A win-win opportunity for young adults, social institutions and society as a whole
Linz (OTS) – Together with Social and Youth Councilor Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer and Youth State Secretary Claudia Plakolm, Elisabeth Marcus, the managing director of the Association for the Promotion of Voluntary Social Services, visited the Franciscan Sisters’ senior citizens’ home in Linz on Friday. The focus was on 19-year-old Zoé Maurer, who is currently doing her Voluntary Social Year (FSJ) at the Brothers of Mercy facility for people of old age. Zoé was born in Germany and wanted to take some time off after school to find out where she wanted to go in her career; She also wanted to explore the social sector and bravely get to know a new area. She has been working in Linz since autumn 2023 and has already been able to gain a lot of experience, overcome challenges and get to know herself better.
Across Austria, 642 young adults are currently doing a voluntary social year through the non-profit organization. You work for 34 hours a week in a social institution, receive pocket money of 500.00 euros net, the Austrian climate ticket, family allowance and you have accident, health and pension insurance. The FSJ association has made it its mission to provide the young volunteers with good, high-quality support during their work. And so, in addition to their work in a social institution, the FSJ participants also have seminars organized by the FSJ association and receive educational support.
The FSJ is the best decision in life and a sensible alternative to traditional community service
A volunteer from Vienna said in retrospect about her volunteer service: “What started as a bridge year became the best decision of my life.”
More than 75% of FSJ graduates decide to train in the social sector after their deployment. And the fourth quarter also takes away valuable experiences for life. “I did my voluntary social year instead of the classic community service and although I don’t want to stay in the social sector but go into the technical sector, I’m taking an incredible amount with me for the rest of my life. I also benefited greatly from the accompanying FSJ seminars and the exchange with other volunteers.”
says Rocco Bald, who did his FSJ in a facility for people with refugee experience.
The possible uses of the voluntary social year are versatile: in children and young people, in old people, in people with disabilities, in people in emergency situations or in people in health facilities such as hospitals or rehabilitation facilities.
The Voluntary Social Year as a step into growing up
“Many people start studying something after school. If it wasn’t the right thing, they drop out after two semesters and that’s frustrating. We would like to encourage everyone who will soon be graduating from school to consciously take the time to find out who they are, what they are capable of and what they want. The Voluntary Social Year can make a big contribution to this.”
says the club’s managing director Elisabeth Marcus, who did an FSJ herself after graduating from high school, with conviction.
19-year-old Zoé Maurer sees it very similarly: “The FSJ is a great opportunity for young adults to rediscover themselves. For me it was a new start towards career and further training. The accompanying FSJ seminars also helped me a lot personally; I met a lot of new people and made good friends. Personally, I was able to grow and get to know myself better. In the last few months I have taken a huge step into becoming an adult. I’ll probably continue in Vienna in the fall, because now I know: I can do it and go my own way.”
Elisabeth Marcus and Zoé Maurer welcome the Upper Austrian state government’s efforts to make the Voluntary Social Year better known. The FSJ is a win-win situation for social institutions and committed young adults and Marcus and Maurer are convinced that it makes a positive contribution to various current socially relevant challenges that cannot be overestimated.
Questions & Contact:
Elizabeth Marcus
Managing Director of the FSJ Association
elisabeth.marcus@fsj.at
0676/ 877 63 915