Social internship at the Amplonius-Gymnasium: Young people discover new ways!

Social internship at the Amplonius-Gymnasium: Young people discover new ways!

At the Amplonius Gymnasium in Rheinberg, a new “social internship” for schoolchildren in grade 11 took place in the school year 2023/2024. Based on the motto "Volunteering has a future", seven young people took part in this program. The period of the internship extended from November 2024 to June 2025, in which each participant did a total of 50 hours of voluntary work. The areas of application were diverse and included senior institutions, kindergartens and commitment in various church offers, which enabled the participants a comprehensive experience in the social sector. RP online reports that ...

The social internship has established itself as a valuable addition to the school's educational offer. Originally introduced to church and socially oriented high schools, it is now also offered in other schools. The idea behind the internship is to give students an insight into social work and promote their social skills. This practical experience can have a significant impact on the professional decisions of the students, they support in their personal maturity process and help to develop compassion and helpfulness. [My internship explains that ...]

goal and meaning of the social internship

The social internship serves as a mandatory internship, which is often carried out in the 8th or 9th grade and sometimes in the upper level. The duration varies between one and four weeks, depending on the school. The locations are not only limited to old people's and nursing homes, but also include hospitals, clinics and facilities to help for the poor and homeless. Through the experience in the social internship, the students should be sensitized to social problems.

A central aspect of the program is also the takeover. Students not only learn how important social commitment is, they also develop an interface to potential professional fields in the social field. An internship report, which is usually to be created after completion of the internship, often plays an important role in the assessment of academic achievements. The internship positions are often assigned by the schools that work with social institutions, or the students choose their place from a list.

The social internship at the Amplonius high school impressively shows how important it is to assume social responsibility at a young age. With this Initiative, young people are not only made aware of the challenges in the social field, they also gain experience and personality. It is a step in the right direction to prepare young people for life in social interaction.