All about your Freiwilligendienst

Accidents at Work

If an accident occurs during working hours, it must be reported directly to the relevant professional association by the placement site. It's also advisable to inform your education coordinator (Bildungsreferent*in) at the DRK in such a situation.

Age

You can volunteer as a Freiwillige*r, if you*ve completed your compulsory education. More precisely:

Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr (FSJ):
age 15 - 26

Bundesfreiwilligendienst (BFD):

age 15 and older (no age limit)

ALG ii (Unemployment Benefits)

A voluntary service is generally possible for individuals receiving ALG II (unemployment benefits). During the service, there is no obligation to take up employment. The allowance is offset against ALG II.

Allowance

In the Youth Voluntary Service, you currently receive a monthly allowance of €450. This allowance includes a contribution for accommodation and meals. For the BFD 27plus, the allowance depends on the working time model and ranges between €330 and €490 per month.

Application

The process is handled through the website www.freiwilligendienste-rlp.de. You will need the following documents:

• Last school certificate (always required)
• Driver's license (if applicable)
• Visa/residence permit (if applicable)
• Curriculum vitae (for BFD 27plus)
• Employment reference (for BFD 27plus)

BFD

See youth volunteering service

BFD 27plus

his voluntary service is aimed at individuals who are older than 27 years. It can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. Instead of educational weeks, there are 12 educational days to be attended over 12 months of service.

Certificates

You will receive several certificates from us. The first one is provided at the beginning of your service. It includes the expected duration of your service and can be used, for example, when dealing with authorities. At the end of your service, you will receive a completion certificate indicating the actual duration of your service. To qualify for such a completion certificate, a minimum of six months of service must be completed.

If you need a current certificate earlier, please contact your education coordinator at the DRK. In such cases, you can obtain a provisional certificate, for instance, for job applications.

Certificate of Conduct (Führungszeugnis)

A certificate of conduct (Führungszeugnis) must be provided to the placement site when working with children and adolescents. You won't incur any costs if you have proof of the necessity for this document. You will receive such a letter from your future placement site.

Child Benefit

Your entitlement to child benefit continues during your voluntary service until you reach your 25th birthday. A certificate for the family allowance office will be provided to you along with your agreement before the start of the service.

Conflicts

If you encounter any issues during your service, always reach out directly to your supervisor. They will be happy to assist you. If something cannot be resolved immediately or you want to discuss matters further, the relevant education coordinators are available to provide guidance and support.

Data Protection and Confidentiality

Sensitive and personal information that you come across during your voluntary service must not be disclosed to third parties. Discuss with your supervisor at the placement site to clarify which information falls into this category. Violating data protection or confidentiality can result in employment-related consequences.

We will only process and use personal data necessary for the voluntary service.

Data Sheet

You will receive the data sheet along with the agreement before the start of your service. The data sheet serves as the basis for the allowance payment and must be filled out completely and returned to us. The following information is requested on the data sheet:

• Bank details
• Tax ID
• Tax class
• Health insurance
• Social insurance number

Duration

Usually, a voluntary service lasts for 12 months. To be recognized as a voluntary service, your service period must be at least six months. You have the option to shorten your service if needed (see termination) or extend it for up to 18 months (see extension).

Educational seminars

For a one-year voluntary service, you are required to attend either 25 seminar days (FSJ/BFD) or 12 educational days (BFD 27plus). During these days, the focus is on developing social, personal, and intercultural skills. All volunteers can participate in selecting topics and shaping the content. Additionally, these days provide an opportunity to exchange experiences with other volunteers. Feel free to visit our Instagram channel for insights into seminar activities.

Emergency Medical Services

A voluntary service in the emergency medical service has some specific requirements. Firstly, you must be of legal age and possess a Class B driver's license. Additionally, you must successfully complete a three-month training course to become an emergency medical technician (Rettungssanitäter) before starting your voluntary service. The time spent in the training course is not counted as part of your voluntary service. Your rescue station (Rettungswache) will register you for the training course, so you don't need to arrange it yourself.

Extention

You can extend your voluntary service for a total of up to 18 months. To do so, you must submit a written request well in advance. You will receive the form from your education coordinator, and it must be filled out and signed by both you and the placement site. For each extended month, an additional legally required seminar day and two more vacation days will be allocated.

Flexitage

Flexitage are one- to four-day educational events (online or in person) in addition to the welcome day and fixed group seminar dates. You can choose the specific days according to your interests. This is done through our website freiwillig24.de, and you will receive detailed instructions from your education coordinator, no later than during the first seminar week.

FSJ

See youth volunteering service

Health Insurance

Volunteers are generally required to be members of the statutory health insurance system. The contributions are fully covered by us and are paid directly to the health insurance provider. Family insurance coverage is not possible during the duration of the voluntary service.

Illness (Seminar)

If you are ill during seminar times, you must inform the responsible education coordinator by phone before the start of the seminar (no later than 9:00 AM on the first day). Starting from the first day of illness during seminars, you will need a medical certificate for incapacity to work. Failure to provide this certificate may result in a warning. If you are not ill for the entire duration of the seminar, you should return to the seminar from your first day of recovery.

Illness (Service at the Placement Site)

If you become ill, be sure to notify your placement site by phone before your scheduled service start time. Starting from the third day of illness, you must obtain a medical certificate and present it to the DRK no later than one day afterward. The placement site should also be informed about the expected duration of the illness.

Initial Examination

It may be necessary to undergo an initial examination before starting your voluntary service, especially for individuals under 18 years of age, in accordance with §32 and §42 of the Youth Labor Protection Act. The costs for this examination may be covered by either the health insurance or the placement site.

Legal Agreement

Before the start of your service, you will receive three copies of the legal agreement from us. All three copies must be signed by us, the placement site, and you or your legal representative. The agreement outlines the rights and obligations of all parties involved during the voluntary service. One of the agreements is for you, one must go to the placement site, and one is retained by us as the organization.

Mentoring

As a volunteer, you are entitled to being mentored during your commitment. A mentor at your deployment site will:

• instruct you professionally and personally
• support you during your service

Misconduct

Misconduct can include:

• Alcohol consumption during working/seminar hours
• Incorrect or late reporting of illness
• Disregarding smoking bans
• Refusal to perform work

If such misconduct occurs, it can lead to a written warning. In cases of repeated misconduct or extreme situations, termination by the organization may be possible. To prevent such measures, be sure to communicate with your supervisor, especially at the beginning of your service, about how to behave correctly and what you should definitely avoid.

Observation (Hospitation)

Before starting your voluntary service, you should spend at least two days observing and trying out the work at your future placement site. This allows both you and the placement site to assess whether the placement is suitable. This observation is a mandatory requirement before starting your voluntary service.

Parental Leave and Maternity Protection

During the voluntary service, you are not entitled to parental leave. After maternity protection, you can resume your duties. However, the Maternity Protection Act applies to voluntary service as well. This means there are special regulations regarding job security, workplace accommodations, and more. If this becomes relevant for you, it's best to contact your education coordinator for guidance.

Part Time

In the BFD 27plus, part-time service is possible. You can choose between 20.5 hours, 30 hours per week, or full-time. The specific working hours need to be coordinated with both the placement site and us as the organization.

For volunteers under 27 years old, part-time service is only possible if there is a legitimate reason. Whether part-time service is possible should be clarified on a case-by-case basis.

Pedagogical Guidance

During your service, you will be accompanied by an education coordinator. This means you will participate in seminars with a fixed group and contact persons, receive professional guidance based on learning objectives, and receive individual support from us for any questions or problems. Our goal is to provide you with the best possible placement, where you can gain and reflect on impressions and experiences.

Probationary Period

In the case of FSJ (Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr), the first 12 weeks are considered the probationary period, while in BFD (Bundesfreiwilligendienst), it's the first 6 weeks. At the end of the probationary period, you and the placement site should have a conversation about this initial phase and determine further focuses of your service.

Rest Times

If you are under 18 years old, your break times are as follows:

• 30 minutes for a working time between four and a half to six hours.
• If you work for more than six hours, your break should be 60 minutes.
• You should not work for more than four and a half hours continuously without a break.

If you are over 18 years old, your break times are as follows:

• 30 minutes for a working time between six to nine hours.
• If you work longer, your break should be 45 minutes.
• Deviations from these rules may be regulated in a service agreement if necessary.

Secondary Employment

You can engage in a secondary employment to a limited extent during your voluntary service. The requirements are that you are of legal age, your primary duties in the voluntary service are not compromised, and you adhere to legal working and rest periods. You must apply for secondary employment in writing through us. You can obtain the application from your education coordinator.

Seminars

In addition to your placement at the site, pedagogical seminars are also a part of the voluntary service. Typically, in the Youth Voluntary Service, there are 25 seminar days in the form of single and multi-day seminars. For volunteers in the BFD 27plus, there are different regulations, but in general, 12 seminar days are mandatory for a one-year contract. We will provide you with the seminar dates at the beginning of your service, and we will also inform your placement site. Participation is mandatory, which means that no leave can be granted during the seminars. During multi-day events, all volunteers stay in seminar accommodations. You can actively participate in shaping the seminar content and contribute your personal interests to it. You can check out our seminars at our Instagram!

Social Security

During your voluntary service, you will become a member of the statutory pension, accident, health, long-term care, and unemployment insurance systems. The entire contributions, both the employer and employee portions, are covered, and you will not incur any costs for these insurances.

Start dates

In principle, the start of a voluntary service with us is possible year-round, either on the 1st or 15th of any month. However, there are various factors that can influence the actual start date. It is advisable to apply early and coordinate with the placement site.

Termination

During the probationary period, all parties can withdraw from the agreement within 14 days without providing reasons. After the probationary period, the voluntary service can be terminated with a notice period of four weeks, either on the 14th or at the end of a month. You will need a form for this, which you can obtain from your education coordinator.

Transportation Costs (Commute)

You may be eligible for a discounted public transportation ticket for your daily commute. Information regarding this can be obtained from the relevant regional transport association. The corresponding application will be signed by us and can then be submitted. Please note that we cannot reimburse any commuting expenses incurred.

Transportation Costs (Seminar)

The costs for traveling to seminars will be reimbursed by us. The following conditions apply:

• Use of public transportation, train (2nd class), or private car is possible.
• Choose the most cost-effective route.
• To claim reimbursement, you will need to submit an appropriate application along with the original ticket(s) and/or directions.

You will receive the application for travel expense reimbursement from your education coordinator. The completed and signed application, along with the original tickets or directions, should be submitted to us no later than 8 weeks after the seminar.

Vacation

All volunteers serving for 12-months have the right to 26 workdays of vacation. If you end your service earlier, your entitlement to vacation days will be reduced accordingly. You must coordinate your vacation with the responsible person at the placement site well in advance. Vacation is not possible during seminar times.

Vaccination

You may need to have specific vaccinations before your deployment, such as hepatitis or measles vaccinations. Whether this is required or not will be assessed and decided by the placement site. You won't incur any costs for these vaccinations; they will be covered by your placement site.

Vocational Certificate

At the end of your service, you can request a vocational certificate of your service through your placement site. The placement site provides the content assessment, but the transmission of the certificate is handled by us as the organization. The form for creating the certificate can be requested by the placement site through us. Once it's completed, it should be sent back to us via email and will then be forwarded to you by mail after the end of your service. You will only receive a certificate if you request it.

Volunteer ID

All volunteers receive an ID card at the beginning of their voluntary service. This card is similar to a student ID and grants various discounts. For example, it can provide discounts on admission to amusement parks or possibly on public transportation tickets.

Welcome Seminar (Willkommenstag)

The Welcome Day takes place shortly after the start of your voluntary service and serves as an initial opportunity for the volunteers and us as the organization to get to know each other. Additionally, you will receive important information about your voluntary service during this event.

Working hours

Generally, voluntary services are a full-time commitment. In the case of BFD 27plus, part-time options are available as well.

In some work areas, there may be weekend, night, or late shifts. However, for volunteers under the age of 18, the Youth Labor Protection Act applies.

Working Areas

You can freely choose your placement area based on your own interests. Possible placement areas include, for example, daycare centers, all-day schools, nursing, emergency services, senior and youth work, and many more. Feel free to visit our page with placement sites to discover the one that suits you best.

Youth Labor Protection Act (JArbSchG)

The Youth Labor Protection Act (Jugendarbeitsschutzgesetz or JArbSchG) applies to individuals under 18 years of age. This law primarily outlines regulations regarding working hours, leisure time, weekend shifts, and break times, which are determined by the placement site. It's advisable to discuss these regulations with your supervisor if you are under 18 years old. If you have any questions, feel free to contact your education coordinator.

Youth Voluntary Service

If you are between the ages of 16 and 26, you can participate in a Youth Voluntary Service. This typically involves full-time practical work at a placement site, supplemented by educational days provided by us. If you complete a one-year service, you will participate in 25 educational days. During your service, you will be supported and guided by an education coordinator from the DRK (German Red Cross) and a supervisor at your placement site.

A Youth Voluntary Service can take the form of either a FSJ (Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr) or BFD (Bundesfreiwilligendienst), which usually depends on the specific placement site.