Politics and Contemporary History in Germany – Panorama

Starting this September in Germany young people will be able to take part in a new volunteer program that will broaden their cultural horizons. They have to be aged between 18 and 26 years old and they can apply for either a six-month or a 12-month stay abroad. The costs will be born by the German Federal Foreign Office.

“Intercultural skills and a cosmopolitan outlook on life are key skills in our globalised world,” said Gernot Erler, Minister of State at the German Federal Foreign Office, at the official presentation of the new voluntary program. The “kulturweit” program, which was launched in February 2009, is the perfect opportunity for young people between the ages of 18 and 26 who are interested in finding out about different cultures within the framework of an international scheme.

Alongside the main sponsor, the German Federal Foreign Office, and the program’s initiator, the German Commission for UNESCO, there are quite a few other organisations involved in the project from the realm of German cultural and educational policy in other countries: the German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademische Austausch Dienst/DAAD), the German Archeological Institute (Deutsches Archäologisches Institut), the Goethe-Institut, the Pedagogic Exchange Service (Pädagogischer Austauschdienst /PAD) and the German Central Office for Schools Abroad (Zentralstelle für das Auslandschulwesen /ZfA). The aim of the project is to promote young people’s civic involvement, intercultural competence and a cosmopolitan outlook on life and, of course, to support the work of German intercultural mediators abroad.

Straight from the excavation site and into the classroom

The volunteers will be working in Africa, Asia, Latin America, as well as Eastern and Central Europe. The range of jobs they will be doing is wide: if they are there under the auspices of DAAD, the participants might have to help organise one of the cultural events, for example, or help one of DAAD’s more remote outposts with the production of materials and publications. They might be sent to Jakarta, Mexico City or Rio de Janeiro. “The volunteers become an integral element of our team. The duration of their stint – six or twelve months – makes the volunteer program more intensive than a normal placement or internship,” says Nina Lemmens, head of the Asia-Pacific division at DAAD. The German Archaeological Institute, for example, offers volunteers the opportunity of supervising a technical library in Istanbul or taking part in an archaeological dig in Damascus. The Goethe-Institut is involved on a global level in the fields of culture, language teaching, libraries and administration. Those who have opted to do their voluntary service under the auspices of the German Pedagogic Exchange Service will be working at schools where they will assist in the teaching of German, sport, art and music; or they might have to maintain the computer network or help on school trips. The Central Office for Schools Abroad will provide work in schools – it is however not just educational skills that are required, they have to be quite a handyman, too.

Recognised as a valid form of community service

This new voluntary service is on equal terms with the Voluntary Year of Social Service as specified by the German Voluntary Youth Service Statutes (Jugendfreiwilligendienstgesetz/ JFDG). It qualifies as a form of alternative community service, if the volunteer, after being recognised as a conscientious objector, opts for a consecutive 12-month stint.

"The volunteer programme will give young people new insight into different ways of life and other cultures, and will let them participate in cultural projects, help teach German and raise Germany's profile abroad. Meeting people in their own social, cultural and political context and participating in dialogue with partner institutions abroad will prove a key character-forming experience that gives rise to a greater understanding of others. What we expect from applicants is a keen interest and willingness to work in the cultural field and assume responsibility, as well as a sensitivity to others, open-mindedness and social skills," says Klaus-Dieter Lehmann, President of the Goethe-Institut, about the new program and the job profile for the applicants.

Costs to be born by the German Federal Foreign Office

In September 2009 the first young people are to set off into the world on the “kulturweit” trail. About 40 of them will be working for the Goethe-Institut at various locations. The volunteers will first be given a ten-day induction course near Berlin which will provide them with the first information on the country they are to be sent to and its culture. When they arrive in their host country they will take a language course. The Federal German Foreign Office has put together a special support package that will take care of insurance, training and any other costs. The program that serves as a supplementary project to the Weltwärts scheme set up by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development will give the participants the monthly sum of 200 euros for board and lodging, as well as 150 euros pocket money. There is a one-off grant to cover the costs of travel.

The volunteers will first be given a ten-day induction course near Berlin which will provide them with the first information on the country they are to be sent to and its culture. When they arrive in their host country they will take a language course. The costs of international travel insurance, third-party liability and accident insurance as well as social security in Germany will also be born by the German Federal Foreign Office.