34. Post-project Follow-up

Explanation

A final meeting immediately before departure does not always reveal how the volunteer really experienced the project. Some issues only become clearer after the person has had time and distance to reflect.

This phase therefore introduces follow-up after the activity, normally after several weeks and, where useful, again after a few months.

The first purpose is wellbeing. The organisation or supporting organisation can ask how the volunteer is adapting after return, whether anything remains unresolved and whether additional support is needed. This is particularly important after difficult projects, early departures or experiences involving significant personal challenges.

The second purpose is learning. Volunteers often recognise the value of their experience more clearly after returning to everyday life. They may suddenly notice that they are more independent, communicate differently, use a new language more confidently or understand how useful particular project-management or interpersonal skills have become.

A follow-up conversation can therefore revisit Youthpass and ask whether the volunteer has used it in applications, education or employment.

The third purpose is continuity. The volunteer may want to remain connected to ESC through another project, local volunteering, mentoring future participants, becoming an ambassador or supporting recruitment.

Follow-up should not become an obligation for the volunteer to stay involved. The aim is to keep the door open.

The organisation should also check for unresolved administrative matters. This can include delayed travel reimbursement, missing certificates, forgotten documents or unfinished reporting information.

From the organisation’s perspective, follow-up can provide particularly honest feedback. Volunteers may feel more comfortable describing weaknesses after they are no longer dependent on the host organisation for housing, tasks or daily support.

For EVoly, this phase could use automatic 30-day and 90-day Follow-up Reminders. A short questionnaire could ask about wellbeing, Youthpass usefulness, future involvement, unresolved issues and willingness to join the alumni network.

Role perspectives

Organisation: Keeps an appropriate follow-up channel open and uses feedback to improve future projects.

Coordinator: Ensures unresolved administrative issues are completed and collects relevant follow-up feedback.

Supporting Organisation: Checks reintegration, wellbeing and future plans in the volunteer’s home context.

Volunteer: Can share reflections after gaining some distance from the activity and decide whether they want to remain involved.

Mentor: May maintain limited follow-up contact where appropriate, but the formal mentoring relationship should also have a clear ending.

Differences by ESC model

Long-term volunteering: Follow-up is especially valuable because the experience may have had significant impact on the volunteer’s life and future decisions.

Short-term volunteering: A simple follow-up after several weeks may be enough to check learning, dissemination and future involvement.

Volunteering teams / group volunteering: Follow-up can happen collectively through an online reunion, partner meeting or group evaluation, while still allowing individual feedback.

Questions & answers

How long after the project should we follow up?

A first check after several weeks is useful. A later check after a few months can help understand longer-term impact.

What should we ask?

How the volunteer is doing, whether anything remains unresolved, how they are using their learning and whether they want future involvement.

Do all former volunteers need to become alumni?

No. Alumni involvement should be an opportunity, not an obligation.

Documents for further reading

• ADICE follow-up structure — return and post-project reflection.
• ePassport participant sheets — follow-up and competence recognition.
• EVoly_ESC_Implementation_Phases_Draft_0_1.docx — alumni follow-up template.
• ESC survey materials — organisational evaluation and follow-up practices.