Our Volunteers
The German YMCA runs a volunteer programme that allows young German people to come to the UK for a year of voluntary service working with different organisations as well as the German YMCA itself. The goal of this programme is to give young people the opportunity to spend a year abroad, improve their language skills, and develop their understanding of history and other cultures and societies, whilst experiencing and accepting different patterns of thought and behaviour.
To learn more about our volunteer programme - including the tasks involved, requirements, and application process - please click here.
Meet our Volunteers 2025/26
My name is Caroline, and I'm 19 years old. I live with my family in Nordhorn, a small town in Germany near the Dutch border. I finished high school this year and wanted to do something meaningful before starting my career. That's why I chose the German YMCA - it lets me combine working with people, in my case primary school children, with living independently for the first time.
I've always known I want to work in the social sector, and now I finally get the chance to find out if I enjoy it as much as I think I will. Sports have always been a big part of my life too, from hiking to road cycling, I love staying active. In my spare time, you'll find me playing tennis, going jogging, or just trying out new things. I am very excited about the amazing opportunity of spending a year in the UK.
My name is Derin, and I am 18 years old. I live in the beautiful harbour city of Hamburg in northern Germany. I am volunteering at the Association of Jewish Refugees during my year abroad in London with the German YMCA. For as long as I can remember, I wanted to spend some time abroad before starting the next chapter of my life. I was looking for an opportunity to become more independent, step out of my comfort zone, and do something meaningful at the same time.
Since London has always been one of my dream cities, this felt like the perfect opportunity. I’m excited to discover a new city, meet wonderful people, and make memories that will stay with me for a lifetime. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis and field hockey. I also love cooking, trying out new recipes, and doing anything that lets me be creative.
My name is Tillmann, and I am 18 years old. I live in Stuttgart, the largest city in the south-west of Germany. In my free time, I enjoy making music - singing in choirs and playing the violin, spending time outdoors, and pursuing my passion for technology and coding.
I am spending my year volunteering at the German YMCA and the Association of Jewish Refugees. I always dreamed of living abroad in an English-speaking country to experience a new culture, make new friends and gain valuable insights into different ways of life. Thanks to my voluntary service, I am now able to turn that dream into reality while simultaneously making a meaningful contribution to society. I am very happy to get this opportunity to broaden my horizons.
My name is Finn and I am 19 years old and come from a small town near Stuttgart, where I have lived my whole life. I first heard about the German YMCA through my brother, who was a volunteer himself back in 2016. He always describes that year as one of the most important years of his life, which is why I wanted to do the same.
During my time in London, I am a volunteer at PiP (Pursuing Independent Paths) for the German YMCA in London. In my free time I play basketball, meet friends and listen to music. I am also really interested in psychology and neuroscience. After finishing school I wanted to do something on my own before starting university, and to volunteer abroad felt like the perfect chance to learn about myself, meet new people and do something good for the community while improving my English.
