North-South Exchange

If you wish to take part in the EYVP, you should meet the following formal prerequisites: You should be between 18 and 28 years of age at the time of departure in August and have completed a vocational training or school leaving qualification. A good basic knowledge of English is important. In the case of a placement in Cameroon, a good basic knowledge of French is necessary. You should also be prepared to learn the respective regional and national language of the host country. German citizenship or a permanent residence permit for Germany are also prerequisite for participation. Before departing, you must have a medical certificate, which certifies that there are no concerns, from a medical point of view, regarding an overseas stay in the respective host country. Furthermore, an extended police clearance certificate is also required, as this is necessary for work with children and young people.

You should be prepared to see the world through different eyes, have fun doing so, discover other mindsets and lifestyles, and learn from your experiences. An interest in development-policy issues and global topics is also particularly important to us. Voluntary and social activities – for example, in church work with children and young people, in politics and in societies – are also desired. You should be open to gaining experience and getting involved in Christian communities. All placements are run by the church and religion is more present in everyday life in the host countries than it is in Germany. Furthermore, you should also recognise the basic conditions of our programme. This includes attending our mandatory seminars in Germany and abroad, and regularly reporting on your experiences on our blog page.

You can view blog entries from former volunteers here. They give you an initial impression of what form a volunteer placement with the EYVP can take.

Once you have been accepted onto the programme, an intensive period of preparation begins with two seminars. The EYVP team accompanies you through all the organisational steps up to your outward journey. The first three-day seminar takes place at the end of March, leaving sufficient time to apply for visas and complete other formalities. Shortly before your departure, an extensive nine-day seminar takes place in July, in order to prepare you for all important topics and issues. You may not depart unless you have attended the seminars.

During your time abroad, you will have direct contact persons on site. In addition, experienced mentors will also support you in any issues regarding your placement. A team of educational specialists and former volunteers supports you from Germany. After the first half of the placement, a mid-term evaluation is performed. Your assignment does not end with your return to Germany, but with the evaluation seminar at the end of August. Here, experiences are reflected on and evaluated, highlighting learning experiences.

The EMS accepts the costs of accompanying seminars for all volunteers. It also bears the costs of overseas health insurance, accident and liability insurance, vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis (where necessary in the geographic region), as well as board and lodging at the placement. Furthermore, there is a monthly allowance of between € 50 and € 100, which may vary depending on the host country. Visa costs are borne by the volunteers themselves. Who bears the cost of flights also depends on the host country. Placements in Japan and Korea are not supported by the state. As such, volunteers must bear the costs of flights to and from the destination, as well as visa costs. For all other placements, we receive state subsidies from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), as part of the ‘weltwärts’ programme. These placements are subsidised accordingly and the cost of the volunteer’s flights are accepted.

The Evangelical Mission in Solidarity is dedicated to achieving a world, in which people can live a self-determined and dignified life. In solidarity with the ostracised, the marginalised and the vulnerable, we are working towards just and humane living conditions. We encourage respectful conduct towards one another – regardless of culture and religion. We share our resources with people in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. We learn from and with one another; we make decisions together. We are committed to peaceful dialogue, the fight against poverty, and healthcare provision. By participating in the EYVP, volunteers not only get to know the EMS better, but also the diverse lifestyles and realities of life in their host countries. Ecumenical and global learning is very practical and takes place in solidarity. The EMS Fellowship hopes that the intercultural, ecumenical and developmental experiences the volunteers gain during their placement will have a sustainable impact on them and encourage them to get involved beyond their placement, at societal level and within the EMS Fellowship.

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Want to get involved in development-policy activities in Germany after your placement? We support you in this regard with a wide range of options for returning volunteers. In order to be methodically and didactically prepared, you can train to become a multiplier for global learning. Or network with other former volunteers in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Germany, through theInternational Youth Network (JuNet). Current South-North volunteers attend JuNet meetings in Germany – a good opportunity to meet people from your host country beyond the volunteer service. You can obviously also continue to work within the EYVP and to support us in the selection procedure and seminar organisation. Or you could accompany current volunteers as a “buddy”, both as they prepare for their placement and during that placement. Youth is also represented in the EMS bodies. The Mission Council summons two youth delegates to the General Meeting. They bring to bear the concerns of volunteers and members of the Youth Network.

The EYVP offers a variety of placements. As the programme is funded by weltwärts, the volunteer placements must be recognised providers of the “Bundesfreiwilligendienst” (BFD) and promote civil society engagement. Placements can be in schools, Christian community centres, kindergartens, youth and adult education centres as well as other social and community projects. Volunteers work 39 hours a week.

Despite the language barrier, volunteers quickly find their way into these areas of work. In their free time, volunteers can also get involved in the church community, for example by helping to organise church events, assisting in confirmation classes or taking an active part in children's and youth groups. Living and working together gives volunteers an insight into the local church culture, different ways of life and world views.

Please note that while volunteers should be allowed to actively participate in their placement, they should not replace full-time staff. During the one-year voluntary service, participants are entitled to 30 working days' holiday. Accompanying seminars (at least 25 days per year) and German courses are considered working time.

In addition to the placement site, EMS also arranges contacts with local church or partnership groups.

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The EYVP team coordinates the exchange, works with the sending churches to identify suitable volunteers and organises their travel (visa, flights, etc.).

Once the candidates have been selected, the EYVP team coordinates the assignements of the volunteers with the host churches and enables them to get to know each other via video conference.

When the volunteers have arrived, the EYVP organises the pedagogic support during their service.

On site, the mentors are responsible for supervising the volunteers. Ideally, they are not direct colleagues or supervisors.

The host country usually covers the costs of accommodation, meals, language courses and, if necessary, public transport. EMS pays for a German preparation course, the flight, insurance, seminars and a small amount of pocket money.

There are no costs for the volunteers, but they are expected to pay for small expenses such as snacks and public transport during the preparation period in their home country.

Before you can enroll volunteers, your organisation must be approved as a placement site by the Federal Volunteer Service.

To find out how to become a placement site and what you need to do, click on the link below.

The EYVP team will be happy to assist you with your application.

https://www.bundesfreiwilligendienst.de/fuer-einsatzstellen/anerkennung-als-einsatzstelle

If you wish to take part in the EYVP, you must meet the following formal prerequisites: You must be aged between 18 and 27 at the time of departure and be actively involved in a church within the EMS Fellowship in Africa, Asia or the Middle East. A very good knowledge of English is essential, and you should be willing to learn German. You should be prepared to see the world through different eyes, have fun, explore other ways of thinking and living, and learn from your experiences. An interest in development-policy issues and global topics is also important to us. Voluntary and social activities – for example, in church work with children and young people – are also desired. Furthermore, you are expected to recognise the basic conditions of our programme. This includes attending our mandatory seminars.

Are you interested? Please contact Regine Nagel for more information.

For general information about the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity, please visit https://ems-online.org/en/about-us.

The term “South-North”

The designation of the exchange directions is not meant geographically, but is a political term, like “global south” and “global north”. Global south is the term used to describe the group of countries consisting of developing and emerging nations. In contrast, the countries in the global north are the wealthier industrialised nations. It is understood as a neutral term, as a replacement for the more judgemental use of developing and emerging countries. The Ecumenical Youth Volunteers Programme (EYVP) is aware that defining the exchange directions as “North-South”, “South-North” and “South-South”, can sometimes be confusing and is by no means accurate – neither geographically nor politically. It is an attempt to use a term that is sufficiently concise for promotional purposes and “as non-discriminatory as possible”.

During the one year placement in Germany, all volunteers are required to attend at least 25 seminar days. Typically, they are divided in 4 separate seminars: the introductory seminar (at the beginning of their time in Germany), the mid-term seminar (in July or August), and the evaluation seminar (at the end of the one year placement).

The introductory seminar is an opportunity to get to know one another and for initial content-related discussions surrounding one’s own role as a volunteer. In the mid-term seminar, the volunteers reflect on their experiences so far and plan their remaining time. Social and development issues are also discussed here. The evaluation seminar looks back at the past year and prepares the volunteers for returning to their home countries. These seminars are classed as work time. The seminars take place in the EMS office in Stuttgart. During the seminars, volunteers are accommodated at Stuttgart Youth Hostel.

The fourth seminar is organised and conducted by the Bundesfreiwilligendienst and is compulsory for all weltwärts volunteers. The aim of the seminar is to deal with political and social issues in Germany.

If you wish to take part in the EYVP, you must meet the following formal prerequisites: You must be aged between 18 and 30 at the time of departure and be actively involved in a church within the EMS Fellowship in Africa, Asia or the Middle East. A good basic knowledge of English is important, and you should be willing to learn the local language of the host country. You should be prepared to see the world through different eyes, have fun, explore other ways of thinking and living, and learn from your experiences. An interest in development-policy issues and global topics is also important to us. Voluntary and social activities – for example, in church work with children and young people – are also desired. Furthermore, you should also recognise the basic conditions of our programme. This includes composing a final report.

Are you interested? Then please start by contacting a representative at your local church or a member of the EMS Mission Council. Should your local church support your plans, we will send you the application forms. Please include a short cover letter with your application. Ensure that it is clear, comprehensible, and avoid abbreviations. Be genuine! It is important for us to get to know you as a person and to get a realistic impression of who you are.

The EYVP is pleased to hear from committed, reliable and responsible applicants.

Please note: Preparations for the exchange take a year. Visa issues, medical examinations, language courses, and the clarification of issues regarding placements and host families, are time-consuming. Please apply in good time.

Placements

The church or partnership group provides volunteers with a placement in a social organisation or within the church community itself – as a rule, volunteers support staff at a kindergarten or the church community’s youth and women’s groups. Despite the language barrier, volunteers soon find their feet in these areas of application. Other conceivable tasks could include helping to stage community events, assisting with Bible lessons, and supporting the ecclesiastical visiting service for the ill and elderly. Living and working together offers volunteers an insight into the local church culture, foreign ways of life, and world ideologies.

Please note that, while volunteers should have the opportunity to be actively involved in their placements, they should by no means be seen as a ‘replacement’ for employees. Volunteers are primarily there to offer additional support, not to replace full-time employees.

Locally, mentors are responsible for supporting the volunteers. Ideally, they are not direct colleagues, superiors or members of the host family.

Should specific knowledge be required for the assignment, please inform us of this in good time, so that it can be considered when selecting volunteers.

What do we represent?

The Evangelical Mission in Solidarity is dedicated to achieving a world, in which people can live a self-determined and dignified life. In solidarity with the ostracised, the marginalised and the vulnerable, we are working towards just and humane living conditions. We encourage respectful conduct towards one another – regardless of culture and religion. We share our resources with people in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Middle East. We learn from and with one another; we make decisions together.

Secretariat in Stuttgart

The secretariat in Stuttgart is responsible for the ongoing affairs of the EMS. The secretariat’s tasks include promoting and implementing joint projects within the EMS Fellowship, acquiring donations and funds, and cooperating on campaigns and promotions for peace, justice and the integrity of creation. The “Ecumenical Youth Volunteers Programme” (EYVP) is an EMS programme and is organised and supervised by the secretariat in Stuttgart.

The term “South-South”

The designation of the exchange directions is not meant geographically, but is a political term, like “global south” and “global north”. Global south is the term used to describe the group of countries consisting of developing and emerging nations. In contrast, the countries in the global north are the wealthier industrialised nations. It is understood as a neutral term, as a replacement for the more judgemental use of developing and emerging countries. The Ecumenical Youth Volunteers Programme (EYVP) is aware that defining the exchange directions as “North-South”, “South-North” and “South-South”, can sometimes be confusing and is by no means accurate – neither geographically nor politically. It is an attempt to use a term that is sufficiently concise for promotional purposes and “as non-discriminatory as possible”.

Responsibility

Employees of the Ecumenical Youth Volunteers Programme coordinate the exchange, search for suitable volunteers, contact their local churches, support the sending church community with preparations for the departure (visa, flight, etc.), and undertake pedagogical support during the placement. The EYVP employees are contact persons for the volunteers, the sending churches and the inviting churches. EYVP employees remain in close contact with the volunteers. Together with the EYVP employees, the sending church selects a suitable participant. During travel preparations, the sending church assists the participants with any important issues – particularly obtaining a visa.

Costs

For all volunteers, the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity bears the costs of travel to and from the placement location, overseas health insurance, and accident and liability insurance. Important: additional costs arising as a result of illness, an accident or liability, which are not covered by insurance, cannot be borne by the sending church or the EMS. Volunteers also receive an allowance of up to € 100 per month of placement, which varies depending on the region. The sending church bears any costs relating to the acquisition of a visa. The inviting church organises accommodation for the volunteer and takes care of their board during the placement period. Volunteers bear the costs of vaccinations (in some countries, certain vaccinations are mandatory). The volunteers also bear any additional personal costs (food, phone calls, post and excess baggage).