Combining Academics and Service

Lennart Böttcher has been volunteering for Arbeiterwohlfahrt (AWO), a worker’s welfare association, in Mannheim for several months. Along with three other volunteers, he looks after up to 30 Ukrainian children in a Mannheim emergency shelter. A student in the Master of Education: English and Political Science program, the 24-year-old spends around two hours a week volunteering. He supports the social workers in activities such as joint picnics, organizes German lessons outside of school and helps the children to navigate their new environment. “Thanks to the Deutschland Scholarship, I can concentrate on both my studies and my voluntary work,” he says.

Experience for the future

Böttcher is one of many students at the University of Mannheim who are involved in voluntary work alongside their studies. “Sometimes it is very emotionally challenging to work with people who fled from a war zone,” he admits, “but the positive experiences and the gratitude of the children we help give me a lot in return.” He is thrilled by how the children have developed over the past few months, what they have learned, how self-confident they have become – and that they are slowly finding their way back to normal life.

This experience is invaluable for his future role as a teacher. “At first, I wasn’t aware of the importance of keeping in mind each student’s individual life story and circumstances,” Böttcher says, adding that he has become much more sensitive and empathetic. His approach to work has improved as well, much to the surprise of those around him. “My family and friends know that I’m generally a very unstructured person,” he says with a laugh, “but today I know that keeping the balance between academics and volunteering requires good time management and a lot of self-discipline.”

Challenge and inspiration

Carolina Kambeitz is another Deutschland Scholarship holder and a student in the Bachelor of Education: French and Political Science program. Since March 2024, she has been involved with the Mannheim-based non-profit association Müttersprache (“Mothers’ tongue”), teaching German to women from different countries. Together with a fellow student, she teaches a 90-minute class of ten women every Monday. On the weekends, they prepare the lessons, discuss key points and define their goals. Kambeitz and her friend devote up to two and a half hours for this activity.

“In terms of linguistic and cultural diversity, these classes are very similar to what we will encounter later in our everyday school life.” According to the aspiring teacher, the work is often emotional and challenging, but also very rewarding. “The women talk a lot about their home country and about their situation in Germany. Sometimes there are tears, and it is not uncommon for small children to be in the classroom because they miss their moms while they are in our childcare,” explains Kambeitz. “It touches me deeply, but it is also inspiring to hear the women’s different stories and to help them achieve their goals.” Her own mother, she says – a teacher herself and keenly aware of the need for volunteer language teachers – is especially proud of her daughter’s work.

Freedom and responsibility

Deutschland Scholarship holders receive 300 euros a month, funded by the federal government and private sponsors, as well as the opportunity for social engagement and personal growth. “For me, the scholarship is an incredible privilege that gives me the freedom to focus on my passion for teaching, both as a volunteer and at university,” says Böttcher. “It also allows me to save money for my semester abroad.” He is looking forward to studying at Brock University near Toronto, Canada, this fall and gaining new experiences there that will help him grow both academically and personally.

“The scholarship gives me the freedom to gain initial experience in teaching and motivating students while I’m still at university,” says Kambeitz. She also appreciates the independence the scholarship gives her. “It gives me the freedom to grow, to learn and to help others.” She says the scholarship allows her to be financially independent, to pay the rent and to take the burden off her parents, who already face high costs because of a family member needing nursing care. “I would like to be able to meet my future students with sound knowledge and great empathy,” she explains. Kambeitz dreams of spending a semester abroad at Sciences Po in Reims to deepen her language and subject-specific skills. “Not feeling the financial pressure so much gives me the opportunity to one day become a teacher who offers her students the best possible opportunities.”

Making valuable contacts

In addition to financial support, the University of Mannheim offers its scholarship holders the opportunity to network with their sponsors and to make valuable contacts in the business world. Additional opportunities for independent networking are available in the DeStip² network, which was founded in 2017 and has over 270 members, including current and former scholarship holders. In the current funding period, 123 Deutschland Scholarships are being awarded at the University of Mannheim. Among the program’s private sponsors is the Heinrich Vetter Foundation, which also funds the scholarships for Böttcher and Kambeitz.

In addition to the Deutschland Scholarship, the University of Mannheim boasts a rich scholarship system, including the Mannheim Scholarship, the Opportunity Mannheim Scholarship, the Elite Sports Scholarship Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region (Spitzensport-Stipendium), and the Bronnbach Scholarship. These scholarships offer a wide range of support and promote a variety of talents and interests.

Further information can be found on the scholarship website.