Barbara Grass
Director of Studies Young Adults
Tel: +41 (0)61 260 22 88
Project Number: 840.1020
Every year, young adults complete assignments in projects of Mission 21's partner churches and organizations as part of the PEP! programme. These assignments last six to twelve months. The young and highly motivated "PEP!ers" take on responsibility for tasks in their area, deepen their specialist knowledge and gain intercultural experience. The intensity of the new, often formative impressions leads many of them to remain committed to the concerns of Mission 21 and its partner churches and organizations after their return.
PEP! is a further training program offered by Mission 21 that consists of three parts: a preparatory course, an assignment in a project and an evaluation and follow-up after returning home.
Preparation and follow-up in Switzerland are important components of the program, as is support during the assignment. In this context, further training means that the participants' task in the project is related to their profession or training. They are responsible for their own area of responsibility within an existing project, deepening their specialist knowledge and acquiring intercultural and transcultural skills. They organize their day-to-day work together with local teams. Mutual learning and self-reflection on the part of the participants are central components of the program.
One PEPer who is doing her assignment in refugee counseling in Hong Kong says of her assignment, "There is too much misery in the world today. I'm not saying I can change that. I'm just saying that I want to at least help some people who have to witness this misery, as much as it's in my hands."
PEP! participants are qualified young professionals (aged 22-30) who have completed vocational training or a degree. They want to take a gap year for personal development or are interested in international cooperation and would like to do a "trial assignment". They have a keen interest in intercultural issues and are motivated to work for a fairer world.
Assignments for the following partner churches and organizations are planned for 2024:
The positions are advertised at the request of the partner organizations and the participants are carefully recruited. Preparation and follow-up as well as support during the assignments are important components for all participants and the success of the program.
PEP! is based on the current standards of Personnel Development Cooperation (PEZA). Thus, current developments and guidelines are incorporated and adapted to create sustainable assignments for participants and local partners. PEP! follows the guidelines developed by Unité for the PEZA deployment of young adults (18 to 30 years old).
The transfer of knowledge and the integration of the PEPers after their assignment are an important part of the program and are covered by further offers for young adults by Mission 21.
CHF 127'420
Mission 21
Protestant Mission Basel
PO Box 270
Missionsstrasse 21
4009 Basel, Switzerland
Tel.: +41 (0)61 260 21 20
info@mission-21.org
Donation account Switzerland:
IBAN: CH58 0900 0000 4072 6233 2
Tax exemption number:
CHE-105.706.527
Donation account Germany:
Savings Bank Lörrach-Rheinfelden
Swift BIC: SKLODE66
BLZ: 683 500 48
IBAN: DE39 6835 0048 0001 0323 33
Account No. : 1032333