Your chance in Emden - Volunteering with people with disabilities at the OBW Emden
Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband Niedersachsen e.V.
Ostfriesische Beschäftigungs- und Wohnstätten GmbH
Emden, Germany
Description
The Ostfriesische Beschäftigungs- und Wohnstätten (obw) offers a wide range of hosting activities located in Emden in the field of working with adults with disabilities. Since 1975 the obw has been a recognized workshop for people with disabilities and employs around 600 people at 60 locations. In their facilities people of different age groups are cared for and can participate in working and community life. As a volunteer you accompany the specialists in the organisation of the day or the individual support measures and support the disabled people in acquiring or maintaining skills.
Free volunteer positions are available in the following workshops:
- Werkstatt Friesland | Workshop for people with disabilities
- Montage & Verpackung | Workshop for people with disabilities, focus on assembly and packaging
- Foodmanufaktur | Workshop for people with disabiltites, focus on culinary products
- Middenmang Manufaktur | Workshop for people with disabiltites, focus on handcrafting / creative products
Accommodation, food and transport arrangements
Volunteers at Ostfriesische Beschäftigungs- und Wohnstätten (obw) Emden receive free accommodation in a shared flat, a public transport ticket, pocket money, and a food allowance, so that all living expenses are fully covered. In addition, volunteers can participate in the Hansefit program, which allows them to visit swimming pools, gyms, and other health facilities almost free of charge. The program also offers volunteers the opportunity to make social contacts outside of their activity.
Training during the activity
In addition to the supervisors located in the individual activities helping you with your daily tasks, we have a motivated, competent and empathic team of mentor persons experienced in supporting international volunteers. They offer individual support structures as well as volunteer group meetings and non-formal seminars in addition to the ESC-backed seminars in different educational institutions. As a coordinating part, our umbrella organisation the Paritätische Niedersachsen also provides support for the volunteers.
Participant profile
As a volunteer at obw, you should be willing to work with people with different and/or multiple disabilities, as they are our main target group. Also, German language skills are very helpful for communicating with the people you support.
As this opportunity is for multiple workshop locations, feel free to write in your motivation statement if one activity attracts/suits you the most. Follow the links above via copy/paste in your browser and find out which activity fits your competences and interests best. When we invite you to a video interview we can further discuss the potential matching process.
Activity dates
From 01/08/2026 to 31/07/2027
Activity location
Herderstraße 19 , Emden, Germany
Activity type
Individual volunteering
Looking for participants from
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Türkiye, Ukraine
Activity topics
Social challenges
Health and wellbeing
Working against discrimination (including gender discrimination)
Deadline for applications
Application deadline: 06/11/2026 23:59
Project code
2026-1-DE04-ESC51-VTJ-000402010