SocialErasmus is an international project by the Erasmus Student Network (ESN) that promotes a social attitude among young citizens participating in mobility programmes, to facilitate their integration into the local community while gives them the chance to make a long lasting social change in society through volunteering activities. The project goes under the slogan: Leave your mark!

Aim

The aim of SocialErasmus is to enrich the international experience of young people abroad with volunteering activities that allow them to understand society’s problems and to work on the solutions. SocialErasmus provides an opportunity for international young people to get to know other realities and learn how they can contribute to improve society as citizens of the world.

Mission

Our mission is to provide young citizens the opportunity to do more with their mobility experience, to make a difference and create a positive social change through volunteering.

Vision

Show the added value of volunteering as a part of a mobility experience through SocialErasmus.

SocialErasmus activities

We believe mobility is a life-changing experience through which young citizens are able to broaden their horizon and face realities different from theirs, enabling them to develop as citizens of the world making a contribution to the improvement of society.

ESN volunteers organise SocialErasmus activities that impact every cause and provide a social change.

SocialErasmus Week
Twice a year, ESN sections from all over Europe together organise a full week of SocialErasmus activities. International students participating in exchange programs can join ESN volunteers and leave a mark in society, and show that mobility does not only consist of travelling or studying abroad, but also actively engages students in local communities, which fosters a better cultural understanding and inspires international students to come back to their home countries with the will to also make a change there. 
This first SocialErasmus Week took place in 2012 and throughout two years was organised once a year. Due to its great success, since 2014 SocialErasmus Week has two annual editions, one in spring and the other in autumn.

SocialErasmus Coordinators Meeting
The SocialErasmus Coordinators Meeting (SECM) is an international meeting for SocialErasmus Coordinators from all ESN countries.

The aim of the SECM is to provide all SE Coordinators within the network the opportunity to meet, get to know each other and to exchange function related experiences. Additionally, the meeting provides a fertile foundation for discussion among participants, regarding a variaty of topics ranging from local practices to international strategy and project definition.

During the plenaries and panel discussions participants are encouraged to share their ideas, inspire others with the most innovative projects from their countries and sections, and share views on voluntary activities and their impact on international students. They can also compare differences between countries what can be inspiring for the future development.

Apart from the spreading of ideas, the actual acquisition of skills is important too. The meeting is filled with interactive and diverse workshops in order to make sure that the participants take full advantage of their attendance of the event. Workshops range from improving presentation skills, increasing the quality of activities to partnership management and visual identity. 

A final key concept embedded in the SECM is the exceptional motivational boost the participants get. By being surrounded by so many different coordinators, indepth discussing the project, and sharing with one another leaves the participants with an air of challenging oneself to go out, and further spread the knowledge they acquired during the meeting