Volunteering centres pair those interested in volunteering with organisations that need and work with volunteers.
1. Paperwork required
You do not need any documents or certificates the first time you make contact for information purposes. Before you become involved in any specific volunteering activity, depending on the type of activity, the organisation may need you to submit certain documents. It will notify you of this beforehand and will provide advice or assistance in obtaining the necessary documentation.
You may need:
- your identity card (or other identification papers or a passport if you are a foreign national);
- a medical certificate;
- a copy of your criminal record check.
Your GP will provide you with a medical certificate.
If you are a Slovak citizen, you may apply for an extract from the register of criminal convictions:
electronically (if you have an eID card, i.e. an electronic identity chip card, a reader and all the applications needed to provide an electronic signature);
in person:
- at the Prosecutor-General’s Office (only for the Register of Criminal Convictions maintained by the Prosecutor-General of the Slovak Republic at Kvetná 13, Bratislava);
- at municipal registries;
- at the integrated service points in operation at Slovenská Pošta post office;
- if you are abroad, applications must be submitted to Slovak diplomatic missions.
Citizens of other countries should apply for a criminal record check according to the rules of their home country.
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Useful information:
If an organisation requests documents from volunteering candidates which must be paid for (e.g. a medical certificate), the organisation may subsequently refund those costs.
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2. Procedure
In Slovakia, regional volunteering centres can help you to become involved in local volunteering activities. They will pair you with a volunteer organisation that is currently looking for volunteers. The conditions are the same for Slovaks and citizens from elsewhere in the EU.
If you are interested in volunteering in EU countries, the European Solidarity Corps is a scheme specifically for young people. Older volunteering candidates and anyone interested in volunteering outside the EU should contact the individual sending organisations to learn about the latest opportunities.
Volunteering centres pair those interested in volunteering with organisations that need and work with volunteers.
1. Before contacting a volunteering centre, think about:
- how much time you can realistically spend on volunteering;
- what activity you would like to do;
- what you expect of volunteering;
- what limits you may have when it comes to volunteering (e.g. health restrictions, the inability to participate at weekends, a specific target group that you don’t want to work with, etc.).
2. At Volunteering portal (only in Slovak) you can find databases of current volunteering opportunities, broken down by region. Take a look at them.
3. If you cannot see anything that appeals to you, please contact your regional volunteering centre. You will find the contact details at the volunteering website address provided in point 2 above.
4. The regional volunteering centre will reach an agreement with you on how to proceed (it will ask you to fill in an initial questionnaire, offer a face-to-face meeting, invite you to an information workshop, etc.).
5. Once you have selected a volunteering opportunity that interests you, you will attend a face-to-face meeting for an interview and information on the conditions in place for volunteer work at the organisation.
6. Before you start working as a volunteer, you will be trained. How much training you receive depends on the conditions at the volunteer organisation and the type of clients it deals with. The organisation will provide you with all the information you need in advance.
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Note:
It may take a while to become involved in volunteering. This will depend on the type of organisation you have chosen, the current demand for volunteers, the need for training, etc.
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Volunteering in EU Member States:
If you are 17-30 years old:
1. Register at European Youth Portal.
After registering, you will have access to a database of projects you can get involved in. The duration of participation differs from project to project and will last from 2 to 12 months.
2. Select your project, contact the host organisation, complete the online interview and agree on the details.
3. Contact an accredited sending organisation in Slovakia, which will guide you through the process (e.g. the Volunteering Centres and Organisations Platform).
Note:
The whole process of sending a volunteer abroad may take several months. Let the sending and host organisations know what time you have available. |
Volunteering abroad (including development, charity or mission work):
The conditions and requirements for volunteering candidates will differ depending on the specific project and sending organisation. Foreign volunteering opportunities need to be discussed with each sending organisation separately.
Useful links:
3. Who to contact
Note:
The opening hours and opportunities to meet someone in person may vary from one regional centre to another. It is recommended you make an appointment by email or telephone (links to the various volunteering centres, and their contact details, can be found at Volunteering portal (only in Slovak). |
4. Frequently asked questions
Where and how can I learn about volunteering opportunities?
The offers available in each Slovak region are listed at Volunteering portal (only in Slovak).
5. Sanctions for non-compliance with obligations
To take part in volunteering activities, participants need to be willing to dedicate their time and skills to others. The relationship between the recruiting organisation and the volunteer is based on trust and an understanding of the goal they are working towards together.
If volunteers break or are unwilling to accept the rules that each volunteer organisation sets (depending on its target group and focus), they will not be recruited or, if they have already entered into a volunteering agreement, that agreement will be terminated.