Internship / Volunteers at Franziskus

The Live and Work Community Franziskus Association (Lebens- und Arbeitsgemeinschaft Franziskus e.V.) is a nonprofit anthroposophical institution for
44 adults with disabilities who live a protected but practically normal and meaningful life in family-like communities.

The Franziskus Association Hamburg was founded in January 1992 and it’s a member at the Charitable Society for Equal Opportunity (Der Paritätische) and at the Anthropoi Gesamtverband German Federal Association.

The city of Hamburg is located in northern Germany at Elbe river near the North Sea. The city covers an area of 466 square miles and is the second busiest seaport in Europe and a major commercial, industrial, and cultural center with 3 Universities and several research and application institutes.

Franziskus e. V. follows the anthroposophical curative education principles of Rudolf Steiner. Although anthroposophical teaching is fundamentally Christian, it‘s not bound to a particular denomination and takes an overarching view of body, soul, and spirit. An important principle is to accept everyone as they are. While a fixed rhythm/routine in our community life provides the necessary security for the people in our care, we encourage everybody to develop within their own abilities.

The common day begins with a morning gathering. The residents’ working day ends with an evening gathering. Daily life and its routines with repeated exercises and/or activities such as singing, playing instruments, or carrying out small services in the community are an essential part of life, and we expect the volunteers living and working with us to be open to these (and other) anthroposophical principles. – We say grace before lunch and supper, and although we do not expect the volunteers to actively participate in these rituals, they should be present throughout and at least maintain a neutral attitude towards them.

We have been hosting volunteers from the European Voluntary Service since 1999. Employing volunteers offers advantages for all parties involved: The community benefits from the fresh impulses released by the volunteers with their individual education and personal circumstances. So young people find meaningful employment and the opportunity to orientate themselves socially.

In order to leave room for personal development and practicing social skills, volunteer activities will mostly take place in the free time of people with disabilities. This will support the volunteers in developing their own ideas for their work such as making up creative programs, motivating those in their care to develop their own activities, and taking part in the planning and organizing of group activities, especially on weekends.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Aline Keller, by phone at +49 40 870 870-0 or by email at bewerbung(at)franziskus.net.