- Berlin commemorates six decades of voluntary service-oriented time period
For six decades, the youth in Germany, specifically Berlin, have had the opportunity to participate in a Voluntary Social Year (FSJ). This significant milestone is being commemorated in Berlin with a celebration organized by the Berlin State Working Group on Voluntary Services. The event featured a speech from Berlin's Senator for Youth and Family, Katharina Günther-Wünsch (CDU).
Approximately 2,000 young individuals partake in an FSJ annually, collaborating with one of the 30 organizations situated in Berlin. Swantje Navasery, the spokesperson for the state working group, echoes, "Voluntary services contribute to societal harmony." She shared with the German Press Agency that an FSJ encourages social integration by uniting individuals from various social, cultural, and religious backgrounds, thereby fostering democracy.
Engaging with children and youth is a preferred choice among many FSJ participants. Many opt for a role in the health sector as a prelude to medical school. Most volunteers are recent graduates, ranging in age from 16 to 20.
Navasery reiterates, "Numerous individuals pursue a profession through FSJ." Others grapple with their futures and utilize the FSJ as a break before selecting a degree or apprenticeship. The majority of volunteers hail from Berlin due to financial limitations, earning an allowance between 350 to 450 euros per month, usually residing with their families.
Navasery advocates for a federally funded volunteer allowance that mirrors the highest BAföG rate (992 euros) to allow for more positions to be filled, as Berlin, unfortunately, experiences a scarcity of applicants for these roles.
Despite the positive impact of FSJ on German youth, the Commission has not yet adopted a decision on the application of Article 93 (2) of the Treaty, which could potentially expand funding and opportunities for volunteers nationwide. The lack of a decision has prompted Navasery to call for a federally funded volunteer allowance, aiming to attract more participants and address the current scarcity of applicants in Berlin.
