ACE-RISE Student Volunteering Programmes – 2nd Application Cycle is open

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Last month, ACE²-EU launched the ACE-RISE (Reach, Inspire, Serve, Engage) Volunteering Programmes and its first call for student applications, for the volunteering activities taking place between March and May 2026. Students are now invited to apply for all activities planned between June and December 2026. The call is open until Wednesday, 15 April.

*A reminder about what is the ACE-RISE is included at the bottom of this article.

Programme structure
There are two core components to the ACE-RISE Volunteering Programmes:
A 25-hour ACE-RISE Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), delivered asynchronously. The course introduces participants to the aims of volunteer work, solidarity, social responsibility and communication
An 8-day on-site volunteering activity in the host country. Tasks are defined by the hosting organisation, and participants are accompanied by a supervisor. Working hours follow the host country’s legislation. The students receive a grant for the 8-day mobility

Application process
First, students should identify which volunteering activity they would like to apply to. To do so, they should read the Digital Catalogue, which gathers all available volunteering activities with detailed descriptions. To help you navigate the digital catalogue, the tables below give an overview of the activities’ name, starting date and location.

Applications are currently open for activities taking place between June and December 2026, with a deadline on Wednesday 15 April, via this form: https://forms.gle/pFaxKcK9KeU5UMgHA. You will be able to indicate up to three volunteering opportunities by order of preference.

Disclaimers
Please review carefully the information and requirements listed in the activity description
Certain activities in contact with vulnerable groups (e.g., children) might demand particular requirements (e.g., criminal record extract)
Before travelling, please make sure that your travel is covered by your insurance
For activities in North Macedonia, if you are not an EU or EEA citizen, please check whether you need a visa as soon as you have confirmation that you have been selected (or even when applying)

Available volunteering opportunities
They are listed in order of the catalogue (with a few exceptions: please refer to the page number in the last column), with two separate tables for the Culture Hub and Social Impactors opportunities. In blue, the activities that are currently open for application.

Culture Hub volunteering activities:

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Social Impactors volunteering activities

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Reminder: What is ACE-RISE?
The ACE-RISE Volunteering Programmes respond to evolving global and local challenges related to multiculturalism, diversity, inclusion, equality, and well-being, and are directly aligned with the needs of the local community. They are part of the Alliance’s commitment to civic engagement, solidarity and social responsibility across Europe. Developed and implemented by the SPACE Centre, in collaboration with external stakeholders, the ACE-RISE Volunteer Programmes provide students with structured opportunities to engage in meaningful short-term volunteer work within international and intercultural environments. Through continuous learning, listening, and adaptation, the programmes remain responsive to real-world contexts while fostering growth in both communities and volunteers.

ACE-RISE is composed of two separate programmes:

  • The Social Impactors Volunteering Programme, proposing activities focused on addressing major societal challenges with the external stakeholder in the following thematic areas: Culture & Diversity, Social Well-Being, Respect & Dignity, Gender Equity
  • The Culture Hub Volunteering Programme, enabling students to participate in cultural engagement activities within external stakeholder environments

In total, more than 70 volunteer opportunities will be offered to all Alliance university students by stakeholders in social services and care, culture and creative industries, public administration, education, and many other fields. All volunteering activities include an 8-day international mobility period for participating students. Students from the host university may apply to participate in the programmes offered by their own institution alongside the students from other Alliance universities, but priority is given to non-local students if there are more applicants than places available in a particular activity.

Important links: