Practical Insights into Social Care Services in Germany: MSc Social Protection Students Visit Caritas Bonn

Following a warm welcome by Dr. Constanze Baumgart, head of public relations at Caritas Bonn, Jean-Pierre Schneider, the Caritas director, provided an overview of the association’s mandate, mission and key services.

He and the students discussed, among other things, the differences between individual Caritas associations, both within Germany and internationally, the special nature of Bonn as the former federal capital, the association's funding principles and the importance of advocacy work. Our international students were surprised by the size of the association and the large number of facilities and services it offers, as well as by the fact that Caritas in Germany is a Catholic institution but at the same time independent in its work.

Afterwards, we had the opportunity to visit the Uns Huus! Youth Centre. The session with Jan-Henrik Hartmann, director of the centre, focused on youth work and participation. He also shared current plans to relocate and rebuild the centre to make it fully barrier-free and inclusive, emphasizing the importance of fundraising in order to be able to realize such projects. Through this visit, students learned how Caritas engages young people in meaningful social participation and support.

The excursion concluded at Prälat-Schleich-Haus, guided by Carolina Schrage, head of the facility, where students explored residential support services for people experiencing homelessness. They gained insights into inpatient care, counselling services, and broader support structures, observing first-hand how social services are delivered to vulnerable populations.

Another highlight of the day was the lunch from KostBar, an integration project supporting long-term unemployed people, demonstrating Caritas’s practical approach to social inclusion. 

Our international students from 17 countries showed great interest, asking questions about working methods, target groups, (limited) resources, success stories, diversity aspects, and challenges in social work. Overall, the visit provided a sense of empowerment, showing that well-organized social services can be effective and reach those in need. The welcoming atmosphere and dedicated support from Caritas staff left a strong impression on our students, inspiring them in their future work in social protection.

We thank Dr. Constanze Baumgart and her colleagues for organizing this day of insights and practical exposure and look forward to continuing our collaboration to strengthen social protection globally.