Who we are...

• Who we are…
• Information on the Bundesjugendwerk de AWO
• Magazine Exzess
• Publications
• Internal discussion and democracy
• Intervention at federal level The Bundesjugendwerk is active as member or participant at, for example:
• Organization and Link
• Seminars
• International

The Bundesjugendwerk is the children and youth organization of the AWO, a German workers' welfare organisation and it is one of the biggest youth organisations in Germany. The Bundesjugendwerk was founded in 1978 as union of the district and state Jugendwerke and became a member of the Bundesjugendring (Federal Network for German Youth Organisations). After the German reunification more Jugendwerke were opened in the new federal States. Nowadays the Jugendwerke are spread all over Germany.

The main Bundesjugendwerk purpose is the creation of a democratic, fair and impartial. Its work is based on the ground of the social democracy. That means, that the children and the young people, thanks to their work in the Jugendwerke, are able to active participate to the development of the community und to safeguard their rights and interests. The Bundesjugendwerk is committed to the values of freedom, equality and tolerance.

The Bundesjugendwerk, as management organisation, works closely with the state, district and local Jugendwerke, it organizes for employees and collaborators conferences and meetings and invites every two years all the members to the Bundesjugendtreff. The Bundesjugendwerk moves into position:

• For children and young people participation in all life sectors

• For a human, impartial and fair community

• Against racism

• Against xenophobia

• Against radical right

• Against children and young people poverty

The Bundesjugendwerk is involved, together with others youth organizations, in the discussion for a progressive youth politics and for the improvement of disadvantaged children and young people in Germany.

The Bundesjugendwerk is head office for the international tools of the Ministry for Family, Elderly, Women and Young people (BMFSFJ), the German-Polish Youth Office, DBJR and many others.

Who we are…

The Bundesjugendwerk, the children and youth association of the AWO (Arbeiterwohlfahrt, Syndicate for the worker´s welfare), is engaged for a democratic, supporting and fair society. Its work is based on the principle of the social democracy. From that we understand, that children and young people have to be put in the position to take an active part of the organization of the social life and to perceive their interests and rights. The Jugendwerk of the AWO is obliged to the values of freedom, fairness, solidarity and tolerance. The Bundesjugendwerk of the AWO works as umbrella for the regional and district Jugendwerke, in strict collaboration with its members and organize for the employees and volunteers workshops, seminars, meetings and democratic bodies at a federal level.

The Bundesjugendwerk interferes, as interests protector of children and young people in the political debate and for that reason is part of different organizations: DBJR Deutsches Bundesjugendring (German Federal Youth Union), AGJ Arbeitsgemeinschaft Jugendhilfe (Work Community on Youth Help), IDA Informations- und Dokumentationscentrum für Antirassismusarbeit (Center of information and documentation on Antiracism Work), National Coalition für die Umsetzung der UN-Kinderrechtkonvention in Deutschland (The National Coalition for the German Approval of the UN Convention on Children Rights), Bundesforum Kinder- und Jugendreisen (Federal Forum on children and young people’s Travels), Attac Germany, Aktionsbündnis gegen Studiengebühren (Union of Action against University Taxes).

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Information on the Bundesjugendwerk de AWO

• Magazine Exzess: Association’s Quarterly, which can be subscribed from single persons or Organizations.

• Homepage: www.bundesjugendwerk.de (with topic-referred Forums, JW-chat, overview map of the Jugendwerke)

• Campain "Eine/r fehlt noch” ("One is still missing”): with its campaign the Bundesjugendwerk der AWO takes position on political topics, for example child poverty and children rights. More information on the campaign’s homepage: www.eine-fehlt-noch.de and www.einer-fehlt-noch.de (also English version).

• Publications: beside those brochure the Bundesjugendwerk informs with other publications, for example: Praxismappe - Spiele für Kinder, Jugendliche und Erwachsene" ("Practic Briefcase: games for children, young people and adults"), "Edgar’s Spielebuch" ("The Edgar´s game book"), "Zukunft? - Das sind wir! Grundsatzprogramm des Jugendwerkes der AWO" ("Future? - We are! basic policy statement of the Jugendwerk of the AWO"), "Das Leben ist unser! Das Pädagogische Konzept des Jugendwerkes der AWO" ("The life is ours! The pedagogical concept of the Jugendwerk of the AWO), "Dokumentation zum Bundestreffen 2001; Schwerpunktthema: Armut von Kindern und Jugendlichen" (Documentation on the Federal meeting 2001; Central topic: poverty of children and young people), "Die Anfänge des Jugendwerkes der Arbeiterwohlfahrt; JW-Historie, nr. 1 (The begin of the Jugendwerk of the AWO), "Jugendwerk zwischen "Wiedervereinigung" und Ökonomisierung; JW-Historie, nr. 2” (Jugendwerk between the reunification and the economisation”).

• BuJW calendar: In this brochure are summed up all the activities and seminars of the Bundesjugendwerk of the AWO. The BuJW Calendar can be requested for free by our offices.

• Newsletter "BuJW-Info line”: The e-mail newsletter of the Bundesjugendwerk of the AWO appears every 5/6 weeks and contains information on the activities and meetings of the Bundesjugendwerk of the AWO and other organizations. It can be subscribed for free.

What we do…….

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Magazine Exzess

• It appears quarterly

• It offers current information from the organization for interested Jugendwerk members.

• It is the Bundesjugendwerk interface and megaphone to other organizations and federations.

• It can be subscribed from individuals or organizations.

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Publications

• Praxismappe - Spiele für Kinder, Jugendliche und Erwachsene" ("Practical Briefcase: games for children, young people and adults")

• Edgar’s Spielebuch" ("The Edgar´s game book")

• Working help for the Jugendwerk members and for those who would like to become one, for example on subject "Jugendwerk and school”.

• Handbook for the active members of the Jugendwerk

• Series "Positions of the Jugendwerk” (Basic Program, Pedagogical Concept,…)

• Brochure on the history of the Jugendwerk (series "Jugendwerk-Historie)

• And on its internet page: www.bundesjugendwerk.de

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Internal discussion and democracy

• The Jugendwerk has from 2000 a Basic Program and from 2004 a Pedagogical Concept.

• The positions have been and are discussed and developed in work groups and seminars

• Every two years the Bundesjugendwerktreffen (federal Jugendwerk meeting) takes place, where it is possible to experience the variety and the democratic coexistence. Also the Bundeskonferenz (federal assembly) meets every two years (the years when there is no Bundesjugendwerktreff). In this occasion delegates from all the Jugendwerke appoint the new Bundesvorstand (federal board of management) and decide in a democratic way the principal working points for the next two years.

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Intervention at federal level The Bundesjugendwerk is active as member or participant at, for example:

• In the Deutsche Bundesjugendring (German federal youth union)

• In the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Jugendhilfe (Work Community on Youth Help)

• In the Bodies of the federal level of the AWO

• In attac Germany

• In its contacts with friend organizations

• With its own actions

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Organization and Link

The Bundesjugendwerk helps the district and federal-state Jugendwerk to get in contact, exchange experiences and to have influence together. The meetings of the boards of management, employees and of the Jugendwerk of east-Germany take regularly place. The Reise-Infobörse (Travel stock exchange) builds a platform for those who are actively involved in the holiday spare time field. The Formation is the subject been treated by the Bildungsbörse (Formation stock exchange).

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Seminars

Within its formation component system, the Bundesjugendwerk offers each year seminars on these components: "Identity & History”, "Contents & Methods”, "Work instruments” and "Impulses”. Concrete themes are classified under each component.

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International

As head office the Bundesjugendwerk advises the Jugendwerke in each aspect of the international work and offers also seminars on those subjects.

The head office in Bonn

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