An Award for Lived Sustainability
We are delighted to share some wonderful news: WWOOF Deutschland e.V. has been honoured with the “National Award – Education for Sustainable Development” in the category of “non-formal learning environments”. The Federal Ministry of Education, Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ) and the German UNESCO Commission are recognising our commitment to Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and the global sustainability goals of the 2030 Agenda. Board member Julia Ostermann (first row, all the way to the left side) accepted the award on Thursday evening, 16 April 2026.
What does this award mean?
This honour is a recognition for everyone who has helped shape WWOOF Deutschland e.V. over the years. It confirms that what we have been doing since 1992 is more than just experiencing farming: it is educational work that contributes to building a liveable and future-ready society.
Over 30 Years of Learning on the Land
WWOOF Deutschland e.V. gives people a holistic understanding of organic farming. In cooperation with around 500 farms across Germany, WWOOF Deutschland e.V. enables educational stays on farms, organises workshops, webinars and hands-on weekends – making the connections between food, consumption and sustainability tangible and real.
Our programmes are guided by core principles of ESD:
- Change of perspective – discovering different ways of living and working
- Action orientation – not just thinking, but getting involved
- Participation – everyone shapes the experience together
- Reflection – making sense of what has been experienced and learned
More than Farming – Competencies for Transformation
Our goal is not only to share knowledge about farming, climate and nature conservation. We want to strengthen key competencies for societal transformation: cooperative action, systems thinking, and a sense of personal responsibility. Those who have once worked alongside others on a WWOOF farm come to see food, consumption and community through a different lens.
Thank You – to everyone who makes WWOOF possible
This award belongs to all members of WWOOF Deutschland e.V. Thank you to all the farms that open their gates. Thank you to all WWOOFers who help out with curiosity and commitment. And thank you to everyone who shares our vision of a solidarity-based, sustainable world.
We take this recognition as motivation to carry our work forward with even more energy – towards a future we shape together.
