IVCO 2010

Youth Programmes in Development

Germany‘s new
young volunteer program weltwärts

Jirka Vierhaus, German Development Service

A initiative of Germany‘s
• seeks to enhance intercultural understanding
• supports to increase awareness on 
dependencies of globalization
• promotes to learn about intercultural
communication
• helps to grow into social responsibility
• is “learning by serving”

• reinforce civil society structures in the 
Weltwärts reinforces civil society structures in 
developing countries and in Germany
the developing countries and in Germany
• Weltwärts is implemented through existing 
agencies, without special legislation, using 
simple procedures
• One of them is DED
DED – German Development Service

ƒ One of the leading European development services

for personnel cooperation
ƒ Currently 2 000 technical advisers in 47 countries
ƒ DED is working on behalf of the German Government
ƒ DED’s technical advisers: professionally experienced
and socially committed specialists
ƒ Duties: training, advisory, capacity building
ƒ Average age: 41
ƒ Young professional Program – average age 27

weltwärts with DED

ƒ Volunteer program for young people who are open-

minded, have interest for development cooperation
and are willing to learn from other cultures
ƒ 18 to 23 years of age
ƒ 12 month stay abroad
ƒ Assessment center and preparation course
ƒ Areas: work with children or young adults, education,
health care, environmental protection
ƒ Structure for Returnees to transmit their experiences
back into German society
Figures

ƒ Founded in 2007
ƒ DED: 2008: 301 volunteers
2009: 574 volunteers
2010: 833 (planned)
weltwärts with DED 28 countries
ƒ Besides DED, 235 sending agencies were accepted
ƒ Overall: 2008: 2257 volunteers
2009: 3525 Volunteers
2010: more than 4000 volunteers
will be assigned by all organizations

Thank you!