Voluntary Ecological Year; Application

The Voluntary Ecological Year (FÖJ) is an educational and orientation year for young people between the ages of 16 and 26 who want to spend a year working and learning voluntarily in a nature conservation and environmental protection or environmental education institution.

The FÖJ imparts basic ecological knowledge and offers the opportunity to orientate oneself professionally as well as to develop personality and environmental awareness in dealing with nature and the environment. It is carried out on a full-time or part-time basis as predominantly practical work at suitable locations.

Participation in 5 one-week seminars is compulsory. These serve the purpose of environmental education and education on sustainability, the exchange of experiences and support in questions of personal and professional life planning.

FÖJ placement locations: Environmental and nature conservation authorities, forest experience centers, organic agriculture and horticulture, youth centers, forest kindergartens, educational institutions such as environmental stations, fair trade, research institutions and technical environmental protection, environmental and youth associations.

The FÖJ can only be completed with an organization approved by the Bavarian State Ministry for the Environment and Consumer Protection. These organizations are responsible for the proper implementation of the educational support and selection of the places of assignment.

Participants generally commit themselves for one year. As in the Voluntary Social Year, they receive pocket money, free board and lodging or corresponding reimbursement of costs, social insurance cover and vacation. Child benefit or orphan's pension are usually paid.

No volunteer may have reached the age of 26 at the start of the FÖJ. This means that no FÖJ volunteer may turn 27 during the FÖJ.