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Youth Voluntary Service

Youth Voluntary Service (JST) is an intensive, six-month volunteering programme for young people aged 14–29. During the programme, young people volunteer for an average of 40 hours per month at an accredited host organisation of their choice (hereinafter referred to as the host organisation or PO). You can check an organisation’s accreditation status in the database of host organisations.

Once a month, volunteers meet with a mentor appointed by the coordinating organisation (hereinafter referred to as the coordinating organisation or KO). During these meetings, they learn to overcome challenges, reflect on their experiences, identify what they have learned and set goals for their personal development.

The JST programme offers an opportunity not only to discover an area of activity that interests you, but also to get to know yourself better, develop transferable competences and strengthen self-confidence.

Volunteers who have participated in the programme may ask their KO to issue a document confirming their volunteering activities and the competences acquired. However, the JST certificate is issued only to those who have completed six consecutive months of service and fulfilled all the programme’s formal requirements.

You can find the Youth Voluntary Service Programme Description here.

Volunteers who successfully complete the programme receive a JST certificate that grants recognition equivalent to an additional 0.25 admission point when applying to Lithuanian higher education institutions.

The document confirming eligibility for recognition equivalent to an additional 0.25 admission point when applying to Lithuanian higher education institutions is a certificate issued by the Agency of Youth Affairs (JRA).

IMPORTANT: The decision on whether to include the additional 0.25 admission point in the procedure for ranking applicants is reconsidered every year. The relevant procedure is published on 1 December.

Main programme requirements for young people:

  • Young people must register in the JST system by completing the programme registration form.
  • Young people must receive confirmation (by email and/or telephone) from a mentor appointed by the coordinating organisation that they have been allocated a place in the programme. The number of places is limited, and places are allocated according to the date and time of registration. Young people must also attend an introductory meeting with representatives of the KO and PO.
  • Young people must sign a tripartite agreement with an accredited coordinating organisation and an accredited host organisation. A young person acquires the status of a programme participant and volunteer only after signing this agreement.
  • The total duration of the service is six months, during which volunteering activities must be carried out. Volunteers must complete the following activities:
  1. At least 35 hours per month.
  2. At least 240 hours over the entire six-month period.
  3. Volunteering may be carried out remotely, but no more than 12 hours per month may be completed remotely.
  4. Individual volunteering activities carried out outside the host organisation’s premises must not exceed 20% of the volunteer’s monthly service hours or eight hours per month, whichever limit is reached first.
  5. During the entire service period specified in the agreement, a volunteer may be absent from volunteering activities without a justified reason on up to two occasions, for no more than one week on each occasion and no more than two weeks in total.

Other formal programme requirements:

  • The volunteer must submit schedules for all six months of volunteering in the administrative system. The schedules must be approved by both the host organisation’s supervisor and the mentor.
  • The volunteer must meet with the PO supervisor at least twice a month to discuss their volunteering experience.
  • The volunteer must meet with the KO mentor at least once a month to reflect on their experiences and learning.
  • Volunteers seeking recognition equivalent to an additional 0.25 admission point must collect at least five digital badges representing transferable competences in their Awero profile.

WHAT SHOULD A YOUNG PERSON DO IF THEY WANT TO JOIN THE JST PROGRAMME?

The main registration periods for the JST programme are announced twice a year on the JST website. Young people from all municipalities in Lithuania may register during these periods.
In addition, three to four supplementary registration periods are announced each year for available JST places in specific municipalities, as well as for places additionally funded by municipalities.

The registration link is not active throughout the year. Those who wish to be among the first to learn when registration opens are encouraged to follow announcements on the website and the JST Facebook and Instagram pages.

After registration closes, the contact details of registered young people are forwarded to mentors at coordinating organisations responsible for their respective regions. Volunteers by their mentors are invited to join the programme in order of their registration date and time.

The number of programme places in each municipality are limited. Young people who register but are not allocated a place will be invited to participate when an opportunity becomes available.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I REPRESENT A HOST ORGANISATION AND WANT TO IMPLEMENT THE YOUTH VOLUNTARY SERVICE PROGRAMME?

For host organisations, accreditation provides an opportunity to become an approved organisation where young people can volunteer and complete the JST programme.

Host organisations benefit from volunteers’ contributions and long-term commitment while providing meaningful activities and appropriate support in return.

The organisation undertakes to provide the volunteer with a volunteering activity plan (schedule) averaging 40 hours per month and comprising at least 35 hours per month. The activities must match the volunteer’s competences and be meaningful both to the volunteer and to the organisation.

The host organisation’s supervisor undertakes to train, develop and support the young person throughout the service period, discuss activities and challenges at least twice a month for one hour per meeting, and fulfil the other commitments established by the programme.

How can an organisation become an accredited host organisation? Read more here: Host Organisation Accreditation.

Database of accredited host organisations: Accredited Host Organisations.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I WANT TO COORDINATE VOLUNTEERING IN MY OWN OR OTHER MUNICIPALITIES?

A coordinating organisation (KO) is responsible not only for the administrative implementation of the programme but also for its quality. It refers volunteers to host organisations, supports both host organisations and volunteers, and develops volunteering opportunities in its region.

The most important part of a mentor’s role is to provide individual support or facilitate group mentoring, helping each young person grow and develop their potential.

How can an organisation become an accredited coordinating organisation? Read more here: Coordinating Organisation Accreditation.

List of accredited coordinating organisations: Accredited Coordinating Organisations.

WHICH DOCUMENTS GOVERN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE YOUTH VOLUNTARY SERVICE PROGRAMME?

Last updated: 29-10-2026