Programmes for INCOMING volunteers
Interested overseas applicants who would like to take part in a voluntary service in Germany can make use of our INCOMING programmes in the following sectors:

If you are interested in working in a social institution, the Voluntary Social Year, the Federal Voluntary Service, the “weltwärts” South-North programme or the European Voluntary Service are the best options for you.
Possible deployment sites include daycare centres, schools, hospitals, facilities for people with disabilities, for people with mental health illnesses or for senior citizens (the elderly).
Possibilities for voluntary services in particular federal states/regions:
Berlin:
- Applicants from most European countries can participate in the European Solidarity Corps. For further information send us an email to evs.berlin@ijgd.de.
- Applicants from Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Thailand, Ecuador, Mexico and Nicaragua can take part in the “weltwärts” South-North programme. Applications must be sent directly to our partner organisations in the country of origin. Our partner organisations are:
Ghana: Agricultural Rural Development Association (ARA)
Kenya: Center for International Voluntary Service (CIVS)
Tanzania: UVIKIUTA
Togo: Association Togolaise de Volontaires au Travail (ASTOVOT)
Uganda: Uganda Pioneers' Association (UPA)
India: Upliftment of Democratic and Village Improvement Society (UDAVI); Field Services and Inter-Cultural Learning (FSL India)
Indonesia: Gerakan Kerelawanan Internasional (GREAT)
Nepal: Friendship Foundation Nepal (FFN)
Thailand: International Volunteers for Social Development Association (DaLaa)
Ecuador: Fundación Proyecto Chiriboga
Mexico: Voluntarios Internacionales México (VIMEX); Vive México
Nicaragua: Centro de Desarrollo Rural (CEDRU)
For further information, please send us an email to aala@ijgd.de
Lower Saxony and Hamburg:
Applicants from most European countries can apply for a European Voluntary Service (EVS). For further information, please send us an email to evs.nord@ijgd.de
North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW):
Applicants from an EU member state can apply for a European Voluntary Service with the ijgd Bonn.
Application and contact
Applicants from Armenia, Belarus, China, Madagascar, Russia, Togo, Tunesia and Ukraine must directly apply with our partner organisation in the respective country.
Applicants that cannot be represented through the above mentioned partner organisations and cannot introduce themselves in person at the deployment site in Germany will not be accepted.
Saxony-Anhalt:
Applicants from abroad will find further information (only in German) here.
Schleswig-Holstein:
Applicants from abroad will find further information (only in German) here.

If you are interested in craftwork and restoration, the Voluntary Social Year in Monument Preservation may be very interesting for you: in 13 “Jugendbauhütten” nationwide you can gain insight into monument preservation as an international volunteer (both practical and theoretical insight).
Possible deployment sites are: craft workshops, restoration, architecture and planning offices, heritage authorities and associations of monument conservation and preservation, conservation and restoration/ archaeology, museums, archives, museums and other cultural institutions, historical gardens and parks.
It is important that you are not afraid to trying new things and to work with your hands or outside in nature. Further information regarding the Voluntary Social Year in Monument Preservation can be found here.
Applicants from abroad can apply here directly:
fsj.denkmalpflege@ijgd.de
German-Polish “Jugendbauhütte” in Stralsund/Szczecin
There are primarily German and Polish youth working together in the German-Polish “Jugendbauhütte” in Stralsund/Szczecin. Therefore applications from Polish youth are particularly welcome.
Application and contact
International Jugendbauhütte Historic Garden Preservation
If you are interested in historic garden conservation (with a focus on conservation and restoration of garden and park facilities, botany) there is a possibility to become involved in the international Jugendbauhütte Historic Garden Conservation programme.
Applicants from European countries can apply for a European Voluntary Service (EVS). Applicants from other countries can apply for a Federal Voluntary Service. Further information can be found (in German) here.
Please consider which programme might suit your interests and apply at best only to one programme and in only one state with a letter of motivation. As we receive many applications from abroad, we advise you to apply early.