Set up your own development-related project
Past weltwärts returnees have developed countless projects, founded associations and set up networks – on their own, in groups or in cooperation with civil society organisations. This section is where to look for support for the action you’d like to take.
Need support to help you implement your project idea? Want to delve deeper into development-related issues? Looking to continue your engagement in after voluntary service and need information on how to finance your project? Wondering what training opportunities there are? Got ideas about how weltwärts could evolve? Then you’ve come to the right page!
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Discussing problems, experiences, perspectives and opportunities with returnees is often a great help, triggers new ideas and is hugely inspiring.
Nina Wiedemann, a weltwärts returnee who is continuing to play an active development role for her host organisation in India
Type of action
Already got a rough idea what type of action you would like to engage in and what for?
Then read on to find about some of the ways in which Engagement Global can help you.
Networking, advising, training
The Junges Engagement (Young Engagement) service run by the Bildung trifft Entwicklung (Education meets Development) programme can support your global learning engagement through advice, networking activities, training and funding.
Be it a flash mob, an upcycling project, a clothes-swap party or a movie night with a short presentation – the Junges Engagement regional education centres are the right place to turn to with your idea..
Sharing experiences
The Bildung trifft Entwicklung (Education meets Development) programme trains you to deliver global learning courses and puts you in touch with interested organisations. Pass on your knowledge about “one world” issues and your experiences of the Global South in courses for nurseries, schools, businesses or associations. Bildung trifft Entwicklung (BtE) helps promote a more sustainable form of globalisation through teaching units, workshops, project days and a range of other formats.
Carrying out small-scale information and education projects
The Programme for Action Groups (AGP) enables groups to apply for up to 2,000 euros of funding to carry out information and education projects in Germany. The funding is available for formats such as conferences, seminars, workshops and creative projects related to development. Fair trade exhibitions, seminars on migration and development, SDG project days at schools or film projects on environmental and climate protection are just some of the wide array of possibilities.
Conducting large-scale projects in Germany
In the Funding Programme for Development Education in Germany (FEB) you can team up with non-profit organisations to apply for funding for large-scale projects (including those lasting several years) in Germany in the field of development information and education. This funding can be used for activities such as congresses, conferences like the “undjetzt?!” conference or multi-year training courses.
To the Funding Programme for Development Education in Germany
Good to know
Are you a former South-North volunteer who’s returned home after an assignment in Germany and is interested in these programmes? To be eligible for Engagement Global funding, you normally have to be resident in Germany. But you’re bound to have made friends and acquaintances who live in Germany during your voluntary service and you could join forces with them to set up a project.
Opportunities for development action around the world
Besides the wide-ranging options provided by Engagement Global, there are numerous possibilities around the world:
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Get involved in PFIF (Political representation group for volunteers in international volunteering services)
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Actively support your sending/host organisation
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Team up with other returnees to set up a project
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Find out what’s happening in your city and share your ideas
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Take a look at what the United Nations Volunteers can offer you
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Discover more about the world of development work through an internship
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Look at the issues currently being dealt with in, for example, German development cooperation and think about which one(s) you’d like to get involved in
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Set up your own project
Be inspired
Once you’ve finished your voluntary service, there are loads of ways that you can continue your active engagement and practically no limits to the possibilities! We’ve put together some inspiring accounts of weltwärts returnees’ development activities for you to look at.
