What does the FGYO do?
The FGYO promotes youth exchange and projects between Germany and France. This includes:
- Exchanges among schools and university students
- Partnerships between cities and regions
- Encounters in the context of sports, culture, theatre, music or environmental protection
- Language courses
- Internships and exchange in the field of vocational education and training
- Scholarships for specialist seminars and research
In addition to this, the FGYO sponsors trilateral encounters with young people from Central and Eastern Europe, South-Eastern Europe and the Mediterranean. This is made possible through funding from the Special Fund of the foreign ministries of both countries.
![Stand lors de la fête d'été de l'OFAJ](/sites/default/files/2023-09/FRANCE%20-%20OFAJ%20-%20FETE%20D%20ETE.jpg)
The FGYO works with numerous partners, institutions and project sponsors based on the principle of subsidiarity. The aim of this effort is
- to intensify Franco-German relations
- to promote intercultural learning
- to impart key skills for Europe
- to arouse curiosity about the partner language
- to strengthen levels of participation among young people
- to offer all young people an opportunity to take part in mobility programmes
- to share with other countries the experiences of Franco-German youth exchange and the work of remembrance and peace
These aims give rise to many of the principles that govern the FGYO’s work and the conditions for its financial support. For example, exchange projects should be based on reciprocity and feature an educational component.
![Animation pendant la conférence des enfants](/sites/default/files/2023-09/KiKo%20_%20DFJW%20am%2001.06.2023%20%284%29.jpg)
The FGYO also strives to award funding in the most straightforward and unbureaucratic possible manner. With this in mind, we intend to support the commitment of individuals and partner structures in very practical ways.
The FGYO continuously evaluates and evolves its programmes and methods in an effort to ensure and improve the success of exchange projects for Franco-German relations and for participants themselves.
Here is how the FGYO works
The FGYO is an independent international organisation headed by a Board of Governors. The Board of Governors is currently co-chaired by Lisa Paus, German Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, and Nicole Belloubet, French Minister of National Education and Youth.
The Secretariat General is the executive body of the Board of Governors. It is led in tandem by Franco-German Secretaries General: Tobias Bütow has served as Secretary General of the FGYO since 1 March 2019. His French counterpart, Anne Tallineau, entered office on 1 January 2020. There are approximately 100 staff members working in bilateral units located in Paris, Berlin, Saarbrücken and Strasbourg.
![Photo de groupe des membres du conseil d'administration 2023](/sites/default/files/2023-12/conseil-d-administration-verwaltungsrat-2023.jpg)
Five facts about the FGYO
- Finance: The FGYO finances its work and funding from a fund provided in equal parts by the German and French governments.
- Budget: In 2019, the FGYO had financial resources of nearly 30 million euro.
- Encounters: The FGYO has provided opportunities for nearly 10 million young people to take part in some 400,000 mobility programmes since its establishment in 1963.
- Exchange: The FGYO promotes around 8,000 encounters each year, including around 4,700 group and 3,300 individual exchanges.
- Equal opportunities: One-fifth of all young people participating in the FGYO programmes have difficulty gaining access to mobility offers.
![Enfants autour d'un stand OFAJ](/sites/default/files/2023-09/Inauguration%20fresque%20OFAJ%20et%20f%C3%AAte%20de%20quartier.jpg)