Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr

The FSJ sees itself as an educational and orientation year for young people who have completed compulsory schooling but are not older than 27 years.

The FSJ as a special form of civic engagement for society offers not only the classic fields of application in many social areas but also opportunities in sports, culture, monument preservation and, since 2009, also in the field of politics. Three institutions in Lower Saxony also offer a FSJ abroad.

The FSJ is pedagogically accompanied in seminars and also in the deployment sites on site. Volunteers are also entitled to adequate pocket money and to food and accommodation where possible, or to appropriate cash compensation.

As a rule, the FSJ is completed for a period of twelve consecutive months. An extension for another six months is possible. Within the framework of special pedagogical concepts, volunteers can also commit themselves for up to 24 months. The minimum duration of a FSJ is six months.

Which documents are required for an application should be requested in good time from the sponsors or places of employment.

There are no fees.

The application deadlines are not uniform for all institutions and / or in all federal states. It is therefore recommended to contact the carriers directly as early as possible. The FSJ usually begins in the months of August / September.

Further information on the Voluntary Social Year can be found on the following websites.

The responsibility lies with the respective institution. Sponsors of the FSJ are the welfare associations, the religious communities and the churches. In addition to these legally recognised institutions, institutions recognised by the Land are also active. These carriers can be found on the following website.

Applications must be submitted informally directly to the institution.