Social Voluntary Service in Germany

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Staying in Germany for one year as a volunteer, working in a social institution, living together with the people there and doing so gaining experience about oneself, about the country, about social relations; in short: completing a voluntary service. This opportunity is offered through the International Voluntary Service Scheme of the "Freunde der Erziehungskunst Rudolf Steiners e.V." association ("Friends of Waldorf Education").

The volunteers work as co-workers in a social and share the life of the community, as they are usually accommodated within the institution during their volunteer year.

Intentions of the Voluntary Service The voluntary service is intended to be a combination of learning, mutual understanding and helping. Helping stands for the practical working contribution, which the volunteers contribute towards the life of the hosting organisation. Through a personal commitment they support the working tasks within the hosting organisation and enrich the life through their ideas, their own culture and their personality. Within the helping mutual understanding, commitment and solidarity can be lived. At the same time we recognise volunteers as learners. They gain experiences within a new culturall and work context, which has a valuable impact on the self-development. To make the learning experiences fruitful for everyday life, they will be supported through intense communication and reflection. Organisation and Assistance The voluntary service is organised and assisted by the german association "Friends of Waldorf Education".

We provide courses and seminars for the volunteers after their arrival, during the service and at the end of their stay in Germany. Our role is also to mediate and support in cases of conflict or crisis. Hosting Organisations During their voluntary service the volunteers work in a social non-profit organisation, which we call hosting organisation. Currently, most of our host organisations are active in the fields of social therapy, curative education and care for the elderly. Hence, the tasks of the volunteers are usually related to the needs of people who are disabled or elderly and "in need of special care". All hosting organisations within our voluntary service scheme work on the basis of Anthroposophy. Many of them are located in a rural environment. Normally the hosting organisations are organised as communities where the employees live together with the persons they care for and arrange their everyday lives together. The volunteers are likewise integrated into the life of their hosting organisation.

We look for people who: bring along a strong individual motivation for voluntary work within a social institution are open towards sharing the life within a socially orientated community are seeking for self-awareness and are willing to gain experiences within a new cultural and working context. A special education or other formal qualification is no pre-condition It does not matter if someone just has left school, has already finished a university course or vocational training or has already been employed somewhere for a longer period of time.

Interested people are requested to intensively consider the consequences of living abroad for a longer period of time in an unfamiliar culture, of staying at a social institution together with people who are disabled and 'in need of special care', and, in doing so, of facing new ways of working, living and thinking. Every applicant should thoroughly read the leaflet about possible fields of work. Time frame The voluntary service starts in August or September and entails a 12-months stay in the hosting organisation.

During their service, the volunteers will receive the following benefits: a personal allowance of at least 150 per month free board and lodging, normally within the hosting organisation free health, accident and third-party liability insurance 20 days of seminars (free of charge) after their arrival, during their service and at the end of the stay help and assistance from 'Friends of Waldorf Education' contractually regulated holidays There is no participation fee. Travel costs to and from Germany, however, have to be paid for by the volunteer.

Applicants from Brasil and South Africa will receive additional assistance and preparation for the voluntary service through our local staff members. The costs for a possible preparation seminar at the home country have to be covered by the volunteers within a solidarity model. Applicants who already stay in Germany since more than 2 months at the time of their application pay a handling fee of 10 x 1,45 in stamps or 15 in cash.

Further Information - How to apply? You want to know more about the voluntary service in Germany? Please contact "Friends of Waldorf Education", preferably via email or phone. Information about the application procedure and the required application papers can be found online at www.freunde-waldorf.de/incoming at the german and the english language pages.

Contact persons: Mr Fritz Ritzmann 49 (0) 721 35 48 06 23 (German, English, French) and Mrs. Diana Grzinger 49 (0) 721 35 48 06 12 (German, Russian) Email: incoming@freunde-waldorf.de

Contact person in Brasil: Reinaldo Nascimento 55 (0)11 5851 53 70 Av. Toms de Souza, 552 r.nascimento@freunde-waldorf.de Jd. Monte Azul 05836-350 Sao Paulo - S.P. Brasil

Contact person in South Africa: Tobias Wrona, Centre for Creative Education, McGregor House, 4 Victoria Road, Plumstead, Cape Town, South Africa, (mobile) 27 (0) 76 378 3042, tobias@cfce.org.za