College of Criminology Assistant-to-the-Dean Jade Marimat Joins Social Inclusion Initiative in Berlin Under Weltwärts Program

Jade Marimat, Assistant-to-the-Dean of the College of Criminology, is currently in Germany as a volunteer for the Cooperative Mensch – BWF Schöneicher Straße in Berlin. This is a year of international social service through the Weltwärts Volunteer Program, organized under Germany’s Federal Volunteer Service (Bundesfreiwilligendienst, BFD). Her year-long engagement runs from September 2025 to August 2026, placing her in one of the organization’s residential care units for adults with disabilities.

Cooperative Mensch has been active in Berlin’s social sector for more than half a century, providing inclusive housing, therapy, and community programs for target demographics. As part of her tenure in the program, Jade will be engaged in daily support work, guided learning activities, and cross-cultural exchange focused on Germany’s approach to social care and inclusive living. Alongside her duties, she will be immersing herself in the German language and culture, observing how social systems, public services, and community organizations operate in a European context.

A portion of her service will involve observing therapy sessions, participating in recreational and rehabilitative programs, and contributing to the planning of resident-centered activities within her assigned care unit. Through this, she is expected to gain practical insight into the country’s framework of person-centered assistance, social integration, and community-based support.

For her, the experience is a discipline in personal and professional commitment, and serves as a formative step in her ongoing development of social awareness and intercultural understanding. “This program has taught me to approach each day with patience and openness,” she said. “It’s a constant exchange of learning and empathy—both from the people I help and the team I work with.”

The Weltwärts Volunteer Program was established in 2008 by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). It was created as a civic engagement initiative connecting social service with international exchange. Its name, meaning “toward the world,” reflects its purpose: to give young people the chance to participate in social, educational, and environmental projects across different cultural contexts.

Initially focused on sending German volunteers abroad, the program later expanded through what is called the South-North component, which brings participants from partner countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to volunteer in Germany. This development shifted the program toward genuine reciprocity, where exchange and mutual learning replaced traditional ideas of development assistance.

Non-German participants like Jade Marimat contribute to community organizations across Germany, working in schools, care centers, and environmental projects. Each volunteer’s stay is structured around preparation, language training, and ongoing mentorship, ensuring that the experience is both educational and meaningful for everyone involved. Through this model, Weltwärts has become one of Germany’s leading international volunteer programs, fostering dialogue, empathy, and global cooperation.

Jade’s participation was made possible with the help of the Office of Partnerships and Global Engagements, and Foundation University partner Global Initiative for Exchange and Development (GIED), which promotes global involvement among faculty, staff, and students. The office supports programs that open pathways for international collaboration, intercultural learning, and community service abroad. As Assistant-to-the-Dean of the College of Criminology, Jade’s involvement reflects the university’s growing interest in extending learning beyond academic spaces and encouraging its members to take part in international initiatives that develop social awareness, cultural understanding, and civic responsibility.

Today, Weltwärts remains one of Germany’s most recognized international volunteer programs, connecting thousands of participants each year. It continues to promote the idea that meaningful development begins with direct human engagement through daily cooperation, shared responsibility, and the willingness to understand lives different from one’s own.