National Programme for Youth Volunteering

Slovakia does not have a specific National Programme for Youth Volunteering. However, youth volunteering is actively supported through various national initiatives and programs, including:

• The Youth Strategy of the Slovak Republic: Functions as a comprehensive framework for shaping youth policy, encouraging active participation, and ensuring young people are involved in decision-making processes related to volunteering and civic engagement.
• Concept for the Development of Civil Society (2022–2030): Includes specific objectives for the development of volunteering initiatives.

The Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth (MINEDU) and the Ministry of Interior are the main responsible authorities. Non-governmental actors, such as the Platform of Volunteer Centres and Organisations, play an essential role in facilitating and promoting volunteering activities.

Funding

Youth volunteering initiatives in Slovakia are funded through:

• National budget allocations, primarily through MINEDU:

1. Representative Structures for Youth Participation

This funding opportunity supports organisations registered under §15, paragraph 2 of the law, listed as eligible applicants. These organisations contribute to youth development through non-formal education in youth work and help implement national youth policies. They also represent youth interests at both regional and national levels.In this area, the Platform of Volunteer Centres and Organisations is an eligible applicant and received funding from MINEDU between 2022–2025 to support volunteering initiatives.

2. Volunteering Opportunities for Youth

This funding opportunity supports organisations registered under §15, paragraph 2 of the law that promote youth volunteering and contribute to youth development through non-formal education. In this area, 9 organizations were supported by MŠVVaM SR funding between 2022–2024 to enhance youth volunteering initiatives.

3. Current Priorities in Youth Work

This funding opportunity focuses on projects that support youth participation and volunteering in schools, communities, and society. In this area, 13 organisations received funding from MINEDU between 2022–2024 to promote youth participation and volunteering.

• EU funding through programs like Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps.
• Support for the development of volunteering – although not primarily focused on youth – in 2025 was also represented by a call announced by the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak Republic in cooperation with the Office of the Plenipotentiary of the Government of the Slovak Republic for the Development of Civil Society. Its objective was to support projects aimed at fostering social innovation in the field of volunteering. 

Characteristics of Youth Volunteering

So far, there are no valid comprehensive data on volunteering and youth volunteering in Slovakia. Although the Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic collects data on volunteers, it does so only on a sample basis, meaning that selected organisations are required to submit data on volunteers alongside other information; however, these data have not been published since 2020. Data on the rate of people’s involvement in volunteering mainly come from representative surveys conducted as part of various projects. The field of volunteering research has been systematically addressed by Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica over the long term.

For the total population of Slovakia, findings show a sharp decline in both organised and non-organised volunteering in 2025. Organised volunteering fell from 36.0% (2019) to 18.2%, and non-organised from previously stable levels (47–53%) to 26.1%. Significant age differences emerged (p = 0.014), with the highest rate among youth (18–24; 26.2%). The character of engagement is also shifting toward more fragmented trajectories and less sustained participation over time. At the same time, participation in online volunteering is increasing, and irregular or occasional forms of engagement are becoming more prevalent The most frequently reported barriers to volunteering include lack of time, lack of interest, and the absence of a direct invitation or request to help. Other significant obstacles relate to difficult life circumstances, distrust toward organisations involving volunteers, and insufficient information about how to get involved. (Brozmanová Gregorová et al., 2025).

In 2023, the most significant area of engagement for volunteers was the environment, in which 40.1% of organised volunteers were involved. This was followed by social services with a relatively high share of 23.8%, culture and spiritual values (17.8%), children’s and youth organisations (16.9%), development and humanitarian aid (14.9%), volunteering as a field of activity (12.3%), and sport (12.0%). With regard to age, differences were observed only in the field of children’s and youth organisations, where significantly more young people were engaged compared to other age groups. (Brozmanová Gregorová et al., 2025).

Support to Young Volunteers

There are no specific top-level policy measures established to support young volunteers in mitigating indirect expenses incurred through participation. Support in this area depends on whether the organisation involving or sending volunteers has sufficient financial resources to cover such costs. 

The types of support provided (e.g. reimbursement of expenses or direct financial contributions) as well as any social security provisions (such as health or accident insurance) therefore vary depending on the capacities and funding of the particular organisation, rather than being guaranteed through a unified national policy framework.

Target Groups

Youth aged up to 30 are identified as the target group. Special emphasis is placed on "young people with fewer opportunities" who face social, cultural, or geographic disadvantages. However, specific measures to support these groups are limited.