The History of ICJA

ICJA was founded in 1949. The reason for its formation and development mirror the history of the Federal Republic of Germany since the end of World War II. In these paragraphs, we outline how the contents of our work gradually changed over time.

First group of German exchangees on their way back home (1950)

 

1949

A Teaching Programme for Young Germans from West Germany

The programme’s foundations reach back to opposing interests. The U.S. Department of State's mission is to educate the German youth on the principles of democracy, whereas the Church of Brethren (and its founder John Eberly) understands the programme as a means of carrying out active peace and ecumenical work and as a process of on-going reconciliation and international exchange from a Christian point of view.

 

The 1950s

Two Steps Ahead!

The programme’s structure begins to change, it is extended to become both, a bilateral school programme for young Germans and Americans, and also multilateral one.
In addition to the bilateral school programme for pupils in Western Germany and the U.S., multilateral exchange programmes are made available. Young people from other European countries such as the Netherlands, Sweden and Austria are participating in the programme. The programme is no longer limited to exchange with the U.S., but is extended beyond - the exchange among the European countries also evolves.

 

The 1960s

Internationalisation: The Period of North-North-South and Project-Bound Exchange Begins!

In the 1960s, the first countries of the southern hemisphere take part in the programme. The statistics for 1966 reveal that 9 European, 2 South American, 3 Asian/Pacific and 1 African country are involved in the exchange programmes. The idea of development enjoys ranks top on the ICJA's priority list. In addition to the school exchange programme, ICJA launches its assignments in various other projects. In the face of the Vietnam War and the students’ riots, the claim to leadership and the Christian orientation of the founding organisation in U.S. are questioned. The demand for democratisation and collaboration of the international partner committees is stipulated and put into action (one country, one vote!).

 

The 1970s

The number of available projects increases. The educational programmes are further accentuated. The personal awareness of participants (including home comers) is actively promoted. The aim of these awareness processes is the critical debate including the social, political and economical differences, resulting in a willingness to engage actively in efforts to achieve peace and justice.

 

The 1980s

Further Development of the Education Program

Besides developmental contents, environmental, gender and German-German questions are put on the ICJA's agenda. The development of a new program for disadvantaged people is introduced. In addition, it is considered to build-up an educational program for participants of the southern hemisphere. In this decade, discussions are highly politicised. The degree of politicalisation is mirrored by the fact that a “working brigade“ was sent to Nicaragua in 1988.

 

The 1990s

The exchange between countries of the northern hemisphere is almost completely replaced by exchange between the northern and southern hemispheres.  By the end of the 1990s, the school programme at ICJA does no longer exist. Since the end of the 1990s, ICJA is an organisation for international volunteering services. This fact involves the increase in number of participating countries. There are 34 countries partaking in our programmes. The main focus lies on exchange with countries of the southern hemisphere, where 70 per cent of our exchangees spend their year of volunteer work.

 

2000-2010

A Variety of Programs

ICJA sends people abroad in a number of programmes, most of which have a duration of one year. It is furthermore possible to stay for six or even three months with varying dates of departure. In addition to the “classic” ICYE programme, we offer the programmes weltwärts, ADiA, FSJ abroad, international volunteering services for all generations and European Volunteer Services (EVS) to German applicants.  We call for new peace promoting political discussions. With regard to the contents of our educational work, the central questions deal with the developmental and political viewpoints of “global learning”.

 

ICJA in 2010 and beyond

Since January 2011 the obligatory military service for young German men is put on hold for an indefinite period of time. Therefore our (substitute) civil service programs are no longer offered. In lieu of the civil service programs, a state-funded international youth volunteer service was introduced for both, men and women.