International youth exchange at the Kirchentag 2025

Information event for parishes and church districts on September 2, 2024

What is your favourite band? Which song do you turn up loud? Where do you sing along at the top of your lungs?

Music and singing can evoke a lot of emotions and are present in every corner of the world. Unfortunately, misunderstandings, conflicts and wars are also widespread around the world. Of course, music cannot solve these problems on its own, but it does have the ability to bring people of different backgrounds and opinions together. Songs can soothe, comfort, bring joy and motivation, and thus give people hope and the strength to make positive changes.

At the international youth encounter in the spring of 2025, young people from all over the world will come together to think, talk, discuss and sing about peace in various forms, thereby breaking down misunderstandings and growing in understanding the advantages of building bridges to each other.

Are you taking part?

Then you can expect a community that...

• consists of around 45 young people from different parts of the world
• shares their perspectives, ideas and talents
• does not judge or condemn
• finds and celebrates differences and similarities
• is guaranteed to have a long-term impact on your life!

Schedule and programme

The exchange will take place from April 23 and May 7, during which the location will change several times. You can only take part in the international youth exchange if you can be there for the entire period.

The programme is varied and has something for everyone. There is a lot of music, but there are also completely different workshops, excursions, free time for sports and relaxation, games and whatever YOU want to bring in.

I. Phase: 23 - 30 April in Abbensen (near Hanover)
In Abbensen you will start in the idyllic log cabin village of the YMCA meeting centre. A new and varied programme awaits you every day, but there is also room to help shape it. Sometimes indoors, sometimes outdoors, with loud and quiet moments, sometimes with more, sometimes with less language. And very often with music…because a Brazilian musician will form a choir out of you! Don't worry - in addition to singing, there will also be other opportunities for active participation.

Phase II: 30 April - 4 May in Hanover (Kirchentag)
After resting in Abbensen, you will go to the Kirchentag in the big city of Hanover! Here you can immerse yourselves as a group in the huge programme of the Kirchentag, which takes place throughout the city with 100,000 visitors. You can expect a festival of faith, a political forum, an educational event, a youth festival and a “happening.” You will bring your choir project to the stage, but you will also have the opportunity to simply let yourself go and join in. In Hanover you will sleep in shared accommodation in a school.

Phase III: 04 - 07 May in Verden
To regenerate and say goodbye, you will finally go to the Evangelischer Jugendhof Sachsenhain in Verden . Here you can look back on the experiences of the last few days, celebrate your successes, and relax and have fun together once again.

Information event

Interested congregations and church districts can attend a video conference on Monday, September 2, 2024, to find out the conditions for the invitation of young people between the ages of 18 and 26 from their international partnership. You will receive the link for participation from ELM officer Thekla Haß. Please request it at: t.hass(at)elm-mission(dot)net

 

A quick overview of the most important points

• When and where:
  April 23 to May 7, 2025 in Abbensen, Hanover and Verden.
  There will be a voluntary online preliminary meeting in March 2025.
• For whom :
  Young people between the ages of 16 and 26 (international: 18 and over) with an interest in the global church and global issues.
  School exemption is required for pupils. If you have any questions, please contact Franziska.
• Costs:
  150€ for participants from Germany.
  The participation fee includes accommodation, meals, programme, excursions and transport during the entire time.
• Language:
  The common language of communication is English (school knowledge is, of course, sufficient).

 

Enrolment

Interested German participants (16-26 years) can find out more and register HERE.

German congregations and circuits with international partnership can register their interest in inviting international guests for the encounter HERE.

Other interested parties can contact t.hass@elm-mission.net.