Voluntary social year
The voluntary social year in Germany and Austria (German Freiwilliges soziales Jahr, abbr. FSJ) is a state-funded voluntary work program particularly for young adults. It can last between six to eighteen months and also be spent working abroad. Before compulsory military or civilian service was abandoned in Germany, the FSJ could be used as a replacement if the service duration was at least twelve months.
Possible locations are numerous and are all social, charitable or of public utility.
- Services for disabled people
- Hospitals
- Nursing homes
- Foster homes
- Preservation of historic monuments
- Ambulatory services
- Youth welfare services
- Church communities
- Emergency medical services