Bureau International Jeunesse (BIJ) - "Tremplin Langues" Programme

What you get

You will receive a weekly grant of 250 EUR, paid for 3 to 12 weeks – totalling up to 3,000 euros – whilst you are volunteering abroad to learn a language or improve your language skills. Your return journey from abroad will also be reimbursed at the cheapest available fare, up to a maximum of 1,000 EUR. You will stay for at least 3 weeks and work 20 to 38 hours per week for a non-profit organisation abroad. The funding is provided by the Bureau International Jeunesse (BIJ) of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation in Belgium. In addition, the BIJ will assign you a personal contact who will support you in planning your project, from the preparation stage right through to your return.

Who can apply

• Age: You are between 18 and 35 years old.
• Where you live: You speak French and have been living in Wallonia or Brussels for at least 2 years.
• Language basics: You already have a basic knowledge (roughly at the level of A1) of the host country’s language.
• What you do abroad: You are volunteering for a charitable organisation. This must not be a compulsory work placement, a school or research project, a construction or humanitarian project, or an activity that replaces a paid position.
• Where you go: When you study in a European country, you learn its official language. For English, these are the United Kingdom, Ireland or Malta; for Spanish, only Spain; for Portuguese, only Portugal. Outside Europe, you learn a language that is not the official language of any European country.
• Field of study: Anyone can apply.
• Students: If you are a student, your stay must fall during the school or semester holidays.
• Priority: Priority is given to those who have not yet gained any experience abroad and have not previously received a BIJ scholarship. The ‘Tremplin’ scholarship may be applied for once a year and a total of twice.

How to apply

First, find a host organisation abroad. Then create an account on the e-BIJ platform and submit your documents online. Applications are reviewed on the 1 of each month, and the committee will notify you of its decision by email by the end of the same month. You may depart no earlier than 6 weeks after submitting your application.

How realistic are your chances?

This programme has very specific eligibility criteria. You must be a young French-speaking person living in Wallonia or Brussels, and you must organise a genuine voluntary placement abroad yourself – so the target group is small. Priority is given to first-time participants, which is an advantage if this is your first trip. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis each month and are assessed on the quality and the level of initiative demonstrated in your own project; therefore, a well-prepared application with a clearly defined host organisation stands a good chance of success.