RESPONSIBILITIES AND AIMS
IJAB - International Youth Service of the Federal Republic of Germany (formerly: International Youth Exchange and Visitors’ Service of the Federal Republic of Germany ) is a central specialist agency for international youth policy, international youth work and youth information which works on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ), the European Commission, the IJAB member organisations and other central bodies responsible for youth work. Its task is to promote international youth work and the cooperation in the field of youth policy to increase mutual understanding between young people from different countries and cultural backgrounds, to consolidate their relationships and to overcome prejudices.
To satisfy these demands, IJAB organises qualified exchange programmes for youth work specialists undertaken within the framework of the bi- and multilateral relations of the Federal Republic of Germany, provides information and counselling and is involved in jointly organised programmes of further education and training for specialists.
Review
Following a resolution passed by the German Bundestag, IJAB was founded in 1967 by the then Federal Minister for Family and Youth with the support of representatives from national youth organisations and agencies. In 1971, it was granted the legal form of a registered association.
SERVICES FOR SPECIALISTS
Specialist Programmes
IJAB provides specialist programmes and language courses for full-time and voluntary workers in child and youth services from Germany and abroad. These programmes are organised on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) within the framework of bilateral agreements.
The spectrum of activities includes study programmes and jobshadowing in specific vocational situations within the child and youth services, specialist conferences on subjects relevant to youth policy, contact-making seminars and conferences for bodies responsible for child and youth services.
Language Service
In international work, communication is of prime importance. IJAB's Language Service makes a major contribution to this. It organises German courses for foreign youth work specialists, advises on matters relating to specialist terminology and compiles foreign language glossaries in the fi eld of child and youth services. The Language Service also helps to find interpreters.
Training and Quality Development
Appropriate basic and further training for full-time and voluntary youth workers is a prerequisite for the success of intercultural learning processes. IJAB therefore organises training and counselling to promote the qualifi cation of specialists and supports processes for quality development in all fi elds of international youth work.
This refers to international meetings, work camps, voluntary services, specialist exchanges, jobshadowing, practical placements, school exchanges and au pair stays.
www.guetegemeinschaft-aupair.de
Database for International Youth Work
With its constantly updated “Database for International Youth Work” (DIJA), IJAB supports specialists in planning international activities and projects. The database with its information on countries and their youth policy is a central information system for those involved in international youth policy cooperation. Parts of the database are also available in English.
The module Intercultural Learning offers information and practical hints on how to organise an international meeting. Check lists, a method box, references to further reading and much more services help with the fi rst steps, but also give experienced specialists new ideas for organising their programmes.
E-Mail: dija@ijab.de
www.dija.de
Cooperation Youth and Development International
Together with transfer e.V. and the German Society for Technical Cooperation (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit GmbH/GTZ), IJAB is involved in the project Cooperation Youth and Development International. It provides a database giving information about projects in around 120 countries for players in international youth work and development cooperation. Moreover, it also gives an overview of the manifold scene of bodies and providers which are active in these sectors of work. Cooperation has the aim to network players which are responsible for projects and to support them in the organisation of exchanges.
E-Mail: klinzing@ijab.de
www.jugenti.de
Information System Child and Youth (Services) Policy
The information system “Child and Youth Services in Germany" presents the general conditions, structures and principles of child and youth (services) policy in Germany and, with its database, gives an overview of all organisations and institutions which are active in this field at a nation-wide level.
E-Mail: fachdoku@ijab.de
www.kinder-jugendhilfe.info
Portal for Specialists in Child and Youth Services
Together with the Child and Youth Welfare Association (Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Kinder- und Jugendhilfe -AGJ), IJAB has realised the Portal for Specialists in Child and Youth Services. As a project of voluntary child and youth service organisations as well as the Federation and the Länder, it is an information, communication and cooperation platform aimed at the issues and concerns of child and youth services.
The services include a directory of relevant institutions at federal, land and local level, documents and materials connected to the subject of child and youth services, information on events and project descriptions, a news feed around the subject of child and youth services and a comprehensive job market.
E-Mail: info@jugendhilfeportal.de
www.jugendhilfeportal.de
Publications
With the Forum Youth Work International, the European Journal on Youth Policy Forum21 and other specialist publications, IJAB covers current issues and provides news and information about worldwide developments which are relevant to youth policy.
Order Service:
E-Mail: info@ijab.de
www.ijab.de
SERVICES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE
Away from home
How can young people go abroad to study, work as a student trainee, do voluntary work, take part in a work camp or get an au pair job?
IJAB publishes information sheets on these subjects, such as the “Eurodesk-Infos”, provides free and neutral advice to young people on ways to go and work abroad and is represented at fairs, information and advice events on around 50 days per year. The website www.rausvonzuhaus.de provides a broad overview of the varied offers and organisations that young people can turn to.
E-Mail: eurodeskde@eurodesk.org
www.rausvonzuhaus.de
Eurodesk
The German Coordination Offi ce of the European Youth Information Network Eurodesk has been attached to IJAB since 1996 and answers young people’s questions on the subjects of mobility, education and training in Europe. Eurodesk informs young people and multipliers about EU funding programmes and complementary national funding and is also responsible for the German content of the European Youth Portal.
The network is funded by the European Commission, Directorate General for Education and Culture, and by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth.
Hotline: +49 (0)228-9506250
E-Mail: eurodeskde@eurodesk.org
www.eurodesk.de
Links to cooperation projects:
www.europa.eu/youth/
www.wege-ins-ausland.org
Youth Online
As part of the Youth Online project, IJAB operates the interactive youth portal www.netzcheckers.de. The website crosslinks various learning, counselling, information and entertainment offers provided all over Germany. Young people can also participate in the design of this internet offer and their online community, even without previous knowledge in these fi elds: The offer is aimed both at beginners and professionals who want to try out the multimedia possibilities of www.netzcheckers.de.
E-Mail: jon@ijab.de
www.netzcheckers.de
www.jugend.info
ATTACHED TO IJAB:
YOUTH for Europe
Since 1989, the German Agency for the EU Programme YOUTH IN ACTION) has been attached to IJAB. YOUTH for Europe has been appointed by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth as national agency to support the European Commission in implementing the EU Programme YOUTH IN ACTION in Germany.
E-Mail: jfe@jfemail.de
www.webforum-jugend.de
http://www.jugend-in-aktion.de
www.jugendfuereuropa.de
www.go4europe.de
www.youth-reporter.de
http://www.machwasdraus.de
www.jugendpolitikineuropa.de
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