Youth Volunteer Services

The Youth Volunteer Service offers young people the opportunity to volunteer for a few months after school and gain important personal experience. Volunteering can take place in many different areas of interest, for example

• in children and youth work
.
• in health care
• in elderly care
• in a sports club
• in school
• in a cultural institution
• in environmental and nature conservation
• in landscape and monument conservation and also
.
• abroad
.

Volunteering in youth voluntary service serves the common good. But the participants also benefit. The Youth Volunteer Service

• opens the chance to do something charitable for others for up to 12 months
.
• offers valuable insights into the professional world.
• provides practical skills and experience.
• expands personal horizons.
• helps to find out your own strengths and develop personally.
• opens contacts with other young people at home and abroad.

The Voluntary Social Year (FSJ)

For young people who want to get involved in social work, the voluntary social year is a good choice. The range of activities is large. There are FSJ employment positions in the classic health and care facilities, such as retirement and nursing homes, facilities for integration assistance and hospitals. If you would like to work with children, you can do so in daycare centers, schools, child and youth welfare facilities, child and youth work programs, or in sports. Cultural institutions and the preservation of historical monuments are also open to volunteers in the FSJ.

The Voluntary Ecological Year (FÖJ)

Environmental issues, climate protection and sustainability are among the current topics of our time, in which many young people are interested. The Voluntary Ecological Year offers numerous opportunities to become actively involved in these areas. Places of employment are available in agriculture and forestry, in environmental protection and nature conservation facilities, and many other facilities with ecological connections.

The International Youth Volunteer Service (IJFD)

If you have wanderlust and want to get involved abroad, the International Youth Volunteer Service is just right for you. The field of application ranges from social and ecological commitment to peace and reconciliation work. Detailed information is available at www.ijfd-info.de. Addresses of organizations and associations that offer an FSJ or FÖJ abroad have been compiled by the Federal Youth Ministry.

Young people who want to do an FSJ or FÖJ must have completed full-time compulsory education. They must not be older than 26 years.

An FSJ or FÖJ usually lasts 12 months. The duration can be shortened to 6 months or extended to a maximum of 18 months. In justified exceptional cases, a maximum of 24 months is possible.

Young people who do voluntary service receive pocket money and a volunteer ID card, which entitles them to certain benefits. Depending on the placement, there are also cash or non-cash benefits for accommodation, meals or work clothing. Contributions to pension, accident, health, nursing care and unemployment insurance are paid by the sponsor of the voluntary service. During the period of youth voluntary service, parents continue to be entitled to child benefit, provided that the other requirements are met. In NRW, volunteers also have the opportunity to obtain the discounted "AzubiTicket" from the transport associations.

The Federal Volunteer Service

Unlike youth volunteer services, the Federal Volunteer Service is open to all citizens with no age limit. This offer was created after compulsory military service and thus also civilian service were suspended. The Federal Volunteer Service offers both young and older people the opportunity to get involved in social, ecological or cultural activities. Who is over 27 years old, can do this also in part-time. Further information is available at.