In the historic town of Leszno, Poland, young people from across Europe are being invited to shape the lives of children through hands-on cultural and educational work—with free housing, health insurance, and financial support included. Fundacja Centrum Aktywności Twórczej (CAT), a creative activity foundation, is recruiting international volunteers through the European Solidarity Corps programme, a EU-backed scheme designed to strengthen youth engagement and cross-cultural connection across the continent.
The opportunity arrives at a moment when youth exchange programmes matter more than ever. With young Europeans increasingly seeking meaningful ways to contribute globally while building skills, CAT's initiative offers precisely that: a chance to live and work alongside peers from different backgrounds while directly supporting children's development in a community-focused setting.
Volunteers selected for the programme will lead educational, cultural, and recreational activities designed to engage children and young people while fostering intercultural learning. The work centres on cultural exchange and youth engagement—activities that build both immediate community benefit and long-term understanding between young Europeans. Participants will work alongside children in Leszno while living in shared housing with fellow international volunteers, creating a built-in peer network from day one.
The practical support is substantial. The European Solidarity Corps covers free accommodation in a shared house with other volunteers, eliminating one of the biggest barriers to youth mobility. Health and travel insurance protection is included, alongside €1,560 in financial support throughout the project period. Beyond these tangibles, volunteers receive pre-departure training and preparation, ensuring they arrive ready to engage meaningfully. The experience itself—living in Poland, exploring Polish culture, and becoming part of a community—completes a package that goes far beyond a resume line.
What makes this model distinctive is how it removes typical obstacles to youth participation in international service. Rather than asking young people to fund their own way, CAT and the ESC programme invest in them directly. The combination of shelter, insurance, mobility funding, and structured support recognizes that not all young Europeans can afford to volunteer abroad without financial backing—and removes that barrier entirely.
For Leszno, the programme brings fresh energy and international perspective into local educational work. For the volunteers, it's a pathway to develop genuine skills working with children across cultural contexts, understand another country's culture from the inside, and contribute tangibly to a community beyond their own borders. The shared housing model fosters peer learning among volunteers themselves, turning the experience into a European network-building opportunity alongside the direct work with children.
Applications are open now for young people interested in spending months in Poland working with youth through education and culture. The programme demonstrates a broader commitment within the EU to invest in youth mobility and cross-cultural understanding at a grassroots level—showing that building European connection doesn't happen only in capitals, but in towns like Leszno, through direct human connection and shared work.