German Children

And Youth Foundation

The German Children and Youth Foundation (DKJS) is committed to ensuring that young people can grow up well in our country. To this end, the foundation initiates change processes in kindergartens and schools, during the transition to work, in family or local youth politics.

The federal government is reacting to the consequences of the corona pandemic for children and young people with the “Catching up after Corona” action program. Due to the restrictions in daycare and school operations, but also due to the loss of leisure and support services, a lack of contacts or tense everyday situations, many of them are struggling with learning deficits and psychosocial stress.
As part of the action program, the German Children and Youth Foundation (DKJS) is implementing the funding program “AUF!leben – Zukunft ist jetzt.” in the “Aktion Zukunft” (Future Action), which is funded by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ). This program supports children and young people to cope with the consequences of the corona pandemic and to regain everyday structures. It is about learning and experiencing outside of the classroom and supposed to support and strengthen young people in their personality development and social learning as well as promote the bonds between children and young people.

The focus of the program is the future fund, from which non-profit organizations and legal entities under public law can apply for funding for their projects nationwide. The budget of the future fund is around 83 million euros (postponements are possible). The funding principles contain provisions on eligibility to apply, the various funding categories, and the management and accounting of funds. The funding principles are still provisional regulations, so changes are possible. The funded projects have started in the beginning of October 2021 and had to be completed by August 30, 2022.