Child and Youth Center “Specht”

The “Kinder- und Jugendzentrum Specht” is a child and youth centre in Ettlingen that has been providing a wide range of activities for children and young people since 1979. The centre offers a welcoming space for children and young people of different ages to meet, play, learn, relax and spend their free time together.

The educational approach is based on open and voluntary youth work. Children and young people can decide for themselves when and how often they participate in the activities, while also having the opportunity to help shape the programme according to their own interests and ideas. The centre offers various open meeting spaces, including a kids' club and an open youth meeting. Activities include games, cooking, creative workshops, sports, music and excursions.
 

The centre also provides homework support, a daily lunch programme, holiday childcare and a wide range of special projects and events. The centre also has a pottery workshop, wood and metal workshops, a rehearsal room, a garden and the “Spechtmobile”, allowing children and young people to take part in different practical and creative activities as well in different areas of the city.

An important aspect of the centre's work is inclusion and accessibility: the activities are open to children and young people with different nationalities, backgrounds and needs.

• Welcoming and interacting with children and young people during open youth activities
• Participating in and helping to organise games, sports and workshops
• Helping with homework support for school children
• Supporting the organisation and implementation of excursions and outdoor activities
• Accompanying the “Spechtmobile” and helping to provide activities for children in different locations
• Supporting special events, celebrations, children's parties 
• Supporting and attending the summer holidays’ activities
• Helping to prepare rooms, materials and equipment before and after activities
• Working together with the pedagogical team and learning about open child and youth work
• Supporting the staff during the daily lunch programme
• Helping with organisational and household tasks, such as tidying up and preparing snacks

Bonus activity: become a youth leader in summer camps

The KJW offers a pedagogical training to become youth leader. As the training takes place in 3 weekends, you have the free choice to attend it if you are interested in the field. 

After the training, you have the opportunity to become a summer camp youth leader. Summer camps take place in and outside of Germany and last between one and two weeks. The camps are an amazing chance for you to work and travel for free at the same time.

In addition to the general benefits as stated above, you will receive the following: 

• Free lunch in the youth center
• Additional free days if overtime, evening or weekend work occurs
• an international environment at home, in the hosting organization, and in Karlsruhe, and the possibility to spread your own passions in dedicated events

• Creative and open minded
• Possessing a basic knowledge of German and a very strong motivation to improve it quickly
• Having a driving licence
• Possessing some computer, photo and social media skills
• Willing to organize events and activities
• Excited in sharing an international environment and open minded when it comes to integration
• Having a lot of energy to share with children and young people