Your EVS year… with Fahrten-Ferne-Abenteuer?

You’re interested in doing your European Voluntary Service in our organisation in Nuremberg? We would be happy to welcome you! Here is some information to help you with your decision.

What does FFA do?

Fahrten-Ferne-Abenteuer Ferienwerk, a non-profit limited corporation, organises adventure-based learning trips for children and youths aged 4-18 years during the school holidays. We are a recognised independent provider of youth services in Germany as defined by § 75 KJHG (VIII SGB).

Our school holiday program includes themed mini-camps for 7-9 year olds, e.g. farm camp or Harry-Potter-camp, interest-based camps for 9-12 year olds, e.g. rock-climbing  or horseriding camp, adventure-based trips for 13-15 year olds, e.g. outdoor camp or watersports, two-week tours in Europe for 15-18 year olds, e.g. hiking across the alps, roadtrip through Norway. Additionally, we offer international youth exchanges in various European cities through our City Bound project for 14-18 year olds. The camps for the younger ones take place mostly in Bavaria. The trips for older participants take place in Germany and Bavaria. In Nuremberg we also offer day care for younger kids in some of the school holidays. There are two different age groups: 4-6 and 6-10 years. In contrast to the other camps, the kids are only there during the day and don’t stay overnight. From time to time we also organise school trips, geocaching birthday parties or similar activities.

Since earlier this year, we are also the owners of a kindergarten in Kammerstein, which is located close to Nuremberg. Our kindergarten team looks after children aged 3 years and older. We also offer after school day care to help the children with their homework.

What would my tasks be?

During the school term no regular overnight trips take place and we work on the planning and preparation of the trips in the office. You will assist us all with kinds of logistical and organizational tasks, including booking accommodation, searching for train connections and collecting minibuses from the hire company. In addition, you will help to organize and maintain our warehouse where all of our materials, including tents, tools, toys, cooking utensils, camping stoves, canoes and much more are stored. This could include washing linen, waterproofing tents or making minor repairs to equipment. Depending on your level of German, you may also assist us with administrative or secretarial duties including taking bookings, telephoning with the team and parents or searching for other volunteers to help on the camps.

In the run up to the school holidays, you will spend time independently planning the activities that you will be leading. This would include telephoning and coordinating other team members, designing and preparing adventure-based games, crafts or other materials, planning the catering and buying food and other materials.

When the school holidays start, your main task is to support the teams on the camps. You will work together with an experienced trip-leader-team and several assistant group leaders whilst running the activity-sessions for the camps. You are part of the team that is on the camp site and you can of course take part at the activities and support the teams doing activities with the participants. For the best-fitting camp you can choose between the location, the topic and of course the age of the participants. Based on your skills, previous experiences and interests we can decide together which activities are suitable and interesting for you.  While on camp, your duties will include pitching tents, playing get-to-know-you games, singing campfire songs, preparing meals, supervising children and teenagers around the clock, assisting with or independently conducting adventure activities, such as rock-climbing, canoeing, raft-building, hiking, orienteering, swimming, cycling/mountainbiking, circus skills, geocaching, city games, treasure hunt or many more nature-based or themed activities. You are required to drive a minibus filled with materials and/or people to and from camps, supervise young people on train or coach journeys or flights within Europe. So a driving licence is needed.

Furthermore supporting in our kindergarden “Kinder am Hof” in Kammerstein near Schwabach will be one of your tasks. The kindergarden is run with an open concept and free groups. The concept is nature-based, that´s why the children are spending a lot of time outside in the nature. Fields of alternative agriculture are affilitated to the kindergarden so that the children and you can learn many things about alternative approaches of agriculture. Supporting during the harvest and seeding complete your tasks during your time of volunteering.

Sometimes we have school trips during the school term (usually not more than one or two per year). If this is the case, you will take over similar responsibilities as during the regular overnight trips during the school holidays.

In preparation for the aforementioned tasks, you will be expected to take part in our in house training courses, which sometimes take place at the weekend. You will learn more about the structures within our organization, preparation techniques and scheduling, gather ideas for games and activities, learn practical skills (e.g. how to use certain equipment) and exchange ideas and experiences with other youth leaders. They also provide the perfect opportunity for you to practice speaking German.

When can I start my EVS year, when would I work and when can I take holiday?

For this years project (2023) we are looking for a volunteer who can start as soon as possible. Therefore, it is best if you are from a country that does not require a visa for Germany. If you need a visa to go to Germany but are interested in working with us, please feel free to contact us for next years project.

The daily working time outside of the Bavarian school holidays would be on average seven hours, normally from Monday to Friday from 9:30 to 17:00, including half an hour break. You may be required to work Saturdays, on an evening or very occasionally on a Sunday. In this case, you will be allowed to take a replacement free day between Monday and Friday of the following week.

During the school holidays you will be away  with the cooking-team or supervising trips. This will be for three weeks in summer even up to three more weeks if you want to. The working times are longer, essentially around the clock, though you may arrange break times with your team as necessary. This is the most tiring, but also most fun and rewarding part of the year! As most of our trips run from Sunday to Saturday, you will usually (but not always!) have Saturday evening free to return to Nuremberg and wash your clothes, check your mail etc.

You are entitled to 2 free days per month of your EVS. During Bavarian school holidays you will be on trips and it will not be possible to take days off. At other times you can of course take days off in prior agreement with the office team.

As our trips usually start on a Sunday and end on a Saturday, the weekends right before, during and right after the holiday dates are work days as well and you cannot take off these days.

What do we expect from you?

In order to assure your EVS year will be successful for you and us, we expect that you are:

  • Open-minded, enjoy meeting new people and experiencing a new culture
  • Speak a little German and/or English or are willing to make an effort to learn in order to communicate with us
  • Hardworking and reliable, willing to new learn new skills in order to complete the aforementioned tasks and enjoy working as part of a team both in the office and on trips
  • Patient, responsible and enjoy working with children, youths and young adults
  • Physically capable of carrying out the tasks described (our office is on the 2nd floor with no lift and most of our trips involve camping on uneven ground, carrying luggage, various sporting activities etc.)
  • Available to work during the Bavarian school holidays (have no prior plans during this time) and are able to help out at the weekends when agreed in advance
  • Willing to adhere to our zero-tolerance policy: All of our trips involve being responsible for and a role model to under 18 year olds. For this reason, alcoholic drinks and drugs are strictly forbidden during trips and courses. We also expect that you do not smoke in front of minors (exception: during break times and out of sight of the children).

What support does FFA provide for you?

During your EVS year we will provide you with the following financial support:

  • Volunteers allowance: 150 €/month
  • Food allowance (except for the days you are away on trips or training, as these are fully catered for): 263 €/month
  • Public transport pass for Nuremberg & Fürth from 9am-3am on weekdays and around the clock on weekends: ca. 50 €/month
  • International travel costs (once, up to the limit given by the Erasmus+ programme) plus local travel costs (to and from camps and seminars)
  • Accommodation in a shared flat with other volunteers comprising a private bedroom, shared kitchen/diner, bathroom and washing machine: ca. 350,- €/month
  • Online German language class
  • Seminars and training courses (e.g.  youth leader training, first aid course)

You will be required to provide original invoices, receipts and tickets in order to receive compensation for your expenses.

In addition to financial support, we will of course provide you with support settling in. You will receive a mentor/tutor (usually an ex-EVS volunteer) to help you get to know the new city and set up a bank account, register at the town hall and with a doctor etc. Our office team is a young, dynamic and international team. We will take time to explain tasks to you and of course we are there for you if you have any questions or worries. Occasionally we eat lunch together, meet after work to go climbing or visit the Christmas markets etc., in this case you will be most welcome to join us!

What else should I know?

Your sending organisation will register you with the CIGNA health insurance company for EVS volunteers. You will receive a health insurance-card at the beginning of your EVS, which you will need to take with you in case you see a doctor. You will be treated as private insured patient.

You will be required to attend two seminars organised by the National Agency, the first on-arrival and one mid-term. You will be informed of the dates and locations of these seminars prior to arrival and we will of course allow you to attend without needing to take holiday.

Where is FFA and how can I reach it?

Our main office in Nuremberg is located on the edge of the city centre. The nearest underground stations are at „Plärrer“ and „Weißer Turm“, about 3-5 minutes walk away.

Our address:

Fahrten-Ferne-Abenteuer Ferienwerk gGmbH

Spittlertorgraben 47

90429 Nuremberg

Germany

The FFA-shared flat is located in the area 90489 Nuremberg, 2-3 minutes walk from the underground station „Schoppershof“.  It’s a short trip by underground into the city centre and to our office.

If you have any questions, you can call us directly on 0049 911 9415 802 between 8:30 am and 3:30pm CET, Monday to Friday. We can help you in German, English and Italian. If you want to apply, send a CV and a motivation letter to Sophia via email (evs@fahrten-ferne-abenteuer.de).

We look forward to hearing from you and welcoming you into our organisation!