Wiebke Steens: Nottulner begins adventure in the social north

Wiebke Steens: Nottulner begins adventure in the social north

In just a few days, 18-year-old Wiebke Steens from Nottuln will take an exciting journey. With the help of a night in the night, she embarks on the way to the north of Europe to do an internship there. Your trip will take more than 13 hours before finally arriving in her new temporary home country of Sweden. The high school graduate will work in Uppsala and Stockholm as part of a program of the Bonifatiuswerk.

Wiebke is not only on this adventure; In the past few weeks, she has prepared for this exciting time together with 23 other volunteers from Germany. This group will become active in different Scandinavian countries, including Norway, Denmark, Finland and Estonia, in social and church institutions. There are also Jakob Müller among these, who has already arrived in the Norwegian parish of St. Paul. This shows the broad range of engagement that the young people in Northern Europe expects.

career steps in the north

For Wiebke Steens, exciting tasks at the Newman Institute, the only Catholic university in Scandinavia, have exciting tasks in Uppsala. Here she will take on a wide variety of activities three days a week. In addition, she will participate in Caritas in Stockholm two days of the week, where she will support a contact point for new people. "The train connection between Uppsala and Stockholm takes about 50 minutes, which can be organized well," says Wiebke.

The idea of getting involved abroad after graduating from high school had had in mind for a long time. Inspired by her mother, who spent six months in the United States during her studies, Wiebke began to find out about various programs two years ago. The desire to work in Northern Europe and the opportunity to discover such a project via the Bonifatiuswerk was the decisive factor that motivated it to apply. "I just wanted to experience something else and find out what it means to live in another culture," she says.

In order to be up to the challenges of the new language, Wiebke has already taken the first steps and discovered some similarities to the German language. "Sweden also speak English very well, but I find it important to communicate with people in their mother tongue," she adds. This shows their commitment to fully in the new environment.

cultures and faith

Besonders neugierig ist Wiebke darauf, wie der katholische Glauben in einem Land gelebt wird, in dem Katholiken eine Minderheit darstellen. "It's very different here in Nottuln," she says with a smile. In Sweden it is a matter of course for many Catholics to come together after the service, often over coffee and cake - a tradition that she is interested in.

Despite her extensive preparations, Wiebke feels a certain nervousness. "This is a big step for me. I have never been away from home and have to deal with many new challenges," she admits. Nevertheless, their optimism is unbroken. She sees the chance to look outside the box as a valuable experience. "Social commitment means a lot to me and I am looking forward to what will come," she concludes with determination.

the way of learning

The upcoming adventure in Sweden not only stands for Wiebke Steens personally, but also for a whole generation of young adults who are determined to expand their horizons. This type of engagement, which is characterized by cultural exchange and cooperation in social projects, has the potential to promote understanding across national borders. Wiebke's decision to immerse yourself in a different culture for several months and to actively participate in it could not only shape it as an individual, but also as an important part of a global community. Such initiatives are not only a testimony to the courage of young people, but also a necessary step to strengthen the intercultural dialogue and to reaffirm the belief in community over differences.

The background of engagement abroad

Wiebke Steens' decision to go abroad after graduating from high school is not only a personal nature, but also reflects a growing trend among young people. More and more young adults choose voluntary services abroad as a way to expand their skills and gain intercultural experiences. Organizations such as the Bonifatiuswerk enable such exchange and above all bring awareness of social responsibility and intercultural understanding.

The internship of Wiebke is embedded in a larger context of young volunteer projects, the target life is the personal development and support of the community. The solutions she will implement in Sweden are not only important for the local population, but also strengthen international relations and dialogue over faith and way of faith. Against this background, the stay in Sweden is also a way for Wiebke to test and expand their commitment skills in an international framework.

religious and social aspects in Sweden

The Catholic Community in Sweden is committed to the intercultural and interreligious dialogue, which increases Wiebke's interest in the way of life in the minority. There are numerous initiatives that promote the exchange between different faith communities. These can be both formal and informal nature, such as the aforementioned meetings after the service that strengthen social cohesion. The opportunity to work in such an environment not only offers Wiebke the chance to deepen her religious beliefs, but also to win new perspectives and to expand their horizons.

Current statistics on volunteer work

Volunteering abroad is becoming increasingly popular. According to a survey of Eurobarometer, which was carried out in 2022, 27% of young Europeans (aged 18-30) stated that they are interested in a form of voluntary services. The social service and international cooperation are very popular and are often rated positively because they benefit not only the volunteers, but also on the local community.

In addition, studies indicate that volunteer work abroad significantly contributes to personal development, professional skills and intercultural understanding. 83% of the former volunteers have reported that they feel more confident and more competent through their commitment when it comes to working with people from different cultures.