Voluntary Ecological Year: Apply now for 2025/2026!

Voluntary Ecological Year: Apply now for 2025/2026!

In Schleswig-Holstein, the Voluntary Ecological Year (FÖJ) will be offered from August 1, 2025 for young people who want to get involved in protecting nature and the environment. This program is organized by various providers and is aimed at people who have completed school and are under 27 years old. If you are interested in such a valuable year, taking part in an FÖJ could be an excellent opportunity - not only to broaden your perspective, but also to actively contribute to nature.

The application deadline for the upcoming FÖJ ended on February 15, 2025, but there are still places available for the year 2025/2026. Every year around 180 to 190 volunteers start their FÖJ. Participants receive monthly compensation of 430 to 450 euros, which includes pocket money and subsidies for accommodation and meals. Volunteers are also entitled to 26 days of vacation, work clothes, tools and a volunteer ticket.

Insights into sponsorship

Overall, there are two main sponsors of the FÖJ in Schleswig-Holstein. On the one hand, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany, which offers ecological volunteer services in Koppelsberg, primarily in the areas of environmental education, nature conservation and organic agriculture. On the other hand, there is the sponsoring community for the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park, which includes the WWF and NABU, among others. These organizations offer young people an excellent opportunity to gain practical experience in nature - yes, to have their finger on the pulse of nature in a very simple way.

The FÖJ began in Schleswig-Holstein as a model project in 1991 with only 30 participants. Today it is an established part of volunteer services and has continued to develop since then. In 2024 there was criticism of the planned cuts in funding for voluntary services, but the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs promised that the funding would be stable until 2028, which offers the providers hope that the work will also be secured in the future.

Another interesting development is the creation of ten places specifically for young refugees, which have been available since 2017/18. This initiative shows how important it is to promote integration through commitment and environmental awareness.

A year for the environment

But what exactly can young people expect during their FÖJ? First of all, applicants must specify three desired positions and submit a letter of motivation and a CV. These are important steps in finding the right place for volunteers to contribute. Skills in the areas of ecosystems, sustainability and environmental education are deepened in various seminars throughout the year.

The volunteers were also connected to each other at a welcome seminar for international participants in August 2024, which offered a special experience with typical local dishes. The responsibility of the sponsors includes the selection of the deployment sites and the support of the participants to ensure an all-round positive experience oeko-jahr.de reported.

The Voluntary Ecological Year is not only an opportunity to actively support the environment, but also a chance to make new friends and further develop your own skills. So anyone who is interested in the coming year 2025/2026 has the opportunity to find out more on various platforms - because the application is open to all young people between the ages of 16 and 26.

With a clear focus on environmental protection and a committed community of volunteers, FÖJ can be a formative experience for many young people. It is important to inspire the young talents of tomorrow for nature and the environment and to enable them to become active themselves. The committed work in Schleswig-Holstein is carried out by ndr.de as well as bundes-freiwilligendienst.de accompanied and highlighted and shows how valuable and important a year can be for the environment.