Short-Term Projects

Short-Term Projects usually run for 2 – 3 weeks and bring together a mixed group of volunteers from different countries and ages. For example, if 10 volunteers are needed for a project, you could find yourself living and working alongside other volunteers from France, Estonia, Japan, Poland, Greece, Sweden, Ukraine, and Belarus. All food and accommodation are provided for you while you take part in the project. You just need to cover your own travel expenses (including travel insurance) and spending money. No specific skills or qualifications are needed for short term projects.

Projects in Africa, Asia (exc. Japan) and Latin America come under our North/South Exchange Programme. The projects are similar to Short Term projects but have different objectives and qualification requirements. Please read the North/South information page before applying and use the appropriate forms.

Find a project

Volunteers need to select up to 6 projects because project hosts select for mixed cultural background and may already have offered a place to a volunteer with a background similar to your own. Use the Project Search Form to find suitable projects. The search form terms are explained in Using the Projects Database. Note that the number of projects available rises rapidly in March.

How to Apply

Download a copy of the Short Term Project Application Form (39K) and list up to 6 project choices in order of preference. The sooner you apply, the more chance of receiving your first choice. If that is full we will work our way down your list of preferences. Please state the project code numbers, titles and dates and list only project choices that you would accept an offer of a place on.

If you want to apply to do two or more different projects, then you need to complete separate application forms for each project, listing optional projects on each form in case your first choice is full. State the project code numbers, titles and dates. You can photocopy or download additional copies of the application form and send them together.

Applications for some projects require additional ‘motivation statements’ saying why you are applying to do a particular project. This will be stated in the project description, enclose this with your application form.

If you are interested in applying for IVS projects in the Russian federation, then you will also need to provide some additional information regarding Russian Visas and Travel. Please contact the office about this.

Sign and date the back of the application form(s), and post it with the appropriate fee, made payable to ‘IVS’, to Placements at the IVS Office in Edinburgh.

We will acknowledge receipt of your application by email.

The Placement Process

There is no deadline for applying and the process in ongoing, however, the sooner you can get your application in to us, the more chance you’ll have of getting a place on your first choice of project.

It will take up to 2 weeks to notify applicants of the outcome of their applications. We will keep you informed of news as soon as we have it.
If you apply for 2 or more projects, you will receive news of progress separately on each application.

Joint Applications

If you want to apply to take part in a project with a friend, please write this on each of your application forms and send them together, including whether or not you would accept separate placements. We will try our best to place you together.

Important Notes

  • You should pay one fee for each project you wish to go on. You only need to pay one annual membership subscription, so if you are already a member or are applying to do more than one project, deduct the membership fee (£35/15) from any additional projects.
  • Projects working with children and vulnerable adults may require you to provide police checks, references and health clearance letters from your doctor. This will be stated in the project description.
  • To pay on line - click the How to Pay menu item above. You can also pay by cheque or postal order. If you pay on-line you may fax or E-mail your application to us.
  • Remember that projects in far away places will cost more to get to, and in some developing countries, an additional fee is payable on arrival at the project. This will be stated in the project description. Certain countries require a visa to travel there, and this can involve extra cost and can take time to process. For other countries, you may need to buy your visa at the airport on arrival, so make sure your passport is valid for the required amount of time.
  • Russian Visa Information (26.50 Kb)

Insurance

You must take out proper private insurance cover before going abroad. This is a condition of participation in the project. This cover should include full accident and medical insurance, and also cover travel cost reimbursement, just in case your project is cancelled at short notice. Ordinary holiday insurance cover is normally okay. If it does not cover “work”, then the SCI insurance policy will cover all “work” situations adequately for you, but it won’t cover any activities outside “work” situations.