Dedicated volunteers report: Living & learning in the Global South!

Dedicated volunteers report: Living & learning in the Global South!

An interesting series of events will soon start in Cologne that will deal with diverse aspects of life in the global south. On August 29, 2025, the “Global South in Focus” series will offer a platform for encounters and exchange. The focus is on rural Ecuador, the townships in Johannesburg (South Africa) and Lima (Peru) and promises exciting insights into the lives of young people. The event will be hosted by Diana Marcelo, Jhonny Arias and Phatsimo Bodibe, who will share stories about their everyday lives, their challenges and how they deal with various topics. The focus is particularly on concerns about sport, community organization and migration.

The participants of the event come from various organizations that promote the rights of children and young people, community development, culture and the environment. This participation is not only valuable for those interested, but also an opportunity for participants to exchange ideas and learn from each other. Bielefeld.jetzt emphasizes that the Welthaus Bielefeld event is open to everyone - entry is free and a translation into German is offered.

Volunteer service in Ecuador

An important part of the event is the exchange about volunteer service in Ecuador, which is possible through the weltwärts program. The service can last between six and twelve months, with the option to extend it up to 24 months. For everyone who is interested in this type of commitment, weltwärts presents various areas of application, including in the areas of the environment, agriculture, schools and leisure time as well as kindergartens and street children. This offers an opportunity to be active in the areas of fair trade and tourism and thus make a valuable contribution to the sustainable development of the region.

The weltwärts network, which includes organizations in Germany and Ecuador, is designed to enable young people from the Global South to get involved in Germany. This is intended to promote exchange and mutual learning between North and South. Those interested can find out about the application deadlines on the websites of the relevant organizations, which begin in September and end between September 30th and June 30th. Good news for anyone who wants to venture out: school knowledge of English is sufficient, while knowledge of Spanish is an advantage.

Personal experiences and commitment

The personal stories of volunteers like Rosa Ruppert, who works for people with disabilities in Quito, or Lisa Pietz, who worked in the cultural center, provide impressive insights into everyday life and experiences on site. Nelson Romahn also took an interesting path and was active in the Quito Botanical Garden to preserve biological diversity. Such reports demonstrate the importance of voluntary services and their positive impact on local life.

Finally, it remains to be said that voluntary service not only requires the commitment of young people, but is also an enriching experience for both sides. In this time of global change and challenges, the engagement of young people is more important than ever.