Voluntary Service in Germany

We would like to inform you about different possibilities to do a long term voluntary service in Germany. 

We have three different programmes we can offer to people who want to volunteer in Germany
1.	Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr (Voluntary social year) FSJ
2.	Bundesfreiwilligendienst (Voluntary service of the German federation) BFD
3.	Bundesfreiwilligendienst with extra funding

Voluntary service has a very long history in Germany. The Government invented the first program (FSJ) 50 years ago as a mean to enforce civic involvement and to strengthen democracy. In the past 50 year volunteering became an inherent part of the German welfare system. All programs has as a common rule that volunteering should not substitute normal workplaces, but on the other hand volunteers help to ensure that social services in Germany has even in times of financial crises quite a good quality.

All of these possibilities are combining the involvement for the society and the support of minorities with in informal learning opportunity for the individual volunteer.

Voluntary Social Year - 
Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr (FSJ)
What is a voluntary social year (FSJ)?
The German government invented in the middle of the 60th this possibility for German youth to do voluntary service. Since that time it get very popular among German youth and today it is a very important aspect in the social sector of Germany. The general conditions are determined by law. By this law it is indicated that the organizing of the FSJ in Germany requires a German institution as the body responsible for the voluntary service. This institution - in Germany we call it “Träger” - of the FSJ has to guarantee the adequate pedagogical support of the volunteers for ex. seminars, the adequate guidance of the volunteers in the projects and the individual support of the volunteers. The FSJ is invented as a program for German youth, but the law is offering also the possibility to include people from abroad into the program. 

Ijgd is accredited as such a “Träger” since more than 30 years. In the beginning of the 90th we begin to develop concepts to integrate people from abroad into this program and to offer them an adequate intercultural training and a structure of support which the specific problems in mind that young people in a new cultural environment can face. Even so the volunteers should have in mind that this is a national program and both the conditions determined by law and the expectations of the projects are go along with the needs of German youngsters. 

Due to the fact that volunteers from abroad need accommodation from our wide range of projects we can only offer a few projects for incoming volunteers: those projects who can offer accommodation on optional base. It is possible for homes for handicapped people and very few other projects. Informing your applicants about this program you should have in mind that this program requires a strong commitment of the volunteers. 
Expectation towards the volunteers
•	The applicants should be between 18 and 26 years old. 
•	The applicants should have a good German knowledge
•	The applicants should be motivated to work with handicapped people (this could also include the personal hygiene)
•	The applicants should be motivated to integrate themself in Germany
Conditions of FSJ 
•	The volunteers are working full-time, that means 40 hours a week. The work is in shifts and often also on week-ends. Mostly they work 5 days a week but there are also working places who expect 6 working days a week.
•	The volunteers receive pocket money of 165,00 Euro, a lump sum for food of around 236,00 Euro and accommodation 
•	The volunteers are entitled to 26 days of holiday (if they have 6 working days a week they will have more holidays).
•	A contract states the conditions of the voluntary service
•	The volunteers receive a certificate and a qualified report at the end
•	The registration in the German social security system is obligatory
•	There are no funds for international travel, no financial support for sending 
•	The volunteers get a  pedagogic support of 25 days of seminar
•	The duration is 6 – 12 month. Our projects prefer people who come for 12 month.

If you want to give the volunteers material about FSJ in Germany, here is a link:
http://www.bmfsfj.de/bmfsfj/generator/BMFSFJ/Service/Publikationen/publikationen,did=3598.html (please note the information given is on German language)

Bundesfreiwilligendienst – 
(Voluntary service of the German federation) BFD

On 1st of July 2011 the German Government started a new program for voluntary service with the intention to fill the lack of manpower in the social sector that the abolishment of the compulsory military service (and with that also the end of the compulsory community service) created. 

In general the expectations towards the volunteer and the conditions of the service in BFD for the volunteers are the same as in FSJ.

Here are the points that are different:
•	In principal this program is open for everybody despite the age. Due the fact that our pedagogical support is proved to be adequate for young people and also due to the fact that this program as a new one is under close control of the ministry ijgd decided not to take any risks. Therefore we will offer that program in the near future not for people who are more than 30 years old. Exceptions can be done. 
•	Under certain circumstances it will be possible to receive an extra-funding for pedagogical support. (Please find description below)

If you want to give the volunteers material about BFD in Germany, here is a link:
http://www.bmfsfj.de/BMFSFJ/Freiwilliges-Engagement/bundesfreiwilligendienst.html  (please note the information given is on German language)

Bundesfreiwilligendienst – BFD
with extra funding

In the frame of BFD we can apply a little extra-funding for incoming volunteers, if they fullfil the following criteria: 
•	The duration of their residence in Germany within the past has not exceeded 6 month 
•	They have no Germany citizenship
•	Their mother tongue is not German

The government have strict restrictions about the eligibility for finances. Only expenses which result for extra pedagogic support during the service are eligible.
That means we cannot use this money to support sending activities, our staff cost or material cost like international travel cost or cost for accommodation but we support

A welcome weekend for incoming volunteers in the beginning of October
A personal Mentor, who is meeting them at the airport and who is giving practical and personal support
Language training for up to 360, - Euro
Local transportation to language courses 

Application process for FSJ and BFD
•	The deadline for applications is 1st of March. A complete application should include following (if you find a candidate after March 1st , you can always ask, if we have places available, but for sure the possibilities are very limited):
- Filled in application form for FSJ/BFD 
- one passport pictures
- CV
Applications that come later are welcomed as long as we have free places.
•	After we get the applicants will get a call and we will do an interview. After this interview the decision is taken, if the volunteer will be proposed to a project and to which project we will propose him/her. It can also happen that we decide against the participation of a volunteer, when we have doubts about the language knowledge or about the motivation.
•	We expect the decision of the project in the beginning of May. After that the applicant should take the final decision. Please be aware of the fact that we expect this decision to be well-thought-out. If the volunteer has doubts it is not a big problem, if he/she will withdraw her/his participation at this moment. 
Please understand that we in case that we do not find a project which accepts your volunteer have to refuse the application.
•	After we get the confirmation of the volunteer (directly by him/her or by you) we will begin with the visa-procedure and we will send you the invitation letter. Please insure that the volunteer will take the necessary steps and keep us informed in case of problems
•	Project start will be normally the 1st of September. Exceptions are possible

Please send all questions to

Internationale Jugendgemeinschaftsdienste e.V.
Dorothee Bach  / Eva Wissing
Kasernenstr. 48
D - 53111 Bonn
Telefon  +49 - 228 - 22800-55
Fax       +49 - 228 – 22800-10
e-mail     ild.bonn@ijgd.de