Foundation of the “Association for Ecumenical Youth Services (EYS) e.V.”
On September 26th 2020, friends and supporters of the Ecumenical Youth Services (EYS) met in Leipzig to found a non-profit support association. The work of the association is directly linked to the EYS offers for international youth exchanges.
4 years ago the EYS celebrated its 60th anniversary. Many former participants, teamers and camp partners have remained connected to the EYS and its goals over the decades. The idea of founding a support association developed from the anniversary: “Where so many people have such good experiences, at some point participants simply become supporters. Following the wish to continue to accompany and support the EYS, the foundation of a supporters’ association was quite obvious. [Stephanie] The newly founded association will give alumni and friends of the EYS a platform to continue their commitment to the EYS through public relations, fundraising and alumni work. “In these times, it is clear to all of us how important contacts are for our life together. This not only applies to our everyday contacts, but even more to international youth exchanges”. [Johannes Ulbricht] Through the exchange of young people from different countries the participants get to know foreign cultures. This gives them the chance to understand, respect and appreciate the other. This is an important contribution to living together in a globalised and culturally diverse world and promotes the participants personal development in the long term. “Anyone who has experienced a work camp, who has spent two weeks working together on a project with people from many different countries, has had an experience that has shaped their lives” [Martin Simon Härtel]. Young people experience the ecumenical work camps as places where they can experience in a self-organised way how to tackle challenges in their projects together. Through this practically experienced educational activity, the EYS promotes the assumption of social and global responsibility and ecumenical learning – learning to see oneself through the eyes of others.
On November 27th 2020, the idea of work camps celebrated its 100th anniversary in a digital ceremony. In the future, the Ecumenical Youth Service Association will contribute to the continuation of the work camps.
Press-Information on association founding
Flyer
Flyer Förderverein der Ökumenischen Jugenddienste (ÖJD) e.V.
Team
- Chairman of the Board: Lisa-Maria Kohn
- Vice-Chairman: Stephanie Hauk
- Recording Secretary: Clemens Klante
- Treasurer: Paula Koch
- Advice and support: Coordinator Ecumenical Youth Services – Karolin Minkner
Statute
Statute (18.05.2021)
Memberships of the Association
- Global Pedagogical Network – Joining in Reformation (GPEN) (Membership certificate)
- Youth Hostels in Germany (DJH)
- Verbund e.V.
Sponsors
House of Resources Berlin
The History
EYS camp places since 1956