The aim of the city of Wiesbaden is to enable all young people to have an accompanied experience abroad. The "Wiesbaden Worldwide" network enables youth encounters, youth exchanges and educationally accompanied trips for young people - or arranges internships abroad.
The "Wiesbaden International" office works closely with various network partners. In addition to the youth trips and encounters, the "Hessen total International" trade fair provides information about stays abroad once a year. Regular advice is provided during opening hours at the "JIZ - Jugend Info-Zentrum".
In addition, the specialist unit advises interested sponsors on setting up their own programs and supports them. It is active in the acquisition of third-party funding and provides training opportunities for the further development of content and expertise.
The strategic development of the specialist unit has been taking place since 2011, when the youth work department took part in the federal "Kommune goes International" program.
Interested parties can receive up-to-date information once a quarter via the newsletter on the wiesbaden.de website.
Network Wiesbaden worldwide
The Wiesbaden Worldwide Network is the driving force behind the specialist unit. The members of the network share the common goal of facilitating international encounters for young people. All network partners are youth welfare organizations from the fields of youth work, school social work, youth vocational assistance or inpatient youth welfare. The network currently (2025) has 32 members.
The professional exchange is promoted through two network meetings per year in the form of specialist days in spring and fall. The network sets a thematic focus for each meeting, which is accompanied by academic input and an exchange of practical experience.
Control Wiesbaden International
Management takes place on two levels. The Protocol Department - which is responsible for town twinning - and the Department for European and Funding Management work together with the "Wiesbaden International" department at an intermunicipal level.
A steering group meets twice a year to discuss content and strategic priorities. On the federal level, IJAB - Fachstelle für internationale Jugendarbeit Deutschland - and the German service point for the European funding program - Youth for Europe - participate in the steering group.
Hessen total International
"Hessen total international" is a Hessian state network of various organizations that have anchored international youth work in their organizations. The organizations are active at municipal or state level. The network organizes the annual fair of the same name on the second Saturday in November and a state-wide symposium every two years.
The network has set itself the goal of politically strengthening international youth work at state level and promoting professional exchange among practitioners working in youth welfare and youth association work.
Working group on international youth work in the Landesarbeitsgemeinschaft Offenen Kinder- und Jugendarbeit (LAG OKJA)
Wiesbaden International has been working in the International Youth Work Working Group since 2025 in order to develop professional exchange and training in this area of work throughout Hesse and to strengthen networking.
The working group meets up to three times a year to exchange ideas. There is also an annual meeting of the LAG.
Municipality goes international
Kommune goes International (KGI) is a contact point for municipalities that want to establish and expand international youth work programs locally.
The aim of the KGI network is to create a framework to enable young people to gain experience abroad locally.
KGI is part of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) and is carried out in cooperation with the German Association of Cities, the German Association of Districts and the German Association of Towns and Municipalities.
