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Funding for the kulturweit (Bridging Cultures) international volunteer programme to end in 2027
Press release by the Federal Foreign Office and the German Commission for UNESCO
The programme has been promoting global‑mindedness among young people for 17 years.
The Federal Foreign Office will cease to provide funding for the kulturweit international volunteer programme next year due to extensive cost cuts which will also affect cultural relations and education policy. The last cohort of 300 volunteers will go abroad for six months in September 2026.
Dr Bernhard Kotsch, State Secretary at the Federal Foreign Office, issued the following statement:
This decision was not an easy one for us to take. kulturweit is an internationally recognised programme and has achieved a considerable amount since 2009. We are grateful to the German Commission for UNESCO, the outstanding kulturweit team, the participating partner organisations, and above all the many volunteers for 17 years of promoting international understanding, cultural cooperation and an authentic image of Germany abroad. The networks that have been established will remain a vital breeding ground for cultural relations and education policy which we will continue to maintain. Unfortunately, the budget situation is forcing us to halt the funding for kulturweit in the coming year.
The President of the German Commission for UNESCO, Professor Maria Böhmer, emphasised:
Through kulturweit we effectively promote global‑mindedness among young people. I therefore deeply regret the decision by the Federal Foreign Office. It affects a successful programme that brings people together in these times of increasing global tensions. We firmly believe that Germany needs young people with international skills who can build bridges in a closely connected world and thereby help promote peace, security and freedom. All this we have achieved through kulturweit. At the same time, we are proud of the international network we have created.
Since 2009, young people from Germany between the ages of 18 and 26 have, through kulturweit, been able to complete a voluntary social year at educational and cultural institutions abroad with close ties to Germany. Its partner organisations include the German Academic Exchange Service, the German Archaeological Institute, Deutsche Welle (DW) Akademie, the Goethe-Institut, the Educational Exchange Service in cooperation with the Central Agency for Schools Abroad, and numerous UNESCO National Commissions, biosphere reserves, World Heritage sites and geoparks around the world. Since 2015, kulturweit has also offered young people from abroad the opportunity to become acquainted with the work of educational and cultural institutions in Germany. All participants receive educational and financial support from the German Commission for UNESCO during their period of voluntary service.
More than 6500 people have already taken part in kulturweit – and the demand for the last secondment was still high. As native German speakers, kulturweit volunteers spark the interest of young people in schools worldwide, for example, in the German language and German society; they present an authentic, up-to-date image of Germany and thereby also play a part in attracting skilled workers. The voluntary social year with kulturweit is recognised as alternative civilian service under the Civilian Service Act and in the past proved to be a worthwhile alternative to military service. kulturweit was awarded the Quifd seal recognising quality in voluntary services on six occasions.
The programme currently receives funding to the tune of around five million euro annually from the Federal Foreign Office.