The Jugendbauhütten of the Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz e.V. in Germany

A Medal in Category 4 – Education, Training and Awareness Raising has been awarded to the Jugendbauhütten of the Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz e.V., the German Foundation for Monument Protection. The basic idea of this project is to introduce young people to Europe’s cultural heritage through practical conservation work, thus making them aware of the importance of preserving this inheritance.

The volunteers work on actual restoration sites, where they undergo a year of practical and theoretical training, encompassing all disciplines related to monument conservation. In addition to acquiring the requisite skills and expertise in the métier of historic conservation, the youngsters witness firsthand the tangible success of their work, thus strengthening their identification with the task. Furthermore, their experience of working as part of a group fosters the youths’ sense of community.

“The project is admired for its educational quality. The Jugendbauhütten have become the model for other European countries.”