This is a website dedicated to international volunteering
This is a website dedicated to international volunteering
Going on an international volunteering trip is a unique adventure. At La Guilde, we believe it deserves support that matches your commitment. That's why we offer personalized guidance, wherever you go.
Civic Service is different from volunteering, an internship, or employment: it is a separate volunteer program whose provisions are defined by the national service code. However, you can leverage your Civic Service commitment with your school or in the context of professional integration.
Civic Service placements are governed by a commitment contract between the young person and La Guilde, detailing the tasks to be performed by the volunteer, the weekly duration of the commitment, and the terms of compensation. These placements cannot replace the duties of an employee within the host organization.
The young person in Civic Service must support the activities of the host organization, not be in charge. They must be in direct contact with the beneficiaries of the organization to experience genuine social diversity. The relationship between the volunteer and their host organization is one of cooperation, not subordination; the mentor is not the volunteer's superior but rather a supportive figure.
Civic Service entitles you to a state-funded allowance of €558.17 net per month regardless of the weekly duration of the contract.
Furthermore, host organizations must provide you with essential services such as subsistence, equipment, accommodation, and transportation. These services can be provided in kind, such as covering the cost of housing and/or meals, or in cash. The minimum monthly amount for these services is €114.85.
In addition to the state allowance and the subsistence allowance from the host organization, you may receive an increase in the basic allowance of €114.85 if you meet certain conditions relating to your social or financial situation:
Civic Service missions abroad are open to young people aged 18 to 25 (the contract can be signed up to the day before their 26th birthday), and up to 30 years old for young people with disabilities.
Civic Service is open to French citizens and European nationals. It can be undertaken by young people from other countries if they hold a valid residence permit for the duration of the mission.
Beyond age, nationality, or residency, there are no prerequisites for participating in civic service; young people are selected based on their motivation and interests. An organization cannot impose any recruitment requirements in terms of training, specific skills, or professional experience.
It is not possible to undertake multiple Civic Service missions. Civic Service is based on the principle of a single voluntary commitment, lasting from 6 to 12 months.
However, when an initial mission is prematurely terminated, and before six months have elapsed, it may be exceptionally permitted, under strict conditions, to undertake a new mission. This possibility constitutes a second, structured opportunity.
Apart from this situation, it is not possible to undertake several Civic Service missions in succession.
However, it is possible to carry out the same mission in different locations: for example, a mission can be carried out for a few months in France and then for a few months abroad if a structure has a headquarters in France and an international representation.
Source: Civic Service FAQ
Civic Service volunteers can combine their mission with paid employment under certain conditions: the civic service commitment must occupy at least 24 hours per week and remain the young person's main occupation, the employment cannot be carried out in the same structure as the civic service mission and the total number of hours of the mission and paid employment must not exceed 48 hours per week.
Special attention must be paid in the context of civic service missions abroad: depending on the visa or residence permit, the volunteer must check if he is authorized to work, and under what conditions.
Civic service missions last between 6 and 12 months. and are not renewable.
The Civic Service scheme allows to the structures to pay the subsistence allowance in kind or in cash. It is therefore possible that your allowance or paid in the form of the provision of accommodation.
However, in most cases, it is up to the volunteer to pay their own round-trip travel expenses.
The weekly duration of a Civic Service mission must be between a minimum of 24 hours and a maximum of 35 hours. It must be distributed onr 6 days maximum consecutive, and the maximum daily duration cannot exceed 10 hours. Hours worked outside of regular hoursThe conditions stipulated in the contract must be recovered according to the internal policy of the host structure.
During your Civic Service, you will benefit from comprehensive social protection provided by the State, including health, maternity, and disability insurance, as well as coverage for workplace accidents and occupational illnesses. This is supplemented by additional health insurance with repatriation assistance and civil liability coverage.
Your mission also allows you to validate pension rights.
However, Civic Service does not grant new unemployment benefits. Nevertheless, if you already had benefits before your service, these may be maintained under certain conditions.
La Guilde is an accredited organization for the Civic Service program, meaning it has authorization from the Civic Service Agency to send volunteers on missions in France and abroad. La Guilde therefore makes this accreditation available to other organizations., with which it signs a partnership agreement, to host volunteers. This is what is called intermediation.
La Guilde is therefore responsible for ensuring compliance with the Civic Service statute; it provides Civic and Citizenship Training upon departure (FCC), manages the administrative aspects of volunteering, and supports volunteers through regular assessments and field visits. It can also act as a mediator for conflict resolution if necessary.
The host organization is generally responsible for selecting the young person, overseeing their operational progress in the field, and providing supportive guidance throughout their mission. The host organization also covers the monthly living allowance, provided in cash or in kind.
Yes, it is perfectly possible to request a gap year from your school to do Civic Service. If it is accepted, you will continue to benefit from "Student" status for the entire duration of your stay and you will be automatically reintegrated into your course upon your return.
You can find more information about the possibility of taking a gap year in the "Gap Year Request" section of the FAQ. Parcoursup website, on the FAQ of student.gouv site or on the page: to get involved as a student from the website Civic Service.
International Solidarity Volunteering (VSI) is different from volunteering, an internship, or a job: it is a separate volunteering scheme governed by law no. 2005-159 of February 23, 2005 and whose application is detailed in Decree no. 2022-1067 of July 28, 2022. The purpose of VSI is to carry out a mission of general interest abroad in the fields of development cooperation and humanitarian action.
International Solidarity Volunteer (VSI) assignments are governed by a volunteer agreement between the volunteer and La Guilde. This agreement specifies, in particular, the content of the assignment, its location, its duration, and the conditions for early termination, as well as the amount and payment terms of the allowance and any other potential benefits. The VSI agreement establishes a non-profit collaboration between the association and the volunteer: it is not subject to the rules of the Labor Code but is regulated by decree.
The volunteer selflessly puts their skills at the service of a population that has expressed a need for them, working directly with local partners according to their needs and objectives. The mission is based on a logic of cooperation and skills transfer, and not on replacing local teams.
International volunteer missions can be carried out in countries receiving Official Development Assistance (ODA), as defined by the OECD: ODA beneficiaries: countries, territories and international organizations
However, it is not possible to undertake a mission in an area classified as "red" by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, even for volunteers who are not French citizens. Country-specific recommendations can be found on the France Diplomatie website. Travel advice | France Diplomacy
In the event of a major crisis requiring evacuation (conflict, disaster, pandemic, etc.), the volunteer falls under the jurisdiction of the embassy of their country of nationality.
The International Solidarity Volunteer (VSI) program is open to any adult not bound by an employment contract, regardless of nationality or upper age. However, some organizations may require applicants to be at least 21 years old. In practice, the typical volunteer at La Guilde is around 32 years old, although the program is open to both recent graduates and experienced professionals.
The scheme is open to all nationalities. However, certain restrictions apply: as the VSI is designed as an international mobility program, it is not possible to carry out a mission in one's country of residence, nor in a country of which one has nationality (including in the case of dual nationality).
The candidate's skills and their suitability for the mission are crucial in the selection process, as are motivation and commitment. In practice, the vast majority of volunteers hold a Bachelor's degree or higher, making the selection process quite rigorous.
All candidates must also provide a criminal record extract to the host organization. Finally, volunteers cannot carry out their mission in a country of which they are a citizen or legal resident.
Yes, it is possible to undertake several VSI missions. Depending on the circumstances, you can renew your mission within the same host organization after an initial mission (usually after 12 or 24 months), or you can embark on a new mission with another organization.
However, the total cumulative duration of your VSI assignments cannot exceed 6 years. Any month started is considered a full month, up to a maximum of 72 months.
Ideally, this would be a 24-month mission in a given country.
No, the VSI mission is a full-time commitment. It is not compatible with any other paid employment during its duration.
If the volunteer candidate is a private sector employee, commitment to a VSI mission is a legitimate reason for resignation.
Source: FONJEP FAQ
A VSI mission generally lasts between 1 and 2 years. A agreement volunteering initial and the amendment cannot exceed 24 months. It can be renewed, without exceeding a total duration of 6 years.
As part of the VSI program, the host organization agrees to cover the round-trip travel expenses between the country of residence and the mission location, the...mission-related travel, visa fees, and the volunteer's monthly allowance.
Depending on the situation, the host organization may also provide accommodation and other benefits (language courses, meal allowance). These additional benefits are the sole responsibility of the organization.
Volunteers in the International Solidarity Volunteering (VSI) program receive a subsistence allowance, which is not a salary or remuneration, but which allows the international solidarity volunteer to carry out their mission in decent living conditions:
In France, this allowance is not subject to income tax or social security contributions, but the volunteer must check whether it is taxable in their country of assignment.
Source: FONJEP FAQ
The duration The weekly hours of a VSI mission correspond to a full-time commitment, but she is not fixed. It is defined by mutual agreement between the volunteer and the host structure, taking into account the regulations in force in the country of mission.
As an international solidarity volunteer, you benefit from full social security coverage, provided by the state and the host organization. You and your dependents are affiliated with the Caisse des Français de l'étranger (CFE), which offers protection equivalent to that of the French general social security system.
This coverage includes, in particular:
In terms of retirement, your commitment is also taken into account: you validate rights during your mission, at a rate of one quarter for approximately 90 days of volunteering (within the limit of 4 quarters per year).
Furthermore, through the CFE, it is possible to continue to contribute as in France, which allows you to preserve the continuity of your pension rights during your period abroad.
Regarding unemployment benefits, the VSI program does not accrue any rights during the mission. However, at the end of your commitment, you regain your unemployment insurance rights (particularly if you left a job to undertake your mission).
International solidarity volunteering is based on collaboration between La Guilde (the sending organization) and the host organization in the field. Their roles are complementary.
As an organization approved by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, La Guilde guarantees the legal framework of the mission: it ensures compliance with the VSI status, manages administrative aspects (volunteer agreements, insurance affiliations), organizes mandatory pre-departure training, and provides support to the volunteer throughout the mission, including in case of difficulties with the host organization where La Guilde can offer mediation services.
The host organization, for its part, is responsible for the practical implementation of the mission: it recruits the volunteer, defines their activities, provides daily supervision and integration into the field. It also participates in managing the practical aspects related to the mission.
Yes, a volunteer on a VSI mission can be accompanied by their dependents. A dependent is a person living with the volunteer: this can be the spouse (married, civilly partnered or cohabiting) or dependent children up to the day before their 20th birthday, provided they are enrolled in school.
In this case, the host organization is required to provide their social security coverage through the CFE (French Health Insurance Fund for French Nationals Abroad). Optionally, it may also cover all or part of the expenses related to the beneficiaries, such as round-trip airfare, visa fees, or any additional allowance.