“kulturweit” (Bridging Cultures)

“kulturweit” volunteers talking to “their” Ambassador
© Köhler/Photothek

“kulturweit” volunteers talking to “their” Ambassador

The “kulturweit” programme gives young people between 18 and 26 years of age the chance to take part in cultural volunteer work abroad. The volunteers live and work for 6 or 12 months in a different cultural environment, acquiring first-hand experience of other cultures and countries. The programme’s partner organizations offer a range of voluntary placements in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe. The volunteers take on all kinds of tasks, including organizing projects in a branch office of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the Goethe-Institut or the German Archaeological Institute or working in a German school (helping with homework, drama and other school activities).

Send-off for young “kulturweit” volunteers

Minister of State Cornelia Pieper with “kulturweit” volunteer Kerstin Martin in Nanjing

Communicating contemporary Germany to people abroad – that is the aim of the 173 young people who set off in September 2010 for their new postings as “kulturweit” volunteers. At a send-off at the Federal Foreign Office for “kulturweit” volunteers attending pre-posting induction seminars, officials emphasized how important personal contact is for mutual understanding.

The “kulturweit” volunteer programme is the Federal Foreign Office’s newest cultural relations and education policy initiative. By volunteering for “kulturweit”, young people between the ages of 18 and 26 have the opportunity to live and work for 6 or 12 months in a different cultural environment. The young volunteers help communicate to the wider world an up-to-date image of contemporary Germany.

Close cooperation with partners

The Federal Foreign Office is most grateful to partner countries for hosting the volunteers as well as to the partner organizations that help make “kulturweit” possible.

"kulturweit"

The partner organizations offering placements abroad for “kulturweit” volunteers include the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the German Archaeological Institute (DAI), the German Commission for UNESCO (DUK), Deutsche Welle (DW), the Goethe-Institut (GI), the Educational Exchange Service (PAD) and the Federal Office of Administration – Central Agency for Schools Abroad (ZfA).

The German Commission for UNESCO is the body responsible for programme implementation.

Only online applications accepted

For further details about applying as a “kulturweit” volunteer, including the relevant deadlines, go to: www.kulturweit.de

Last updated 17.04.2010

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