FSJ / BFD — Starting Well Prepared
Practical online self-study course for school students and young people before a voluntary service year — understand what the FSJ and BFD are, find the right placement, apply, and start the year well prepared and with confidence. Clearly explained, with a confirmation of participation.
What is it about?
A Voluntary Social Year (Freiwilliges Soziales Jahr, FSJ) or a Federal Volunteer Service (Bundesfreiwilligendienst, BFD) is a great opportunity: a year full of experience, orientation and personal growth. This online course prepares you in a clear and practical way: you will find out what the FSJ and BFD are (and how they differ), where and how you can find a suitable placement and apply, what role awaits you (somewhere between helping out and learning, closeness and distance), how you deal with challenges and look after yourself, and how you get the most out of your year – including for training and university.
What you take away
- understand what the FSJ and BFD are and how they differ
- find a suitable placement organisation (Einsatzstelle) and apply successfully
- assess your own role and shape a good start
- deal with difficult situations and look after yourself
- use your service year consciously – also as preparation for vocational training and university
Self-study without supervision, assignments or evaluation of learning progress by instructors; the voluntary self-reflection is for your own orientation only. Your confirmation of participation becomes available once you have marked all modules as done yourself.