Funded ESC Youth Work Volunteer, Leipzig

VILLA Leipzig, a socio-cultural centre in Leipzig, is recruiting a twelve-month European Solidarity Corps volunteer for KAOS Kulturwerkstatt, a house run by the youth charity Kindervereinigung Leipzig. About half the time is spent at its Competence Center for International Youth Work and non-formal Education, helping organise international projects, meetings, public relations or work with young people, and the rest in the house's other projects, such as cultural youth education or a mobile play bus. The placement runs from March 2027 to February 2028, and the EU programme covers your living costs while you are there.

What you get:

• A single bedroom in a shared flat with other volunteers in Leipzig
• Costs for food, travel and insurance covered, plus 210 EUR pocket money a month
• Health insurance through Henner during the service and for two months afterwards
• A basic German language course at the start
• A public transport ticket within the city and the Leipzig Pass for discounts
• Visa costs covered if you need one
• A mentor with regular feedback talks, and two holidays a month

What you'll do:

• Spend about 50 percent of your time at the Competence Center for International Youth Work and non-formal Education
• Focus on public relations, organising meetings or working with young people, depending on your skills
• Choose other projects in the house to join, such as open youth work with the play mobile or cultural youth education
• Work 35 hours a week, with weekends free
• Attend two seminars run by Jugend fuer Europa, Germany's national agency, and project days on Europe and mobility

Key dates:

• Applications close 8 November 2026
• Applications take around 8 weeks to process
• Placement runs March 2027 to February 2028
• VILLA reopens applications in April 2027 for placements from September 2027 to August 2028

More information:

• Apply only through VILLA's Google Form; applications by email are not considered
• Register first on the European Youth Portal to get your ESC number, which the form asks for

What you get:

• Single bedroom in a shared volunteer flat in Leipzig
• Costs for food, travel and insurance covered
• 210 EUR pocket money a month
• Health insurance through Henner, during the service and two months after
• Basic German language course
• Public transport ticket within Leipzig and the Leipzig Pass
• Visa costs covered if needed
• A mentor and two holidays a month

What you'll do:

• About half your time at the Competence Center for International Youth Work and non-formal Education
• Public relations, organising meetings or working with young people, by skill
• Join other projects in the house: open youth work with the play mobile, cultural youth education
• 35 hours a week, weekends free
• Two seminars by Jugend fuer Europa plus project days on Europe and mobility

Key dates:

• Applications close 8 November 2026
• Around 8 weeks to process applications
• Placement runs March 2027 to February 2028

More information:

• Programme overview and checklist: https://villa-leipzig.de/europaeischer-solidaritaetskorps/hosting
• Countries covered by the European Solidarity Corps: https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/countries-covered_en

• Aged 18 to 30
• Live in an EU country or a European Solidarity Corps partner country (Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom are not on the list)
• Available to volunteer in Leipzig for twelve months, March 2027 to February 2028
• Have not already done a long-term voluntary service through the ESC (German FSJ and BFD are accepted)
• An ESC registration number from the European Youth Portal
• Measles vaccination is mandatory, with proof
• Interest in working with young people, organisational skills, open-mindedness and your own ideas
• Some experience writing projects; Erasmus+ knowledge is a plus
• VILLA can host only around 5 volunteers a year who need a visa, so chances from non-EU countries are very low