European Solidarity Corps
On 19 July 2026, the second edition of the two-week European Voluntary Service programme ‘Bridging Generations’ came to a ceremonial close.
This year’s programme included the following volunteer activities:
They visited the Olender Ethnographic Park, were given a guided tour of Toruń’s Old Town by a local guide, and, to round off the day, took a raft trip down the Vistula.
Article: “Bridging generations and cultures” (Polish version)
This year’s programme included the following volunteer activities:
- participation in intercultural workshops,
- participation in digital workshops – creating descriptions and covers for events: the Bielany Forest clean-up campaign and the concert and workshops by the Toruń Improvised Orchestra,
- visits to the Day Care Centre – presentations on cultures/countries/ languages + craft workshops,
- a visit to ‘Willa z Pasją’ – a craft workshop as part of the Senior Cafe series of meetings,
- taking part in the ‘Feel Like a Senior’ workshop,
- organising a meal with seniors (shopping + cooking workshop),
- working in the KOI Edible Garden,
- taking part in the Bielański Forest Clean-up Campaign – the closing event,
- co-organising a concert by the Toruń Improvised Orchestra,
- promoting the above-mentioned events taking place on 18 July – putting up posters,
- disseminating the project’s results and promotion – media day (15 July); a photo shoot, and interviews given by volunteers to TVP Bydgoszcz, TV Toruń and TV UMK.
They visited the Olender Ethnographic Park, were given a guided tour of Toruń’s Old Town by a local guide, and, to round off the day, took a raft trip down the Vistula.
Article: “Bridging generations and cultures” (Polish version)
Bridging generations for the second time
The dates for the second edition of the European Solidarity Corps volunteering initiative Bridging Generations have now been announced. It will take place at the Copernican Integration Centre Centre.
This year’s volunteering programme will be special because the United Nations General Assembly has declared 2026 the International Year of Volunteering for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026).
Between 6 and 19 July this year, young people from across Europe will take part in a two-week team volunteering programme based on cooperation and integration with senior citizens in Toruń.
In the upcoming edition, KOI’s partners will be two institutions: Local Activity Centre "Willa with Passion" and the Day Care Centre in Toruń.
People aged 18–30 from across Europe, as well as from Poland, can apply to take part in the volunteering programme via the European Solidarity Corps website.
People aged 18–30 from across Europe, as well as from Poland, can apply to take part in the volunteering programme via the European Solidarity Corps website.
Applications are open until 5 May.
- The Participation Rules - 2nd edition, 2026 year
Schedule for the second edition of Bridging Generations.
In August 2024, the National Agency of the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) awarded the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń the Quality Label for leading, hosting, and supporting international volunteering projects. The certificate enables the institution to apply for ESC funds to implement projects.
The Quality Label is a certificate that confirms that an institution meets the necessary standards and gives young people the opportunity to participate in high-quality and strongly solidarity-based volunteering, in line with the values and objectives of the ESC. According to the assumptions, these are initiatives that respond to important social needs and contribute to strengthening local communities, while also enabling volunteers to gain practical experience, develop competencies, and achieve personal, social, civic, and professional development.
NCU received the Quality Label as a leading organization, hosting and supporting group volunteering projects. The certificate is valid until the end of 2027.
- Recruitment for Bridging generations volunteer program
- The Participation Rules - 1st edition, 2025 year
- Green travel rules
The Copernican Integration Centre was accepting applications for ESC volunteer programme until May 7th. The Bridging Generations project was carried out from 14 to 27 July 2025.
Applications could be submitted by young people aged 18 to 30 years old exclusively through the website European Solidarity Corps. More than 500 people applied, and we selected a dozen or so. Finally, the volunteer project was carried out by 6 female and 1 male volunteers from Cyprus, Ireland, France, Spain, Slovakia, Hungary, and Italy.
The first edition of the team volunteering program includes many activities that promote intergenerational and cultural exchange.
Volunteers, together with elderly residents of Toruń and the surrounding area, during two weeks:
- took care of the community garden with Paulina Jeziorek,
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harvested crops and prepared various dishes from them,
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developed their language skills,
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visited the old town of Toruń with a guide,
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participated in the intercultural workshops with Małgorzata Grudzińska and Małgorzata Błaszczak,
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participated in a digital skills workshop,
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decorated gingerbread,
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took a walk along the local mural trail,
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painted signs for the garden and stones,
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made a macrame with Anna Bielawiec-Osińska,
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painted crane figures with artists Alicja Bogacka and Antonina Karczewska,
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visited the UMK Botanical Garden with Dr. Dariusz Kaminski,
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participated in a botanical walk with Dr. Sara Orzechowska.
It was definitely an interesting and inspiring time, during which a lot happened. The seniors, along with the volunteers, participated in many events, learned about their cultures, and acquired basic skills in communication workshops! During this time, we were accompanied by great energy and summer weather. Our ESC "Bridging Generations" volunteer project was noticed by local media, including TV Toruń, TVP3 Bydgoszcz, and Radio PiK, for which our employees, volunteers, and seniors gave interviews.
The official end of the volunteer work took place on July 27, during which certificates were officially handed over to the participants.
