Welcome to JINT

Erasmus+ is the EU funding programme for education, training, youth and sport. It runs from 2021 till the end of 2027 with a total budget of more than 26 billion euro. Within Erasmus+ there are different sections: one for education and training, one for sport and one for youth projects.

The youth section of Erasmus+ in Flanders is called ‘Erasmus+ Jeugd‘. It funds projects for and by young people and youth organisations. It has a separate budget and specific project possibilities.

What does Erasmus+ (Jeugd) aim for?

The general objective of Erasmus+ is to support, through lifelong learning, the educational, professional and personal development of people in education, training, youth and sport, in Europe and beyond, thereby contributing to sustainable growth, quality jobs and social cohesion, to driving innovation, and to strengthening European identity and active citizenship.

As such, Erasmus+ ‘Jeugd’ shall be a key instrument for building a European Education Area, advancing youth policy cooperation under the Union Youth Strategy 2019-2027.

The programme has the following specific objective for youth: promote non-formal and informal learning mobility and active participation among young people, as well as cooperation, quality, inclusion, creativity and innovation at the level of organisations and policies in the field of youth.

Where can I apply for funding for my project?

Two National Agencies implement Erasmus+ in Flanders, Belgium:

• JINT vzw is the Flemish National Agency for ‘Erasmus+ Jeugd’, the youth section.
• Epos vzw is the Flemish National Agency for education and training.

Applications in the field of sport are dealt with centrally by the Executive Agency of the European Commission (EACEA).

If you are an International Non-Governmental Youth Organisation (INGYO), please read the information below.

You can find more information in English on the Erasmus+ website of the European Commission.

For International Non-Governmental Youth Organisations (INGYO's)

Youth projects of INGYO’s have to apply at the National Agencies, not at the Executive Agency (EACEA).
In order to facilitate this, funding has been distributed to all programme countries according to the usual budget distribution keys. This means that INGYO’s or their member organisations can apply for project grants to all National Agencies as long as the applicant is legally established in the country were it applies. It is possible for an INGYO to be partner in the project of one of their member organisations.

Please note that INGYO’s have to follow Belgian procedures. This means that organisations must apply to the National Agency of the Community where they are located. For example:

• An organisation located in Liege has to apply to BIJ.
• An organisation from Antwerp has to apply to JINT.
• An organisation from Eupen to Jugendbüro.
• Organisations based in Brussels can apply either to BIJ OR to JINT, knowing that JINT will handle the application in Dutch and English and BIJ in French and English.

Is your organisation a Brussels-based international organisation? Please read this document before applying for an Erasmus+ accreditation.

The European Solidarity Corps is an EU funding programme, creating opportunities for young people to volunteer or work in projects that benefit communities and people around Europe.

What is the aim of this programme? 

The European Solidarity Corps aims to promote solidarity. It does so by enhancing the local or international engagement of young people to strengthen cohesion, solidarity, democracy and citizenship in Europe. Promoting social inclusion is key.

How do I apply for funding?

• You can submit your application to JINT vzw, the National Agency implementing the European Solidarity Corps in Flanders, Belgium. You can find more information on our dedicated website (in Dutch).
• Applications for volunteering teams in high priority areas can be submitted to the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency of the European Commission (EACEA).

You can also find more information in English on the European Solidarity Corps website of the European Commission.

For International Non-Governmental Youth Organisations (INGYO's)

INGYO's and their member organisations can apply for project grants from all National Agencies:

• as long as the applicant is legally established in the country where the applicant applies, and
• as long as there are participants involved who are legally residing in that same country.

It is possible for an INGYO to be a partner in the project of one of their member organisations.

INGYO's have to follow Belgian procedures. This means that organisations must apply to the National Agency of the Community where they are located. For example:

• An organisation located in Liège should send its application to Bureau International Jeunesse (BIJ)
• An organisation from Antwerp submits its application to JINT.
• An organisation based in Eupen can apply for a grant with Jugendbüro der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft V.o.G (Jugendbüro)

Organisations based in Brussels can apply either to Le BIJ or to JINT, potentially depending on their future participants’ legal residence. JINT will process applications in Dutch or English, and Le BIJ in French or English.

Get inspired!

Read Alena's story as a European volunteer. 

The Bel’J programme was established in 2009 and gives young people between 12 and 30 the opportunity to meet young people from other Communities in Belgium. The programme originates from the idea that you can only explore the way of life of others, with all their similarities and differences, through real and long-term contacts.

The Ministers of Youth of the 3 Communities in Belgium are convinced that these contacts should be encouraged. They therefore support this joint programme with opportunities for exchange and non-formal learning activities.

Within the Bel’J programme there are 3 types of activities:

1. It gives young people the opportunity to volunteer alone, or in a group of maximum 3 people, for 10 days to 3 months in an organisation from one of the other Communities. This way they familiarise themselves with the organisation and its work or they can set up a creative project there.
2. A second possibility is for groups of 8 to 60 young people from the three Communities to spend 5 to 15 days together and undertake joint projects.

In these two cases the young people become acquainted with the daily life of the other Communities. It gives them the opportunity to get to know each other's culture and potentially to establish lasting bonds with young people from the French-speaking or the German-speaking Community.

3. The third option of the programme focuses on youth workers. During a Youth Workers Mobility Project youth workers can learn from each other by taking part in a job shadowing exercise and/or collaborative projects for youth work organisations.

Project applications that are approved receive a financial contribution to cover the costs.

Each Community appointed an Agency to implement the programme. It is the Agency's task to disseminate information about Bel’J, to maintain contact with the organisations involved, to support young people and to complete the administrative and financial procedures. The 3 Agencies are:

• Flemish Community - JINT vzw
• French Community - Bureau International Jeunesse (BIJ)
• German-speaking Community - Jugendbüro der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft V.o.G (Jugendbüro)

Please visit the dedicated website (in Dutch, French or German) for more information.