Kita Pamina is a 12-month European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteering placement with AWO Karlsruhe in Karlsruhe, Germany, running from 1 October 2026 to 30 September 2027. You will support the educators of a German- and French-speaking day care centre for children aged 1 to 6, taking part in daily activities, excursions and your own creative projects, while living in an international volunteer community. The application deadline is 6 September 2026.
About the Coordinating Organisation
The placement is coordinated by the Kreisjugendwerk (KJW) of AWO Karlsruhe-Stadt, a non-profit organisation that organises activities and events for children and young people. The KJW's work focuses on participation and personal development, and it is open to all young people of any background. Beyond day care, the wider programme also includes work with children and teenagers in holiday camps and creative projects in its circus, so there are many ways to get involved.
Life at Kita Pamina
The Kita is located in the city of Karlsruhe and hosts children aged 1 to 6 years. It welcomes all children, regardless of their nationality or social background, and it is German- and French-speaking. Your tasks include:
🧸 Supporting the educators in one group of children in their daily activities, such as role playing, sport and arts.
🍽️ Supporting the kitchen.
🚌 Going with the children on excursions.
🎨 Realising a personal project with the children if you wish, such as handicrafts or games.
🌍 Attending intercultural events on some evenings or weekends, with the chance to organise your own.
🧸 Drawn to early-years work in Germany? Here's a similar placement worth a look: ESC Volunteering in 🇩🇪 Germany: Early Childhood Education at a Bilingual Kindergarten → https://youthworkshub.org/20289
What You'll Receive
As a volunteer, you will receive:
💶 A monthly allowance of about 500 €.
🏠 Free accommodation.
🚆 A free travel card for public transport all around Germany.
🩺 Free insurance.
🛂 A refund of visa costs (if applicable).
🎓 Free seminars for your personal and educational growth.
🗣️ A free German language course.
🤝 Constant support from the KJW as your coordinating organisation before and during your stay, and a local and international community from your very first day that shows you around Karlsruhe and the region.
💰 Not sure what "fully funded" really means for an ESC placement? This guide breaks it down: Is ESC Volunteering Fully Funded? What Is Covered → https://youthworkshub.org/is-esc-fully-funded
Where You'll Live
Depending on the location of your service, you will be accommodated in one of several shared houses or apartments, always with your own single bedroom while sharing common areas such as the kitchen, bathrooms, dining or living room and yard. The options include a house close to the city with six more ESC volunteers; a house in Villingen with five more young adults, both international and local; an apartment in Esslingen with seven more young people, right next to the workplace; a house in Karlsruhe with two more ESC volunteers; and a three-floor house in Karlsruhe with nine more ESC volunteers. All are within walking or cycling distance of the workplace or well connected by public transport, so you will need between 20 and a maximum of 40 minutes to reach your workplace, depending on the chosen activity. For the Kita, the accommodation is right in the city, with tram and train stations within walking distance.
Training and Development
You will follow a 50-hour German course in a group with other ESC volunteers, and take part in two seminars of two weeks each, where you meet other ESC volunteers in Germany, share experiences and learn about the main concepts of the European Solidarity Corps. You will also get to know local and international cultures through a cycle of intercultural meetings, and you have the option to attend a pedagogical course to become a youth leader and coordinate summer camps.
🌍 New to the whole idea of ESC? Start here for the full picture: What is the European Solidarity Corps (ESC)? → https://youthworkshub.org/esc
Who Can Apply
The profile the organisation is looking for includes:
🎂 At least 18 years old.
📚 An interest in educational work and all its aspects.
🧒 An interest in working with children aged 0 to 6.
🗣️ Some knowledge of English and possibly French; basic skills in German are helpful.
🤝 Having an accredited sending organisation.
🌍 Being open to getting to know Germany and German culture and sharing an international environment.
🎨 Also love creative work with children? Take a look at this ESC Volunteering in 🇵🇹 Portugal: Children's Activities and Intercultural Creativity → https://youthworkshub.org/20435
Eligible Countries
The placement is open to applicants from a very wide list of ESC Programme and neighbouring Partner Countries, including: Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Aruba, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bonaire Sint Eustatius and Saba, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Territories, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jordan, Kosovo, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Caledonia, North Macedonia, Norway, Palestine, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saint Barthélemy, Serbia, Sint Maarten, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, St Pierre and Miquelon, Sweden, Syria, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Wallis and Futuna.
How to Apply
The only way to apply is by filling in the official application form; do not send any email unless requested. If the organisation finds your application interesting, they will ask you to send supplementary materials, such as a CV and other files supporting your motivation, so make sure to provide an email address they can easily reach you at.
Deadline
⏳ 06 September 2026
Links
📝 Application form (only way to apply): https://forms.gle/x7uJMYdz5u3XJpCG6
🌐 Official project page: https://youth.europa.eu/solidarity/opportunity/54025_en
ℹ️ ESC calls and Kita orientation: https://www.jugendwerk-awo.de/freiwilligendienste/esc-calls
📌 Project code: 2026-1-DE04-ESC51-VTJ-000401125
⚠️ Important Notice
Youth Works Hub is not the organiser, partner, or representative of the listed projects. This listing is shared for information only, based on details from the source. Deadlines, eligible countries, dates, and other details may change or be withdrawn at any time, and all funding, reimbursements, and allowances are set by the project coordinator or National Agency. Applications go directly to the coordinator or hosting organisation through the official link. Listings may include third-party links (ESC Portal, infopacks, forms) that Youth Works Hub does not control. Always verify the details on the official project page before applying.
