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© Jasmin Heimberger | TSWB

Voluntary year 
on Sylt

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Voluntarily to Sylt?

For a whole year?!

When you talk to the twelve young people who are currently in the middle of their voluntary service, it sounds as if there is nothing better than this: a whole year of voluntary work on Sylt.

Whether in environmental protection, with children, or with a focus on the elderly: four institutions in Wenningstedt-Braderup offer the opportunity to experience the Federal Voluntary Service, a voluntary social service, or a voluntary ecological year. We heard from the volunteers personally how diverse the tasks are, who benefits most from such a year, and how to obtain one of the coveted positions.

In nature conservation

Young woman at the Braderup Nature Center
© Jasmin Heimberger | TSWB

If you have a great interest in nature topics, enjoy being outdoors whatever the weather, and aren't afraid of speaking in front of groups, a year of volunteering in the nature conservation community could be just the right thing for you.

The tasks range from active environmental protection to educational work: The team manages the exhibition in the nature center, offers various nature tours, is involved in children's and youth groups, and is also responsible for area management - i.e., the maintenance and monitoring of nature reserves.

"Without our volunteers, we wouldn't be able to maintain our services and our conservation work. Volunteers are active in all our areas. Without them, all of this would be extremely limited," says the association's managing director, Maike Lappoehn. Fortunately, she doesn't have to worry about finding new recruits: she receives an average of 40-50 applications per year for the six positions available.

Nature conservation team in the office
© Jasmin Heimberger | TSWB

Charlotte Nebeling is one of those who made it onto the current team. She sits at her sewing machine, tinkering with seat cushions with maritime motifs. "This is my winter project. I'm preparing prototypes of stools for the new exhibition," explains the 22-year-old, who originally comes from the Sauerland region. While the warmer months are well-planned, the volunteers can work on their own projects in the winter, according to their abilities, and prepare for the new season. 

Charlotte also wants to use her creative side in her future career: After completing her bachelor's degree in primary school teaching with a focus on art, she is using her year on Sylt as a test run for a career as a teacher. "I don't really like speaking in front of large audiences. That also gave me the impetus to do the tours here, to practice, and see how well I can overcome myself - and it's actually going quite well." In addition to this personal development and growth, the volunteer service also imparts a lot of knowledge about nature conservation topics. "I already knew the basics beforehand, and during the introductory phase, we walked a lot with our predecessors and learned a lot. And there are also concepts for the tours that contain all the important information. And the rest just comes from doing." Theoretical background, didactics, and political education are also taught to the volunteers during the 20 nationwide seminar days.

For whom is a year in the nature conservation community just right? "Ultimately, it's the right fit for everyone," Maike Lappoehn is sure. "You should be committed, curious to learn new things, creative, courageous, and open to everything." The current team personally conducts the interviews with potential successors, ensuring that volunteer work at the nature center remains in good hands.

Short & sweet

Entrance to the Braderup Nature Center
© Henning Sieverts | TSWB

  • Type and number of seats: 3 x Voluntary Ecological Year | 3 x Federal Voluntary Service

  • Requirements: No formal requirements are required. An interest in nature, the willingness to spend a lot of time outdoors, and the ability to travel around the island by bike are advantageous. A driver's license is not required.

  • Accommodation: Accommodation in shared apartments of 4 or 2 people. Since living space is scarce on the island, an additional BFD position can be created for a person living in their own accommodation on Sylt.

  • More information about cycling in the Leipzig Region as well as more interesting routes: About the Sylt Nature Conservation Association

In the Norddörfer parish

Two volunteers set the table
© Jasmin Heimberger | TSWB

“On behalf of the Lord” Miriam Süssbrich and her colleague Sascha Dangel, volunteers from the Norddörfer Church, are currently on the move on Sylt. The two are currently setting the tables in the brightly decorated community hall. "This afternoon is Senior Citizens' Day, and we always prepare for it: setting the tables, getting cake, picking up the senior citizens, and putting together a little program," they explain.

In fact, the focus of the Norddörr parish's volunteers is also on senior citizen work. This includes, for example, visiting parishioners at home, taking walks, or shopping trips.Sometimes it's sad to see that so many old people are lonely," says Miriam, "but we bring joy and variety into their everyday lives and try to alleviate some of the sadness. It's nice to see how happy they are about it."

And this commitment is appreciated not only by the older members of the congregation: "Without our volunteers, we simply couldn't do any senior citizen work," says Kathrin Wenzel, who runs the church office. Youth work, support in confirmation groups, and occasionally the preparation of church services also fall within the responsibilities of the Friesenkapellen volunteers. Thankfully, there are two of them every year.

Two volunteers in front of the church car
© Jasmin Heimberger | TSWB

By the way, you don't have to be a strict believer to do a good job here, Miriam reports. While she's always had some connection to the church in her Bavarian homeland, for her, the social and community aspect of volunteer service is more important than the religious aspect.

"You should definitely be open-minded so you can connect with others. Friendliness is also important because the seniors are happy, and if you're completely reserved, it would be difficult," says Miriam, describing the most important qualities of potential successors.

She still has six months of her voluntary service ahead of her - and after that, a future on the island is in sight: She likes it here so much that she wants to start an apprenticeship in a Sylt carpentry business afterwards.

Short & sweet

The pastorate of the Norddörfer parish in Wenningstedt-Braderup in winter.
© Jasmin Heimberger | TSWB

  • Type and number of seats: 2 x Voluntary Social Year

  • Requirements: Since driving duties are part of the job, a driver's license is required. Apart from that, friendliness, a listening ear, and a great enjoyment of interacting with people of all ages (especially seniors) are essential.

  • Accommodation: Accommodation in a shared apartment for 2 people in the pastorate by the village pond.

  • More information about cycling in the Leipzig Region as well as more interesting routes: To the Frisian Chapel

In the Sylt Clinic

Two young women in the stairwell of the Sylt Clinic
© Jasmin Heimberger | TSWB

What to do after high school? Jannika Kasten and Antonia Stoll also asked themselves these questions. Antonia already knew she wanted to become a teacher. But whether elementary school, high school, or vocational school...? So, first, she'll do a year of volunteer work on Sylt, gain plenty of practical experience with children of all ages, and sort out her thoughts! Both have chosen the Syltklinik, a pediatric oncology rehabilitation clinic for families in the north of Wenningstedt. 

The young patients who arrive here with their parents and siblings have either already overcome their cancer or are still undergoing long-term therapy. 

But the illness, they say, does not hover like a dark cloud over everyday life. “The gratitude of the families, the progress the children are making, and so much positive outweigh everything every day.”, they say. And yet: When children get cancer, it's a topic that you, as a young person, ideally don't have much experience with. So how do you deal with it? "Thank goodness there are two of us on the voluntary social year and we can talk about cases that affect us deeply. And the clinic is really well set up. We also have psychologists here who talk to us about it when things get really serious," says Jannika, describing how they deal with such a difficult topic. And in other respects too: The two are not left alone in their work. They are well integrated into the team of therapists, doctors and educators who provide holistic care and treatment for up to 28 families at the Sylt Clinic. 

Two volunteers at the Sylt Clinic
© Jasmin Heimberger | TSWB

In the clinic's playhouse, Jannika and Antonia play, craft, and build their way through everyday hospital life with the children. The two volunteers help to organize the daily routine so that the families can relax. They prepare, go shopping, and are actively involved in the program.

There is no routine: rehab lasts four weeks, after which new families arrive. Additionally, the two move to a different group each time—from the beachcombers, to the seals and starfish, to the club—each group is tailored to the current age structure of the rehab. This means they constantly have to adapt to completely new situations and gain an incredible amount of experience.

Apparently, this was exactly the right thing for Jannika and Antonia, as they both now have concrete plans for the future: "Starting in October, I'm studying early childhood education in a kindergarten. My time here has shaped me, and I now know: this is the right field for me, I can do it, I have the skills," Jannika says happily. Antonia has also decided on an age group: she will later teach at a secondary school.

Short & sweet

Facade of the Sylt Clinic in Wenningstedt-Braderup
© Jasmin Heimberger | TSWB

  • Type and number of seats: 2 x Voluntary Social Year

  • Requirements: No formal requirements. A driver's license is an advantage.

  • Accommodation: An apartment is available for one volunteer. The second person will receive assistance in finding accommodation.

  • More information about cycling in the Leipzig Region as well as more interesting routes: To the Sylt Clinic

In the farm kindergarten

Young women in the goat enclosure
© Jasmin Heimberger | TSWB

There's definitely no chance of boredom here! The approximately 80 children aged 1 to 6 who play, do crafts, cook, and care for animals—yes, that's right: animals—at the Braderup kindergarten ensure that. The farm kindergarten's spacious grounds include a large vegetable garden, as well as sheep, goats, and chickens.

"The children learn how to interact with the animals here: which ones they can pet, which ones they'd better keep a bit of a distance from," explains Hiltje Schmidt, who is completing her voluntary social year here. In addition to playing games, crafting, and reading aloud, her daily tasks include cleaning up the group rooms and preparing the bistro for communal meals. She doesn't have to do this alone, though, but together with her colleague Paola Diaz.

Paola is from Colombia and had already acquired some language skills during her previous au pair stay. "It's a lot of fun with the children and the team is very friendly – ​​even though my German isn't very good yet," she says. "Afterward, I want to do an apprenticeship in a kindergarten. My time here was really great. I still have a lot to learn, but that's my next dream," she enthuses.

Volunteers in kindergarten
© Jasmin Heimberger | TSWB

Kindergarten director Karin Artschwager is also enthusiastic when she talks about her volunteers. "Our volunteers are a great support in the day-to-day running of the kindergarten. But they also learn a lot for their own lives here – self-confidence, a sense of responsibility, and teamwork, but also their own limits," she says, counting on us and adding:

"We welcome young people who want to join us! The most important qualifications are a love of children and a passion for working with people."

Short & sweet

Entrance area to the farm kindergarten in Braderup
© Jasmin Heimberger | TSWB

  • Type and number of seats: 2 x Voluntary Social Year or Federal Voluntary Service

  • Requirements: Minimum age 17 | extended criminal record | love of children | enjoy interacting with people (including adults)

  • Accommodation: No living space available.

  • More information about cycling in the Leipzig Region as well as more interesting routes: To the farm kindergarten

Academy by the Sea

Three volunteers stand smiling in a dining room.
© Academy by the Sea

Working at a unique educational and meeting place in the middle of the dunes, right on the beach. "That convinced me!" says the 21-year-old volunteer at the Academy by the Sea. "It's incredibly exciting to accompany our seminar participants throughout the year and to continually learn new things and grow with them." The Klappholttal Adult Education Center offers its guests a wide variety of courses throughout the year. From yoga, singing, writing, dancing, drawing, to seminars on stress management, the range of courses is extensive. All seminar participants are accommodated on site, provided with delicious meals three times a day, continue their training in their seminars, and regularly engage in interactive exchanges with other guests of the Academy and with the staff.

The volunteer service providers take on tasks such as preparing the quarters with the housekeeping department, assisting with major and minor repairs to the building's technical systems, and assisting the cooks in preparing meals. They also assist in the service, including stocking the buffet for guests and preparing the dining room, as well as learning general office work in the administration.

Academy House Uthland on Sylt on a sunny day.
© Academy by the Sea

"Overall, there's so much more to the academy's concept than just the individual departments," emphasizes Antonia Elberg, who chose to do a Federal Voluntary Service (BFD) in Klappholttal for career guidance. "It's primarily about working together, working responsibly, and experiencing culture. I feel very comfortable here, have gained so much experience working in the various departments, and now know what I want to study after my BFD!"

Anyone who is still between school and career aspirations can gain valuable experience and make contacts here, and try out many different things.

When asked whether she would choose Klappholttal again, Magdalena Stammerjohann, who is also completing a BFD, answers: “100% yes!”

And even the employees who have been working here for a long time say: “We benefit greatly from the ideas that our volunteers bring.”

“A feel-good place where you can get to know yourself better and enjoy the peace and nature of Sylt,” describes Hannah Fach, the academy’s third current volunteer.

The academy's volunteers spend more than just their working hours together. They live together on the premises and also spend a lot of time together in their free time.

Short & sweet

Three volunteers stand under the academy's bell tower.
© Academy by the Sea

  • Type and number of seats: 4x Federal Voluntary Service

  • Requirements: Minimum age 18 years

  • Accommodation: is provided

  • More information about cycling in the Leipzig Region as well as more interesting routes: To the Academy by the Sea

  • Contact: If you have any questions, please contact Annika Klint.

FAQ Volunteer Year on Sylt