Who we are

The International EMS Youth Network (JuNet) is a platform for young people in EMS member churches in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Germany. It campaigns for global solidarity, intercultural understanding and the meeting of Christians at local and global level. These concerns connect young people from all regional groups in the Youth Network. Together, they are part of the worldwide church fellowship of the Evangelical Mission in Solidarity (EMS). JuNet represents the political interests of youth in the EMS and sends two delegates to the biennial General Meeting.

We campaign for global solidarity, intercultural understanding and the meeting of Christians at local and global level – together with young people from Africa, Asia and the Middle East.

Many of the active young adults have completed, or are in the process of completing, a volunteer placement with the Ecumenical Youth Volunteer Programme of the EMS. However, anyone who relates to the concerns of JuNet and wishes to get involved is welcome.

What we do

The International EMS Youth Network not only supports the many volunteers who come to Germany, but is also involved in the preparatory seminar for North-South volunteers. The members of the Youth Network answer questions, report on their own experiences as volunteers, and encourage intercultural exchange. The Youth Network is a place, in which ideas are developed, and beliefs are born and passed on by multipliers. It is the interface, through which the perspectives of young people are conveyed within the EMS.

What we offer

JuNet is connected to regional youth networks within the EMS member churches in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Germany. It provides a forum for meetings and exchange. Global topics are discussed from various different angles. Young adults learn from each other, across borders. The contact with each other motivates the young people and strengthens their commitment. The meetings lead to friendships all over the world. As part of the global church community, the Youth Network is working on the future of the EMS.

Regional Groups

Within individual member churches and areas, there are regional groups of the International EMS Youth Network; some have been in existence for more than ten years already, while others were only formed recently. The regional groups are structured autonomously and set their own goals. Regular meetings are used to exchange personal experiences as ecumenical volunteers, to offer each other advice, to engage in religious and development issues, and to maintain contacts in an international context. All the groups have one thing in common: they want to be involved in shaping the future of the global union in the EMS Fellowship.

Regional Group, South Africa

Regional Group, Indonesia

Regional Group, Ghana

Regional Group, Germany

Regional Group, South Africa

Moravian Church in South Africa (MCSA)

The South African regional group, “EMS-MCSA Youth Network” has existed since June 2019, making it the youngest JuNet group. It was formed at the initiative of former EYVP volunteers Nangamso Tshula and Shaun Engel, in cooperation with the “Moravian Youth” organisation. The group has ambitious objectives: These include visiting church youth groups regularly and informing them about the global EMS Fellowship.

Regional Group, Indonesia

Indonesian EMS member churches

The Indonesian regional group unites young people from all nine EMS member churches in the island nation. The group was formed in 2014 as part of an international EMS youth workshop on the subject of Gospel and Culture”, which took place in Indonesia. Most of its members are former EYVP volunteers, who did their volunteer placement in Germany.

Regional Group, Ghana

Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG)

Youth work plays an important role in the ecclesiastical life of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG). A regional JuNet group has been in existence for more than ten years. It emerged from the PCG’s project work with young people, which is funded by the EMS. The Youth Network group is part of the PCG youth organisation and, as a rule, only meets on certain occasions that relate to the work of the EMS.

Regional Group, Germany

German EMS member churches

Young people from the five EMS member churches in Germany – predominantly former EYVP volunteers – are actively involved in the German regional group. They have recently been joined by participants from international EMS member churches, who are doing a “Voluntary Social Year Abroad” in one of the German member churches. Over the years, the group has taken on very different tasks: for example, it was substantially involved in the conception of the EMS “Youth Policy”.

In principal, every EMS member church is at liberty to found its own JuNet group. The initial impetus often comes from former volunteers, who are connected to network with other alumni from their church and wish to stay in touch with those actively involved in the network in Germany. In the meantime, there are now regional groups in Ghana, South Africa, Indonesia and Germany. The groups see themselves as an expansion of the church youth work, dealing particularly with such topics as ecumenism, intercultural encounters and global learning. They fit into the existing youth work structures and in no way wish to be seen as competition to those structures.

Youth Policy

How the “EMS Youth” defines itself, and how it envisages its involvement in EMS programmes, is stipulated in the “Youth Policy”. These guidelines were developed through international cooperation and are intended to give the voice of youth more weight in member churches. The Youth Policy was adopted by the EMS General Meeting on 7th December 2016 in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Youth Policy

Adopted by the EMS General Meeting on 7 December 2016 in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Thank you for your interest in the Youth Network. If you have any general questions, please use the contact form below. We are also happy to help you personally if you have any questions or require further information – by phone or by E-mail.