Open youth work in a church tower
Since the 13th century, the tower of St. Jacob's Church has been part of the striking skyline of the Hanseatic city of Greifswald. For decades, after its reconstruction, its premises housed the Protestant Student Community.
As part of the open youth work of the three Protestant communities in the old town, the Jacob Tower became a breeding ground for new ideas, a space for self-realization, something shared.
Together with you, your friends, and other young people, we want to not only fill the Jacob Tower with life, but also set out from here on exciting adventures in and around Greifswald. JUST is what you make of it!
If you are interested in a year of voluntary work with us, then get in touch. Here is some more information before you decide ;)
Open youth work includes not only a weekly youth club, which is used for
- cooking
- playing table football
- chatting
- playing games
- watching movies
but also holiday trips and excursions, as well as workshops and themed events as part of various local action weeks.
In addition, the following two projects are being implemented as part of youth work:
“Remember and Live” – A Encounter Project for Young People with Jewish life
The project "Remember and Live" (in German: erinnern und leben) is Anti-Semitism prevention project for young people until the end of 2025.
We are looking for young people from Greifswald and the surrounding area who are interested in taking a new look at Greifswald's former Jewish cemetery. What
part does it play in the city's history? What was the Jewish community like? What does it mean today to live as a Jew in Germany? And why is it important to raise awareness among ourselves and society about historical and current forms of anti-Semitism?
We will explore all these questions together with various people and stakeholders... and we will even go on a trip together!
FairSprechen
"FairSprechen" is a media project for digital civil courage and against online hate until July 2027.
Online hate intimidates, fuels fear, and threatens diversity of opinion. Given the ever-increasing importance of social media and digital media, this also threatens our
democracy: because when the limits of what can be said are determined by trolls and haters rather than democratic rules, public discourse as the foundation of
democracy collapses. And when online hate turns into action—as in Kassel, Hanau, and Halle – human lives are endangered, as is open society as a whole. This
threat has become even more apparent in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
The “Fair-Sprechen” project aims to support young people in Greifswald in dealing with right-wing and other hate speech and fake news on the internet. Through media education programs, workshops/training courses, group-building measures, and information events, educational work is carried out and strategies for combating hate crime, ,racism, and anti-Semitism, for example, are taught and practiced together. During the project period, a permanent support and counseling network for young people affected by verbal and digital violence is also to be established.
You can find more insights into our work here:
Website: https://jugendimjacobiturm.de/just/
Instagram: @just_greifswald
It would be great if you
- enjoy working on all these projects and in all these areas
- want to work independently and creatively in a small team
- enjoy working with young people
Please introduce yourself and explain your motivation in a short letter and contact us at jugendimjacobiturm[at]pek[dot]de. You can also contact us with questions, of course.
Accommodation, Food, and Transport
Your accommodation in Greifswald will be in a shared flat with other volunteers or students, or in a host family. You will have your own room. A ticket for local public transport will be provided. Your meals and pocket money will be fully covered (approx. 520€/month), and you are responsible for your own food arrangements. Please check the FAQ page for more details about the project organizational details.
Training during the Activity
During your stay in Germany, you will participate in a language course or have the opportunity to study German by yourself. Additionally, there will be seminars to connect you with other volunteers from across Germany.