Voluntary Ecological Year (FÖJ) Brandenburg

The Voluntary Ecological Year (FÖJ) in Brandenburg offers young people aged 16 to 26 the opportunity to actively engage in around 100 placements in nature and environmental protection as well as environmental education. Sponsoring organizations with official recognition and based in the state of Brandenburg can apply for a subsidy of up to €200 per month per participant for implementation. Both the expenses for pocket money payments and the costs for educational support are funded. The project duration is usually twelve months and begins annually on September 1st. Interested placement sites submit their application via the online portal of the Investment Bank of the State of Brandenburg by March 31st at the latest to benefit from the funding in the following year.

The objective of the measure is to strengthen the career orientation and employability of young people, reduce gender-specific preferences in career choice and orientation, and decrease training dropouts. By combining practical work in diverse areas – from forest and landscape maintenance to environmental education and energy efficiency – with educational seminars, participants acquire sustainable skills and expand their professional network. Organizations recognized as FÖJ sponsors thus create attractive prospects for young people residing in Brandenburg and make an important contribution to securing skilled labor as well as to climate and environmental protection in the region.