Helping others is what we do best

Volunteering

A voluntary social year (FSJ) allows you to...

Opportunities

  • Do something practical once you’ve left school
  • Try out a (new) career
  • Develop on a personal level
  • Pay your own way
  • Learn about the work of the diaconate

Benefits

  • Income (e.g. allowance)
  • Free accommodation and meals
  • At least 25 days in total of introductory and accompanying seminars
  • 26 days of annual leave
  • Time contributed to pension insurance scheme
  • Time viewed as a gap year for university admission
  • Scheme viewed as a preliminary internship for social careers and studies

Federal volunteers service (Bufdi)

Tasks and responsibilities

  • Care
  • Support
  • Transportation
  • Technical support

Important information on Bufdi

  • Age: You need be at least 16 years old (there is no maximum age limit)
  • Duration: 6 to 12 months with the option to extend to 18 months
  • Start date: July to March
  • Welfare benefits, allowance, meals, potentially accommodation or grant for public transport costs
  • For volunteers under 27 years old: Training programme equating to 25 days (spread out over 12 months)
  • Volunteers over the age of 27 have a part-time option starting from 20 hours a week