Civic Service
abroad
What is Civic Service ?
Created in 2010, Civic Service enables young people to take part in missions of general interest, without having to have any qualifications or professional experience.
The scheme aims to :
- Promote social diversity and civic commitment.
- Offer a first supervised professional experience and the development of formal and informal skills.
- Develop practical skills and open up to the world.
At the heart of the scheme, the Civic Service Agency plays a central role in managing and organising the missions, guaranteeing a structured and secure framework. It also offers numerous benefits to volunteers, including financial compensation and social security cover.
At what age can you do Civic Service ?
Civic Service is accessible :
- In France : from the age of 16.
- Internationally : from the age of 18.
- Up to the age of 25, or 29 for young people with disabilities..
What is Civic Service at Planète Urgence ?
At Planète Urgence, Civic Service is conceived as a powerful lever for sustainable and integrated development. This programme not only allows young volunteers to get involved in concrete projects, but also enables partner organisations to benefit from enriching support.
Civic Service assignments last from 6 months to 1 year.
Added value for volunteers
- Discovery of a new cultural environment.
- Contribution to essential projects for the planet and local communities.
- Bring a fresh perspective, creative ideas and genuine motivation.
Areas of intervention
The proposed missions fall within the three strategic areas of Planète Urgence:
Preserving forests and biodiversity :
mangrove restoration, reforestation, protection of endangered species…
Raising environmental awareness :
educational workshops, awareness campaigns for young people and adults…
Local development:
support for community projects aimed at empowering local communities…
Where can I do my Civic Service abroad ?
Planète Urgence offers missions in priority intervention countries such as :
Benin
Togo
Madagascar
Indonesia
Ecuador
Our missions are co-constructed with local partner organisations, guaranteeing their relevance and sustainability.
Doing an International Civic Service with Planète Urgence
What are the conditions for doing a Civic Service ?
To be eligible, you must :
- Be between the ages of 18 and 25 (29 for young people with disabilities).
- Not have carried out a Civic Service mission before.
- Be a French national, a national of a Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area, or have been legally resident in France for more than one year.
Training for civic service volunteers
Volunteers must undergo civic and citizenship training before they can go out on the field. We call this training ‘Formation au Départ’. This takes place over three days :
- Two days of theoretical training, led by the Planète Urgence team.
- One day of PSC1 training (first aid).
Remuneration
for Civic Service
- For assignments in France, volunteers receive an allowance of €489.59 per month. This is paid to the volunteer’s account by the government.
- For international assignments, volunteers receive an allowance of €541.17 per month. This is paid to the volunteer by the French government into the volunteer’s account.
- The host organisation pays the volunteer a subsistence allowance of €111.35. This can be paid in cash or in kind by covering accommodation and/or food and/or transport costs.
Planète Urgence takes out insurance for international missions. It covers volunteers for civil liability, medical care and possible repatriation.
IMPORTANT : plane tickets to and from the mission, visas and vaccinations are entirely the responsibility of the volunteer.
Support :
the Civic Service tutor
The specificity of Planète Urgence’s missions lies in the double tutoring set up.
- The volunteer is accompanied on site by a tutor appointed by the host organisation.
- They are also accompanied from the Paris head office by the volunteer officer. Regular telephone calls are made throughout the assignment, which ends with a debriefing session.
The support consists of making sure that everything goes smoothly on a personal, logistical and operational level, as well as working on the future project after the assignment.
How to apply for
a Civic Service abroad with Planète Urgence ?
To find a Civic Service abroad and apply for a mission with Planète Urgence, you can consult our online offers.
See the Civic Service missions
You can then apply directly on the website of the Civic Service agency.
You will need to be highly motivated, mature and interested in environmental, sustainable development and intercultural issues. We cannot accept all applicants, but all applications are read and processed. It takes around 2 and a half months to finalise recruitment.
Testimonials from Civic Service volunteers with Planète Urgence
The Civic Service experience transforms both the volunteers and the communities they support.
Watch the video of Chloé, Civic Service Volunteer in Benin
What international volunteering
opportunities for young people over 25?
Planète Urgence offers other schemes for volunteering, adapted to young people over the age of 25, such as :
- Le International Solidarity Volunteering (VSI)
- Le Solidarity Leave®
- Le e-Volunteering
- La Solidarity Mission
Discover all our opportunities here