Catholic rural youth movement in Germany

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Catholic rural youth movement in Germany (KLJB)
(KLJB)
purpose Catholic Youth Association
Chair: Daniela Ordowski, Sarah Schulte-Döinghaus, Carola Lutz (federal chaplain), Artur Jeż (federal manager)
Establishment date: 1947
Number of members: 70,000
Seat : Bad Honnef-Rhöndorf
Website: www.kljb.org

The Katholische Rural Youth Movement of Germany ( KLJB ) is a predominantly Catholic youth organization active in the rural regions of Germany.

history

It was founded in 1947 as part of the Association of German Catholic Youth , or BDKJ for short, founded in the same year . Initially, the KLJB was called “Aktion Landjugend”. In the beginning, the focus was on so-called “rural seminars”, a form of event between group lessons and courses. The topics were agricultural training and the social situation of the villages. In the 1950s, the KLJB developed five educational goals and chose their patron brother Klaus . During this time, the MIJARC - as a worldwide operating "international Catholic rural and peasant youth movement" was founded, of which the KLJB was one of the founding members. This international cooperation was intensified in 1996 with the founding of the pan-European branch of the umbrella organization, MIJARC Europe .

In 1961, the BDKJ general assembly decided that the Catholic rural youth should represent an independent federal association and thus belong to the "member communities" (today youth associations) in the BDKJ. The "Rural Youth Campaign" was given its current name.

The 1970s were primarily shaped by the KLJB's desire for democracy, justice and peace, but also the reunification of the KLJB's male and female youth. Since then, the board members have had equal representation. In the 1980s, the KLJB was particularly concerned with ecology and energy policy, but also with the design of rural areas. An important milestone in the 1990s for KLJB was the “eco-fair-wear” campaign in 1998 and the associated establishment of the LamuLamu clothing brand. In the recent past, the KLJB has committed itself to the implementation of sustainable development in Germany, Europe and worldwide and implements this concern in the form of campaigns or through regular participation as an accredited observer organization in the world climate negotiations.

The 72-hour campaign, invented by the Catholic rural youth movement in 1993 and carried out for the first time, was awarded a Bambi for the outstanding social commitment of young people at the Bambi Awards 2019 in the category "Our Future" .

organization

With around 70,000 members, the KLJB in the legal form of an association is one of the largest youth associations in Germany. In 1,900 local groups she advocates the interests of young people in rural areas in church and society. Its members are mainly adolescents and young adults aged 14 and over. In some diocesan associations of the KLJB there is also a child level for under-14-year-olds. Over 5,000 young people throughout Germany are involved in the KLJB on a voluntary basis as group leaders, in leisure time and in the bodies of the KLJB from local to federal level. The KLJB federal agency is based in Bad Honnef - Rhöndorf .

The association networks with political and church institutions as well as other associations and organizations and is involved in numerous platforms as an expert for young people in rural areas.

The various local and deanery levels in the 20 diocesan associations now support each other.

In order to also represent its members in youth politics, the KLJB is a member of the Federation of German Catholic Youth (BDKJ) and an advisory member of the agricultural alliance. She represents her European and worldwide interests in the International Catholic Rural and Farmers' Youth Movement ( MIJARC Europe and MIJARC World).

There is a specialty in the Bavarian State Association, where the KLJB Bavaria, with its more than 26,000 members, has been a recognized youth association in the Bavarian Farmers 'Association since 1953, alongside the Evangelical Country Youth (ELJ) and the Bavarian Young Farmers' Union .

Patron is the Swiss national saint Niklaus von Flüe , whose name day is celebrated on September 25th . The KLJB works closely with the Catholic Rural People's Movement (KLB), which emerged from the association as an adult association.

Content orientation

According to its own information, the association is:

  1. a movement of young Christians
  2. a place where young people live together
  3. one in the country
  4. an ecological movement
  5. a movement that is committed to the cause of international solidarity

In order to implement these goals, the work at the KLJB-Bundesstelle is essentially divided into six areas: rural development, pastoral matters, ecology, international development, youth policy and diversity. The highest decision-making body, the KLJB Federal Assembly, regularly passes resolutions on the various topics that the Federal Executive Committee then takes on in politics, the church and society.

Prominent members

See also

Web links

Commons : Catholic rural youth movement in Germany  - collection of images, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. KLJB elects Daniela Ordowski as the new federal chairwoman , Church + Life , March 8, 2020.
  2. ^ Founding of the KLJB. KLJB, archived from the original on May 13, 2016 ; accessed on May 13, 2016 .
  3. Solidarity that is fun. Aachener Zeitung, accessed on November 23, 2019 .