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Franco-German Spring: Burhan brings students together!
Find out how Abdullah Burhan organizes his German-French voluntary service at the RUB and promotes cultural exchange.
Franco-German Spring: Burhan brings students together!
Abdullah Burhan from France has been completing his German-French voluntary service at the Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) since September 2024. This extraordinary year will end in June 2025. Burhan is already familiar with RUB because he attended an exchange program run by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) at the same university two years ago.
His time at the RUB introduced him to the beauty of the Chinese and Botanical Gardens as well as the nature around Bochum, such as Lake Kemnader. He describes the RUB as a “commuter university” because many German students travel back home after their events, while the French exchange students stay in Bochum. This observation could reflect the dynamics of international student life at RUB.
The “German-French Spring” project
Burhan initiated a remarkable project called the “German-French Spring” (printemps franco-allemand). This project aims to bring German and French students together and promote a lively, intercultural community. Planned activities include excursions, a café français, cafeteria visits, game nights, picnics and hikes. It is noteworthy that Burhan organized the project independently, without resorting to financial support.
In order to strengthen the German-French community even after his departure, he founded an active WhatsApp group. This group is intended to promote exchange and networking in the long term, even if Burhan will take up a double master's degree in Business Administration and Marketing and Sales after his time at the RUB in Passau.
Support from the DFJW
The Franco-German Voluntary Service (DFDW) is organized by the Franco-German Youth Office (DFJW). It enables young people between the ages of 18 and 25 to do voluntary service in Germany and France. These experiences are not only enriching, but also promote cultural exchange and European mobility. Volunteers have the opportunity to improve their skills in various areas and bring new ideas to engagement projects. You can apply for volunteer service via the platform vfa-in.ofaj.org by March 16, 2025.
In addition, the DFJW supports the institutions in finding partner organizations and covers the costs of accompanying seminars with intercultural and pedagogical knowledge. Organizations also receive up to 260 euros in reimbursement of travel costs for volunteers to the training seminars. Volunteers should speak to their location about monthly support of at least 114.85 euros for accommodation and food.
Burhan, who earned a bachelor's degree in applied foreign languages from the University of Rouen in Normandy, recommends other students spend a year or a semester abroad to take advantage of exchange programs and foreign language assistance. His experiences at RUB and personal projects indicate that volunteer service can be not only an academic but also a valuable personal journey.