that, Solidarités Jeunesses works on the principle that the differences between people are an opportunity to learn, discover and grow from each other. Therefore, everyone is welcome, regardless of origin, gender, sexual orientation or world view.
What does participation cost?
Participation is free. The program is funded by the European Commission. You will be provided with lodging, meals, medical insurance, and round trip tickets (up to the maximum amount allowed by the program) for the duration of your stay. You will also receive a small amount of pocket money.
Apply now
To apply, you need the application form and a letter of motivation.
No special qualifications are required for the projects, so your text is used to assess the motivation to participate in a specific project. It's an opportunity for you to express why you want to volunteer in a rural area with people from different countries and backgrounds. Your letter of motivation must relate to the specific project you are applying for.
Lukas is at your disposal for all questions about ESC voluntary services and the application:
Send an email: outgoing@ibg-workcamps.org