Voluntary Ecological Year (FÖJ) – how to apply
The Voluntary Ecological Year is designed to help with career guidance and to foster personal development.
A FÖJ offers the opportunity to get involved in environmental work, broaden your knowledge of ecological interrelationships, gain an insight into practical working life, learn about careers in the environmental sector, to spend a year working in the great outdoors, or simply to make good use of the time between leaving school and starting work or university.
The choice of different areas of work is very wide and varied.
For example, you could work in the following areas:
- ecological agriculture, forestry and horticulture
- in environmental education organisations
- with nature and environmental conservation organisations
- at nature and environmental conservation centres
- with environmentally-focused companies
- at environmental or planning authorities
A map of potential placement locations can be found on the websites of the FÖJ organising bodies or via the Ö-Finder on the website of the Föderverein Ökologische Freiwilligendienste e.V.
Approved FÖJ organisations in Baden-Württemberg are
- dthe State Centre for Political Education in Baden-Württemberg (LpB),
- the Volunteer Services in the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart gGmbH (DRS),
- the Diakonisches Werk Württemberg,
- the International Federation (IB) e.V. – Voluntary Services,
- the Friends of Rudolf Steiner’s Educational Art e.V. and
- the Badisches Rotes Kreuz e.V. (Baden Red Cross)
The FÖJ usually begins on 1 September of a given year and ends on 31 August of the following year.
Tip: The organisations running the FÖJ provide important information on pocket money, accommodation and meals online, as well as during face-to-face or telephone.
Responsible authority
- State-wide: Baden-Württemberg Ministry for the Environment, Climate and Energy
- Baden-Württemberg State Centre for Political Education
- Voluntary Services in the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart gGmbH
- Diakonisches Werk Württemberg
- Volunteer services at the International Bund (IB) e.V.
- Friends of Rudolf Steiner’s Educational Art e.V.
- German Red Cross (DRK) Baden Regional Association – Voluntary Ecological Year (FÖJ)
Details
Prerequisite
The requirements for taking part in the FÖJ are:
- Completion of full-time compulsory education (usually from the age of 16)
- aged 27 or under
Procedure
To take part in the FÖJ, you must apply to a sponsoring organisation.
State Centre for Political Education
You should select a maximum of three placements from the lpB list of placements where you would like to undertake the FÖJ. Clicking on the ‘Apply for this placement’ link will take you directly to the online application form.
Voluntary Services in the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart GmbH
You can submit your application online. On the DRS website, you must complete the online form, upload the required documents as attachments and submit everything together. Once your application documents have been received, you will be invited to an information session. Only after a ‘trial period’ at your preferred placement will you make a joint decision with the placement organisation.
Diakonisches Werk Württemberg
You can find the application form for the FÖJ on the Diakonisches Werk’s voluntary service website. You can complete the form and send it, together with the required documents, directly to the Diakonisches Werk Württemberg. If the work experience placement at the placement organisation went well, you can start your FÖJ once the formalities have been sorted out.
Internationaler Bund IB Süd e.V.
You can find out about the placement organisations and the next steps in the application process at your local IB branch.
Friends of Rudolf Steiner’s Educational Art e.V.
On the organisation’s website, you will find the online application form, which you should send to the organisation together with the required documents. The Friends of Rudolf Steiner’s Educational Art e.V. are available to assist you in finding a suitable placement. Once you have completed your work experience placement, the FÖJ can begin.
DRK Regional Association: Badisches Rotes Kreuz e.V.
You can submit your application online using a form. The rest of the procedure is described on the DRK’s website.
Deadlines
You can apply at any time. The current application deadlines can be found on the websites of the respective organisations.
Required documents
- Application form
- A letter of application setting out your motivation for taking part in a FÖJ, including details of
- why you have chosen the organisation specified and
- what your expectations are regarding your future role
- Curriculum Vitae
- If you are a minor: a declaration of consent from your parents (signed)
Please note: The sponsoring organisations may request further documents.
Costs
None
Processing time
Varies from provider to provider or from location to location
Miscellaneous
None
Legal basis
Gesetz zur Förderung von Jugendfreiwilligendiensten (Jugendfreiwilligendienstegesetz- JFDG):
- § 2 Freiwillige
- § 4 Freiwilliges ökologisches Jahr
- § 5 Jugendfreiwilligendienste im Inland
- § 6 Jugendfreiwilligendienst im Ausland
Verwaltungsvorschrift des Umweltministeriums zur Förderung des Freiwilligen Ökologischen Jahres
Release note
machine generated, based on the German release by: Umweltministerium Baden-Württemberg, 01.06.2026