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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

  1. Who is a curator and who is a mentor?
    Curator – a person who works or volunteers at the Host Organisation (PO) where you have chosen to volunteer. The curator is responsible for organising and coordinating your volunteering activities. You will meet with your curator regularly twice a month.
    Mentor – a person who works or volunteers at the Coordinating Organisation (KO) and is responsible for volunteers’ participation in the Youth Voluntary Service, as well as informing and advising curators and volunteers. You will meet with your mentor regularly once a month.
  2. Who can participate in the Youth Voluntary Service (JST) programme?
    Citizens of the Republic of Lithuania and foreign nationals legally residing in the territory of the Republic of Lithuania who are between 14 and 29 years of age (inclusive).
  3. Where can I volunteer?
    You can find Host Organisations here.
  4. Where can I contact someone for more information?
    If you have already started volunteering: First, contact your curator. If you do not receive the information you need, contact your mentor. If you still cannot find the answer, you are welcome to contact the Agency of Youth Affairs (JRA) by email at [email protected].
    If you have not yet started volunteering: First, contact a mentor in your municipality. If they are unable to answer your questions, you are welcome to contact the Agency of Youth Affairs (JRA) by email at [email protected].
  5. Can I volunteer without registering in the system?
    No, you cannot participate in the JST programme without registering in the system.
  6. When will I find out whether I have been accepted into the JST programme?
    If you received an automatic email confirming that your registration was successful, you do not need to do anything else. Mentors usually contact prospective volunteers within two weeks after the registration period closes. During this time, please check your email and missed calls.
    If you have not received any information within this period, you can contact the mentor in your municipality directly.
    However, it is important to understand that registering for the JST programme does not mean you will be able to start volunteering immediately.
    All young people who wish to participate can register for the JST programme, and there is no limit on the number of registrations. However, each municipality has a set number of funded JST places. As a result, in some municipalities, all registered young people may be able to start volunteering immediately, while in others, a waiting list (reserve list) is formed for those waiting for a funded place to become available in their municipality.
    Therefore, after registering for the JST programme, you may need to wait for your turn. Places may become available sooner in some municipalities, while others may have more young people waiting.
  7. When am I considered to have started volunteering?
    When an opportunity to start the JST programme becomes available, your Coordinating Organisation (KO) will contact you and invite you to an interview. During the interview, the KO will discuss your needs and interests and inform you about the volunteering opportunities currently available at Host Organisations (PO).
    You will then choose which of the proposed Host Organisations you would like to volunteer at.
    Your volunteering is considered to have officially started only after a tripartite agreement has been signed by you (the volunteer), the Host Organisation (PO) and the Coordinating Organisation (KO). The agreement specifies the volunteering period to which you commit.
  8. When will I receive my login details for the JST system?
    Your login details for the JST system will be sent automatically by email once your mentor has approved your profile. If you cannot find the email, check your spam folder. If it is not there either, contact the Agency of Youth Affairs (JRA) at [email protected].
  9. How many hours will I volunteer in the JST programme?
    You must complete at least 35 hours of volunteering each month, with an average of 40 hours per month, to accumulate at least 240 hours over the six-month volunteering period.
    Volunteering activities must take place every week. Without a justified reason, you may miss no more than two weeks in total during the entire six-month service period. Each month, you must also have two meetings with your curator and one meeting with your mentor. All activities must be recorded by you in the electronic scheduling system.
  10. Can I terminate my volunteering at any time?
    Yes, but there must be a reason, which you should first discuss with your curator and mentor. If it is not possible to reconcile your interests with those of the Host Organisation or find a mutually acceptable solution, the agreement may be terminated.
    Termination must be agreed upon by all parties and formalised by signing an agreement to terminate the volunteering agreement.
  11. Can I change my Host Organisation?
    Yes. If your interests do not align, the tasks are not suitable for you, or there are other justified reasons, you may change your Host Organisation. You must inform your mentor and curator in advance so that the change process can be initiated and the existing volunteering agreement terminated before a new agreement is signed.
  12. If I change my Host Organisation, will my volunteering hours still count?
    Yes, provided that no more than one week (seven calendar days) passes between ending your activities at the current organisation and starting at the new one. For example, if you end your activities on Monday and terminate your agreement, you should resume your service at the new organisation by the following Monday. The termination agreement must also be signed. Therefore, it is important to plan any changes in advance.
  13. What if I get sick during my volunteering period?
    If you are ill for a day or two, there is no need to worry. Your hours are accumulated throughout the month, so you can spend more time volunteering on other days. However, if you have a more serious illness and need to rest at home for more than a week, it is important to inform your mentor as soon as possible, obtain a medical certificate and submit a request to the Agency of Youth Affairs (JRA) to temporarily suspend your service.
  14. Can I change my Coordinating Organisation (KO)?
    Yes. In certain circumstances, such as moving to another place of residence, you may need to change both your Host Organisation (PO) and your Coordinating Organisation (KO). In other cases, there may be only one KO operating in your area. Therefore, it is important to discuss your needs and expectations with your mentor and provide feedback to help ensure smooth cooperation.
  15. Will I receive recognition equivalent to 0.25 of an additional admission point, for example, in 2028?
    The admission score calculation formula is approved each year in early December by the Conference of Rectors of Lithuanian Universities and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport. Therefore, recognition for future years cannot be guaranteed in advance. The Youth Voluntary Service is an opportunity to gain experience and grow personally. The skills and experience you gain can remain valuable long after you finish your studies, so the one-time admission benefit should not be the main reason for participating.
  16. What if I am called up for compulsory military service? Can I continue my JST?
    If you receive a call-up notice for compulsory military service, please submit a request to suspend your JST as soon as possible. You can also consult your mentor.
  17. If I do not enjoy the programme and terminate my service, can I participate again?
    You can participate in the programme only once. Therefore, it is important to carefully consider your availability and whether this is the right time for you to commit to such an intensive six-month programme. Even if you do not complete the service, you will not be able to participate in the programme a second time.
  18. What should I do if my Host Organisation does not have enough activities for me to complete 40 hours per month?
    In this case, you should initiate a discussion with your curator as soon as possible and inform your mentor.
  19. Will I receive a certificate if I terminate my service early?
    In this case, the Agency of Youth Affairs (JRA) will not issue a certificate. However, at your request, the Host Organisation (PO) or Coordinating Organisation (KO) may issue a document confirming the service you completed and the competencies you acquired. This document does not entitle you to recognition equivalent to an additional admission point.
  20. How do I fill in my electronic volunteering schedules?
    Each month, complete your electronic schedule by specifying the type of activity, its format (if carried out remotely) and its duration in hours. Make sure to record meetings with your curator and mentor separately. Describe your activities briefly and clearly, indicating what you did and what your responsibilities were. For example: I hosted a Youth Festival event. I was responsible for preparing the script and setting up the equipment. Your schedule must be submitted every month. Once you have finished editing it, submit it for approval by your curator, followed by your mentor. If your schedule contains errors, your curator or mentor may reject it, in which case you will need to correct and resubmit it.
  21. When will my certificate be issued?
    After you complete your volunteering, your mentor will spend some time processing your documents before forwarding them to the JRA staff responsible for issuing certificates. For volunteers who started their activities after 1 January 2026 and completed them, an electronic certificate is issued within 60 working days of the relevant information being submitted, provided there are no inaccuracies.
  22. Where can I find my issued certificate?
    Once your certificate has been issued, you can find it in your Awero digital badge system.
  23. I am a final-year secondary school student and I am worried that my certificate will not be issued before university admissions. How can I make sure I receive it in time?
    First, make sure that all your schedules have been completed correctly and submitted for approval. Also, check whether your mentor has forwarded your documents to the JRA staff member responsible for issuing certificates. Certificates are issued in the order in which they are gotten.

Last updated: 29-10-2026