A careful selection process

For any cross-border volunteering activity in Belgium for which we act as LEAD organisation, we follow the next steps :

ADVERTISSEMENT OF THE PROJECT
1. Have the project permanently published on our English speaking website: https://compagnonsbatisseurs.world/activities/long-term/esc-volunteering informing about the calls opened or forthcoming. A lot of information are provided on these webpages, about the host organisation, the volunteering tasks, the location, the hosting conditions, the testimonials of previous volunteers.
We want the candidates get a maximum of opportunities to make their own idea about what we are proposing.

2. Once we open a call, we publish the opportunity on the European Youth Portal.
We also advertise it on social medias.

3. We ask all the candidates to register via the European Youth Portal and, via our site. On our website, they have to fill-in a motivational questionnaire and to attach their CV.

4. Our motivational questionnaire aims that the candidates actually think about different aspects of the project and about how they would react (collective life, rural area lifestyle, leisure time when far from friends, conflicts, needs they have once they’re far from home). Their answers must help us in understanding their motivations and objectives when coming; to grasp their level of understanding of the project in order to prepare the further on-line selection meeting

1ST SELECTION ROUND
5. We process all the applications received, checking that each candidate meets the eligibility criteria (age, country of origin) and giving a great importance to the fact that they demonstrate a good understanding of the project and already reflect about the experience they could live (we like when they already share doubts, questions ; when we notice they actually think about what they plan to do….)

We therefore do not select based on prior experience and skills (not on the basis of the CV), but rather on motivation.

This 1st selection round is performed on basis of a desk work, by CBB ESC coordinator.
It leads us to the selection of 6 to 12 candidates. We ensure that the selected candidates reflect a certain cultural diversity and gender balance. Within the limits of the “travel costs” and “exceptional visa costs” budgets, we are happy to welcome volunteers from non-member countries of the European Union.

A record of the applications received and all the documents of the selected candidates are sent to the host organisations. Upon their feed-back, we invite the candidates to an on-line interview.

Usually, for one place offered, we meet 3 candidates.

2ND SELECTION ROUND
6. The online interviews are always performed conjointly by a CBB project officer and one or more people from the host organisation.

7. We review similar questions and topics than the ones answered in the questionnaire. We try as much as possible to open an actual dialogue; to exchange questions and answers between the candidates and the hosts.

8. Whenever needed, CBB staff facilitate the translation between English and French, due to the fact that our host do know always practice English fluently. As CBB is in charge of managing the accommodation and monthly allowance of the volunteers, CBB staff also answers to any questions related to these topics that the volunteers might have

9. The host organization is then responsible for the final selection decision.