Income Voluntary Service

Schüler*innen Helfen Leben (SHL) is Germany’s largest youth-led charity, best known for organising the Solidarity Action Day. On this day, tens of thousands of students swap the classroom for a job of their choice and donate their earnings to support youth and education projects in Southeast Europe, the Syria region, Jordan, and Ukraine. The goal: more equal opportunities, more youth participation, more solidarity.

Through presentations and workshops in German schools, SHL also raises awareness about the realities young people face in these regions. The Solidarity Action Day empowers youth to take action, stand up for social issues and make a real difference.

Why become an Income Volunteer?

As an Income Volunteer, you become part of a motivated team that believes in youth power and real change. For one year, you support SHL in a wide range of activities—from project work to communication, event planning and teamwork across borders. You’ll grow personally and professionally, gain valuable skills, and experience what it means to be part of a youth-led movement.

A program that crosses borders

Since 2014, young people from Southeast Europe have been joining SHL in Germany as Income Volunteers. Up to three volunteers per year work with our team in Neumünster and they quickly become an essential part of everything we do.

In 2018, SHL opened a second office in Lübeck. On behalf of our European umbrella organisation SAME Solidarity Action Day Movement in Europe, we work to spread the idea of the Solidarity Action Day across Europe and connect young people from many countries. This team is supported by two additional Income Volunteers who help grow and shape this European Youth Movement.

Want to learn more?

On the next pages, you can discover both Income Volunteer opportunities in detail — and find out how you can be part of it.