“Hand in Hand for a Better Europe!”
Multi-annual strategic volunteering program under the European Solidarity Corps Quality Label, dedicated to social inclusion, non-formal education, and solidarity across 38 urban and rural communities in Maramureș and Satu Mare.
About “Hand in Hand for a Better Europe!” (HH4BE)
“Hand in Hand for a Better Europe!” is the flagship strategic volunteering and solidarity framework implemented by the American International School of Transylvania (AIST) between 2021 and 2027 under the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) Quality Label.
Each year we organize several short-term volunteering team services (59 days) and long-term individual volunteering stages (up to 12 months), bringing together young people aged 18 to 30 from across Europe and Romania.
Key Strategic Objectives
- Promoting active European citizenship and volunteering through the direct participation of hundreds of international and in-country volunteers working in mixed teams.
- Developing non-formal education programs for over 30,000 children and young people, focusing on social inclusion, digital literacy, multilingualism, and environmental protection.
- Supporting the sustainable development of at least 33–38 urban and rural communities across Maramureș and Satu Mare counties, bridging intercultural, intergenerational, and social divides.
Community Impact & Activities
AIST volunteers assist in extracurricular and non-formal educational activities, creative workshops, urban and rural summer camps, green initiatives, and interactive sessions for both typical and underprivileged children and youth. All activities promote fundamental European values: human rights, human dignity, equal opportunities, non-discrimination, solidarity, and multiculturalism.
2026 Applications on the Official European Youth Portal
- Short-Term Volunteering Teams (59 days – 5 teams in 2026: Feb–Mar, Apr–May, Jun–Jul, Jul–Aug, Sep–Oct): Apply on the European Youth Portal (#45335)
- Long-Term Individual Volunteering (8 – 12 months): Apply on the European Youth Portal (#45336)
- Full ESC Logistics & Financial Support: round-trip international travel reimbursement (including Green Travel top-up), shared double-bedroom accommodation in fully equipped apartments in Baia Mare, food allowance (5 EUR/day) and pocket money (4 EUR/day), Henner health insurance, free bicycles, and local bus pass.
