On 1 June, amendments came into force in Ukraine that adapt national legislation to the European Union’s rules on the recognition of volunteering and aim to increase the social responsibility of young people. From now on, volunteering experience can be included as part of a motivation letter when applying to educational institutions: applicants will be able to add information about their volunteer projects and achievements in social activities and confirm them with copies of documents. Educational institutions, in turn, are obliged to facilitate the implementation of volunteer initiatives, support pupils and students in their free time, and promote volunteering among participants in the educational process.
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In addition, volunteering can be considered as part of the internship if it is in line with the educational programme and with the consent of the educational institution. This means that the hours worked by a volunteer can be taken into account as an educational practice, and the volunteer will receive an official document indicating the number of hours worked and the area of work. Such practice will not only help students and schoolchildren acquire the necessary skills, but will also help to increase the prestige and development of volunteer projects in communities.
These changes focus not only on formal aspects, but also on youth motivation: an applicant’s motivation letter should now contain not only a description of personal aspirations to enter the chosen educational programme, academic or social success, but also specific information about volunteer experience. Educational institutions can strengthen their image by supporting volunteer initiatives and encouraging young people to participate in charitable projects. In this way, changes create the conditions for volunteering to become an integral part of the educational process and help young people develop social skills that are important for their future careers and civic engagement.
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