“International youth exchanges and trips are the purest form of political education and foster personal development in a unique way.”

Olli Tuth, from the START project at the Bauhaus Workshops

Why should all young people gain experience abroad?

Make international friends

Through international experiences, young people can make friends from other countries. By sharing experiences and perspectives, you can broaden your horizons and form new friendships that often last a lifetime.

Improve language skills

By interacting directly with people from other countries, you can improve your foreign language skills in an authentic setting and thereby enhance your communication skills.

Experience history firsthand

Visiting historical sites or talking to people who lived through historical events helps us understand history and its impact on our lives today.

Changing Perspectives

Interacting with people from other countries and cultures helps you question your own biases and stereotypes and develop a more open worldview.

Sparking curiosity to discover something new

When you travel, you discover new ideas and perspectives every day. This enthusiasm for other cultures and ways of life stays with you, and you’ll probably start feeling the urge to travel again before long.

Enabling foresight

International experiences help us develop an understanding of our globalized world and thereby foster an interest in international issues and contexts.

Promoting a cosmopolitan atmosphere in the city

Exchanges between young people from different countries and cultures help break down prejudices and resentment, fostering an atmosphere of tolerance and openness.

‘In today's globalised world, it's even more important than before that young people don't develop any fears of anything foreign at an early age.’

WHAT IS INTERNATIONAL YOUTH WORK?
International youth work is voluntary and extracurricular. Young people can take part in youth exchanges, work camps, voluntary services and internships lasting from one week to one year. In doing so, they develop key skills, strengthen their self-confidence, promote a sense of responsibility and social participation. Topics such as sustainability, democracy, art, culture and sport are integrated and contribute to shaping the globalised reality of life.

OFFERS FOR CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Eurodesk

Eurodesk is a European youth information network with national coordination centres in 36 countries that offers free, neutral advice and information on stays abroad in Europe and worldwide. There are around 50 active Eurodesk partners in Germany and we are one of them.

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Inernational internships

The training department of the state capital of Wiesbaden and the Bildungswerk der Hessischen Wirtschaft promote the involvement of young people in democratic life through international internships. They receive expert advice and support with the help of the Erasmus+ programme.
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of young people cannot leave Wiesbaden during the summer vacation.

OFFERS FOR PROFESSIONALS

Events

In verschiedenen regelmäßig stattfindenWe exchange ideas at various regular events and work together to expand international youth work in Wiesbaden. We also offer seminars and workshops for the further training of professionals and team members for international youth experiences abroad.Veranstaltungen tauschen wir uns aus und arbeiten gemeinsam am Ausbau der internationalen Jugendarbeit in Wiesbaden. Wir bieten außerdem Seminare und Workshops zur Weiterbildung von Fachkräften und Teamern für internationale Auslandserfahrungen von Jugendlichen.
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Eurodesk

Eurodesk advises professionals on national and European funding programmes in the areas of Europe, youth, education and more. The service centres provide information on Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps. They help with project funding and the organisation of events.
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Downloads

Three thematic sections are available in our download area:

Organizing a Trip – Resources for planning and conducting exchanges.

Methodology Toolkit – A collection of workshop outcomes and literature.

WWW Network – Minutes and documents from regular network meetings.

Available in German only

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‘The more normal intercultural encounters are, the less concern there is that foreign cultures could be dangerous.’

Jugendliche mit der Welt verbinden
With Wiesbaden International, the city has set itself the goal of preparing children and young people for life in a globalised world. To this end, every young person should have access to experience abroad. Well-prepared and accompanied international youth encounters and exchange programmes awaken an interest in discovering new things. They change perspectives, allow young people to experience history first-hand, enable them to see the bigger picture and thus contribute to a climate of cosmopolitanism in their own city.
Achieving this goal requires close cooperation between committed partners from the fields of education, politics, business and civil society. Adults must stand up for democratic coexistence and solidarity, create functioning support structures and framework conditions and lead the way as role models.
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Personalized consultation

Various counseling and support services help young people gain international experience. Those who would first like to learn about the range of options available can contact the Eurodesk advisory center in Wiesbaden. evim provides guidance on development volunteer service, while arco e.V. offers advice on the European Solidarity Corps, which was launched in 2019.

Internationalization of Apprenticeship training

The IndA project—Internationalization of Apprenticeship Training—provides guidance and support to local companies to help them facilitate international internships for young apprentices. Interested apprentices can also learn how to arrange an international internship as part of their training.

INTERNATIONAL YOUTH EXCHANGES

In Wiesbaden, organizations involved in youth work, vocational guidance for young people, school social work, and educational support collaborate to organize international youth exchanges, primarily for young people aged 13 and older. These exchanges take place in European countries such as Poland, Spain, Austria, and Greece, as well as in Israel, China, and Germany.

QUALIFICATION OF PROFESSIONAL STAFF

Through regular training and workshop opportunities (for example, in the areas of digital methods, learning about democracy, sustainability, etc.), we are working to provide IJA staff with skills training tailored to their needs. In collaboration with our network partners Haus am Maiberg and Stadtjugendring, we also offered a basic course on organizing youth exchanges for the first time in 2021.

STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT

Within an interdisciplinary network of colleagues from institutions across Germany active in international youth work, along with colleagues from the Department of Social Affairs and the Office for Municipal International Relations, local, national, and international trends in international youth work are discussed with the aim of strengthening and strategically developing Wiesbaden International.

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