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Are you interested in creating a project to interconnect two sister cities? Do you enjoy to work self-sufficient and want to learn more about the administration of a city? If the answer to both is “Yes”, then this ESC Voluntary Service is your chance – come to Bremen and support the Senate Chancellery of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen in their activities!
Dates: 01.08.2023 – 31.07.2024
Location: Bremen, Germany
Hosting Organisation: Freie Hansestadt Bremen Senatskanzlei (Free Hanseatic City of Bremen, Senate Chancellery)
In collaboration with the Senate Chancellery, we are looking for one volunteer from the following countries: Latvia, Turkey, Poland, Ukraine and Israel. Preferably from the cities Riga, Izmir, Gdansk, Odessa and Haifa but you may also apply if you are connected to one of those cities in a certain way.
About your hosting organisation
The Department of International Relations and Development Cooperation of the Senate Chancellery of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen is responsible for city partnerships, international networks and development cooperation. This is where the international relations of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen come together and are coordinated. The department supports all actors, both within the administration and in cooperation with a broad network of non-governmental organisations, civil society initiatives, cultural institutions, schools, universities, companies and many others in achieving common goals. Important cross-cutting themes that run through many of the partnerships are the implementation of sustainable development goals, joint remembrance and reconciliation work, education and youth empowerment or issues of integration and inclusion. Twin cities are Gdansk, Riga, Haifa, Izmir, Durban and Dalian. A town twinning between Bremen and Odessa is currently being established. Bremen is linked with Windhoek through a city friendship, and there is also a country cooperation with Namibia.
As a volunteer you will have an opportunity to:
- Work in a multicultural group of experts from different areas.
- Help strengthen partnerships with youth exchange.
- Reach new target groups through social media or help increase the visibility of the networking activities of the international work in Bremen.
- Develop your own ideas and turn them into a project.
You can choose to apply for one of these two profiles:
Profile #1 – Youth Connected!
As “Youth Ambassador” you will represent your home town, the twin city in the country where you are from or you feel connected to. The focus of your work will be on the relations of these two cities where, the main goal is to strengthen and promote youth participation and youth exchange as well as to contribute to intensify the town twinning with your own project idea. That means, you will:
- Work together with actors in youth work, youth groups and schools from Bremen and the twin towns
- Get to know the administrative apparatus of Bremen
- Have the opportunity to take part in (international) events
- Initiate and implement youth exchanges
- Support the relationship and cooperation between your twin town and Bremen in particular
- Help to address younger target groups to educate about the concept of town twinning
- Prepare and manage your own project and design a concept (including implementation) for international youth activities in order to integrate the perspectives of young people in the international context of Bremen and to expand youth participation via various formats.
Profile #2 – Online Connected!
As “Online Ambassador” you will develop a social media/online strategy with particular focus on the partnership activities of the partner cities/international networks and Bremen. The main goal is to support the team in increasing the visibility and external impact of the town twinning. That means, you will:
- Get to know the administrative apparatus of Bremen
- Have the opportunity to take part in (international) events
- Develop, coordinate and implement a (new) social media and online presence
- Get involved creatively on various social media and online platforms/formats
- Reach out to younger target group through initiating and establishing online activities
- Create individual social media campaigns or an online exhibition of the partnership relations between partner cities and Bremen
- Support the relationship and cooperation between your twin town and Bremen in particular
- Prepare and manage your own project and design a concept (including implementation) for international youth activities in order to integrate the perspectives of young people in the international context of Bremen and to expand youth participation via various formats.
Logistics
NaturKultur e.V will be the coordinating organization in charge of all logistical matters.
You will be accommodated in your own room a flat in Bremen with 4 other ESC volunteers.
Bremen is a city in North-West Germany (around 500.000 inhabitants), not far from the North Sea coast. It is a vibrant, multi-cultural city with a lot of young people and both a historical center and newer areas of towns.
As an ESC volunteer, you will receive health insurance, 150€ monthly pocket money, 252,32€ for living expenses. Travel costs will be reimbursed depending on the travel distance (normally between 180€-360€).
You will be supported by a Coordinator and a Mentor to help you get settled in your work place and the city of Bremen. You will also receive German language lessons of 1 hour per week.
But – how is it to volunteer in Bremen?
You can check out our Instagram Account @volunteersofbremen
And if you’d rather watch a video – here you can check out some stories from our volunteers.
Or find out more about Maria, who was volunteering in a school in Bremen.
You can apply, if you…
- … are a resident of the cities Riga, Izmir, Gdansk, Odessa or Haifa or have some sort of connection to one of these cities.
- … between 18-30 years old (on the day you start your ESC).
- … can communicate in English (B2 or more) and/or German (A2 or more) and/or are willing to improve your foreign language skills
- … have a high level of motivation, desire for self-development and readiness to work with different age groups
- …take initiative and want to implement your own project idea
- … love to be creative and motivated about making a positive change in society
- … are an open-minded person, motivated to work in a team and with people from different religious, cultural and social backgrounds
In short, this ESC project will give you the opportunity to learn and gain experience in a new professional environment, develop your self-awareness and knowledge about people with different backgrounds, learn more about a new culture and language, find your strengths and interests in an unforgettable, unique year in Bremen! The voluntary service is financed by European Solidarity Corps. The mission of the ESC is to bring people from different backgrounds together to form a society based on mutual acceptance, solidarity and cohesion.
Any questions? Please contact Lina at [email protected].
If you would like to apply simply fill out the form below. You will be asked for your own project idea, take your time to think about it before filling the form.
Application Deadline: 26.02.2023
We will get back to you after the end of the deadline.