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Weltwärts Voluntary Service

Young people who want to spend a few months abroad after finishing school or vocational training will, sooner or later, come across the weltwärts programme. It is one of the best-known development volunteer schemes in Germany and offers the opportunity to undertake a placement in countries of the Global South, combined with preparation, support and solid financial security. Unlike purely privately organised stays abroad, weltwärts focuses on the mutual learning process: volunteers play an active role in projects and, at the same time, bring many new perspectives back with them to Germany. In this article, we explain what the programme is all about, what the eligibility criteria are and how a weltwärts placement works in practice.

What is the weltwärts voluntary service?

Weltwärts was launched in 2008 by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The idea behind it is a so-called ‘learning service’: volunteers support projects in areas such as education, health, the environment or social work, whilst at the same time learning a great deal about the respective culture and the development policy challenges of the host country. The placement usually lasts between six and 24 months, with twelve months being the most common duration. The programme is run by around 120 recognised German organisations, each of which works with its own partner projects in the various host countries.

Eligibility criteria

To take part in the programme, a number of basic criteria must be met:

  • A minimum age of 18; applications may be submitted from the age of 17
  • An age limit of 28 as a general rule; in exceptional cases or for people with disabilities, up to 35
  • A school-leaving or vocational qualification, or equivalent aptitude
  • German citizenship or permanent right of residence in Germany

An interest in social and development-related engagement is also a prerequisite; however, specific language skills in the respective host country are usually an advantage, but not a strict requirement. Good health, enabling a prolonged stay abroad, also plays a role in the selection process, although a health condition or disability does not, by any means, automatically rule out participation.

How does a weltwärts placement work?

Applications are not submitted directly to the BMZ, but via recognised sending organisations, which act as a link between the volunteers and the local project organisers. These organisations select the volunteers, prepare them for their stay abroad and support them throughout their time there and upon their return to Germany. Before departure, there are usually preparatory seminars lasting several days, during which intercultural skills are taught and practical questions regarding health, safety and everyday life in the host country are addressed. This structure clearly distinguishes development aid in the Philippines through weltwärts from spontaneous, privately organised stays abroad without a fixed link to an organisation.

Funding and Support Network

The costs of a weltwärts placement are largely publicly funded:

  • aThe BMZ generally covers up to 75 per cent of the total costs
  • The remaining funds are covered by a solidarity-based contribution from the sponsoring organisation, the host organisation and the volunteers
  • Many volunteers set up a so-called support network comprising family, friends and acquaintances to help with this
  • Accommodation and meals on site are usually provided by the host organisation

In many cases, entitlement to child benefit is also maintained during the placement, as weltwärts is recognised by the state as a period of training. Travel and insurance costs are also usually covered by the grant, meaning that volunteers can go abroad with a high degree of financial security without having to build up significant personal savings.

Weltwärts in the Philippines

Within the weltwärts network, there are numerous placement opportunities in Asia, including projects in the Philippines. A weltwärts voluntary service in the Philippines often sees volunteers working in children’s homes, school projects or community work, where they engage directly with local people over a period of several months. Tasks range from supporting day-to-day school life to working in social care organisations, always as part of a programme comprising preparation, ongoing support and a final debriefing seminar.

Anyone interested in such a voluntary placement in the Philippines should bear a few practical points in mind:

  • Applications are submitted directly to a weltwärts sending organisation, not to the BMZ itself
  • There is usually just under a year of preparation between the initial application and departure
  • Intercultural seminars and language courses are an integral part of the preparation
  • Plans to build a support network should be made well in advance

This type of placement is particularly suitable for people who want to do more than just provide short-term help; they want to become part of a project over a longer period. Anyone who chooses to work for an NGO in the Philippines as part of the weltwärts programme not only gains practical experience in social work, but also learns how development projects are actually organised and funded in day-to-day practice. The combination of government funding, structured preparation and personal support makes this voluntary service one of the best-organised ways to carry out practical development work abroad whilst learning a great deal about other ways of life.
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