ESC: Living on the spectrum - support people with autism in a residential group
Code: 50082 Copied
Germany
European Voluntary Service
Social work
European Voluntary Service
Social work
Fixed dates
About the project
ESC: Living on the spectrum - support people with autism in a residential group
📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
- ENGLISH VERSION -
The Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband Niedersachsen e.V. is a non-governmental organisation which provides a wide variety of different offerings in the social sector. The main goal is to help people in need of support in difficult life situations. The 3.400 employees assist and care for old/young people in need, people with disabilities, refugees and people with different illnesses.
The Paritätischer represents more than 800 member organisations which carry out more than 1.900 social service offerings in Lower-Saxony. It provides a network for these member organisations and is working actively on advancing social offerings for people in need. Furthermore the Paritätischer Niedersachsen is lobbying for social justice and people without a strong voice in society and politics.
- DEUTSCHE VERSION -
Der Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband Niedersachsen e.V. vertritt als parteipolitisch ungebundener und überkonfessioneller Spitzenverband der Freien Wohlfahrtspflege die Interessen seiner mehr als 800 Mitgliedsorganisationen mit über 75.000 Arbeitnehmer*innen und Zehntausenden Ehrenamtlichen in Niedersachsen gegenüber Politik und Öffentlichkeit und macht seinen Mitgliedern ein umfassendes Beratungsangebot. Der Paritätische engagiert sich für benachteiligte, hilfebedürftige und diskriminierte Menschen und steht für Demokratie, Toleranz, soziale Gerechtigkeit und Teilhabe und gegen jegliche Form sozialer Ausgrenzung und politischen Extremismus. Die rund 3400 Beschäftigten unterstützen und pflegen alte und junge Menschen, Menschen mit Beeinträchtigungen, Geflüchteten und Menschen in verschiedenen Notsituationen.
Zu den Angeboten vor Ort gehören Ambulante und Tagespflege, Inklusionsassistenz, Essen auf Rädern, Kindertagesstätten und weitere Dienstleistungen. Zudem betreibt der Paritätische 29 Kontakt- und Beratungsstellen für Selbsthilfegruppen im Land. Sie sind unverzichtbare Anlaufstellen für mehr als 4500 Selbsthilfegruppen, in denen sich 80.000 Menschen für sich und andere einsetzen.
💼 What the programme involves
The Weidenhof, founded by the Irene Foundation, has been a place to live for autistic adults since 1983 and was the first facility of its kind in Germany. The facility has over 40 years of organisational knowledge and practical experience in working with autistic people. The residents of the Weidenhof have significant disorders in perceptual processing. They lack the ability to organize their experience and behavior appropriately and to adjust to the outside world. Typical are strong behavioral conspicuities as well as individual, very compulsive and ritualized courses of action, the smallest disturbance of which may have considerable effects. All residents work according to their interests and abilities in the facility's own therapeutic workshops. You will work in a team with experienced colleagues and support the residential groups in their daily activities. You will accompany the residents in their housekeeping activities and, together with the staff, design activities for them.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Interns and volunteers who support the work of the staff in the residential and workshop areas for a certain period of time are always integrated into the care. The facility has its own residential house in Hitzacker, where volunteers and interns live together. It has a common area with a fully equipped kitchen, single rooms and shared bathrooms. The placement site, shopping facilities, restaurants and train station are within walking distance. You will get a monthly allowance, take part in the meals in the residential groups and visit a German language course with other volunteers.
🎒 Leisure activities
In addition to the supervisors located in the individual activities helping you with your daily tasks, we have mentor persons experienced in supporting international volunteers. They offer individual support structures as well as volunteer group meetings. We will register you to the ESC-backed seminars in different educational institutions. As a coordinating part, our umbrella organisation also provides support for the volunteers.
⚠️ Requirements
The Participant profile: You are the perfect fit for our project if you enjoy working with people and you like to get involved. You find the concepts of empowerment and self-determination important. You are reliable, responsible and committed. You are open-minded and interested in learning new things.
People with autism often have specific needs and communication requirements. It would be advantageous if you already have met or worked with people with autism and are ready to be part of their everyday routines for up to 12 months. You can communicate in German at a basic level to get in touch with the residents, who are mostly not capable of speaking and understanding English.
Deadline: 15/03/2026 23:59
Deadline: 15/03/2026 23:59
ℹ️ Additional information
The project is implemented under the European Solidarity Corps Programme, financed by the European Commission.
The participating organisations have to be mindful of these needs as they are responsible for providing a respectful and trusting hosting environment. At the same time, the organisations participating in the initiative devote a great deal of time, energy and resources to set up a high-quality activity; they should therefore expect that European Solidarity Corps participants show a similar level of respect for the local communities and the people that are directly concerned by the activities (https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/mission_en).
What do we provide ?
Before applying for this volunteering project, you need to enroll yourself at European Solidarity Corps Platform (https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity_en) and specify your European Solidarity Corps Participant Number (PRN).
This organisation holds a European Solidarity Corps Quality Label.
Contact the ESC coordinator at +32 2 888 67 13 to get more informations.
The participating organisations have to be mindful of these needs as they are responsible for providing a respectful and trusting hosting environment. At the same time, the organisations participating in the initiative devote a great deal of time, energy and resources to set up a high-quality activity; they should therefore expect that European Solidarity Corps participants show a similar level of respect for the local communities and the people that are directly concerned by the activities (https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/mission_en).
What do we provide ?
- Training before and after the project
- Health insurance during your project
- round-trip travel reimbursement
- accommodation and food
- pocket money
- language course
- Return Week-end
- Youth Pass and SVI international Volunteer passport
Before applying for this volunteering project, you need to enroll yourself at European Solidarity Corps Platform (https://europa.eu/youth/solidarity_en) and specify your European Solidarity Corps Participant Number (PRN).
This organisation holds a European Solidarity Corps Quality Label.
Contact the ESC coordinator at +32 2 888 67 13 to get more informations.
Interested in this project? Create your account and apply online.
Sign in to apply📅 Available sessions
DE50082
01/08/2026 → 30/12/2027
Volunteers registered
0 / 2
♂ 0/1
♀ 0/1
Deadline: 15/03/2026
ℹ️ Key information
Age required
18–30 years old
Solidarity donation
0.00 EUR
French tax residents may be eligible for a tax reduction of up to 66% of their costs (membership, plane tickets, solidarity donation).
📍 Location
29456 Hitzacker, Germany
Germany
🌍 Location info
Local currency
Euro Member Countries (EUR / €)
Timezone
Central European Standard Time
Local time: 22:09 (12/11/2026)
🛡️ Before you leave
✅ Features
🏠 Accommodation
Collective
🗣️ Languages spoken
English
German