Villigst

What Villigst does

Villigst (Haus Villigst) is a manor-house facility in Schwerte, Germany, that functions as the headquarters of the Amt für Jugendarbeit der Evangelischen Kirche von Westfalen (Office for Youth Work of the Evangelical Church of Westphalia, EKvW). The organization is a nonprofit ecclesiastical department, structurally embedded within the regional Protestant church body, and serves as the central point of contact for evangelical youth work across the Westphalia region. Its primary constituents are parish youth groups, confirmation-class participants, volunteer youth workers, church districts, and youth associations within the EKvW, whom it supports through networking, counseling, qualification, and direct program delivery.

Villigst operates an umbrella brand called "juenger" under which it delivers a portfolio of programs and services including the juenger App (mobile application for youth workers), juenger Bandcoaching (band coaching for youth services), juenger Perspektive (facilitation training and liberating structures), juengerDESTINATIONEN (booking platform for youth trip accommodation), and Konfi-Camps (confirmation camp programs). Additional offerings include the Gewalt Akademie Villigst (expert network for violence prevention and anti-racism), Mobile Beratung gegen Rechtsextremismus (traveling counseling against right-wing extremism), Traumapädagogik training, and the Faires Jugendhaus certification program for youth centers. The organization also publishes annual materials such as "juenger durchs Jahr" and runs the Sicherungsschein für Freizeiten insurance service via a framework contract with Ecclesia valid through December 31, 2027. The physical Haus Villigst site doubles as an administrative center and a seminar/event venue hosting conferences such as the "MUTbürger*innen leben Demokratie" event scheduled for September 21, 2026.

The business model is fundamentally non-commercial. Villigst is funded through church budgets (including the Kirchlicher Jugendplan allocation) and operates under the ecclesiastical governance of the EKvW rather than as an independent revenue-generating entity. Distribution is executed directly through the church network structure across Westphalia, supplemented by the website, email newsletter, organic social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn), a material shop, and seminar bookings. There is no proprietary technology stack identified beyond the standard juenger App; no AI, ML, or automation capabilities are documented. Pricing for seminars, events, and shop items is referenced but not publicly disclosed, and the organization is not listed on any public exchange.

Name

Villigst

Legal name

Amt für Jugendarbeit der Evangelischen Kirche von Westfalen

Website

https://aej-haus-villigst.de

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Villigst (Haus Villigst) is the Schwerte-based headquarters of the Amt für Jugendarbeit der Evangelical Church of Westphalia, coordinating evangelical youth work, training, and programs across Westphalia for parishes, confirmation groups, and volunteer youth workers under the "juenger" brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Youth Work Services

NAICS

Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Educational Support Services (611710), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Staff Training, Coaching & Professional Development (SEL/Mental Health) (EDAKAMAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Programs & Supports (EDAJAIAC), Student Support Hotlines & Digital Wellbeing Tools (EDAJAIAL), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Emotional Regulation Programs (EDAMAIAC), Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) & Behavioral Intervention Materials (PBIS, Social Skills) (EDAGAMAE)

Keywords

• Youth work services
• Church youth programs
• Faith-based education
• Violence prevention training
• Youth ministry resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Schwerte

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Amt für Jugendarbeit der Evangelischen Kirche von Westfalen, operating from Haus Villigst in Schwerte, serves as the central service organization for Protestant youth work across Westphalia. Under the "juenger" brand, it delivers a portfolio of programs including confirmation camps (Konfi-Camps), music coaching (Bandcoaching), violence prevention academies, mobile counseling against right-wing extremism, trauma pedagogy training, and youth participation initiatives. It also operates a materials shop and the juenger mobile app for youth workers.

Product overview

Villigst (Amt für Jugendarbeit der Evangelischen Kirche von Westfalen) operates as a central service organization for Protestant youth work in Westphalia, offering a comprehensive portfolio of programs, services, and resources under the 'juenger' brand. The portfolio spans youth camps (Konfi-Camps), music education (juenger Bandcoaching), travel services (juengerDESTINATIONEN), professional training (Traumapädagogik, Gewalt Akademie Villigst), digital tools (juenger App), and counseling services (Mobile Beratung gegen Rechtsextremismus). Additional offerings include facilitation programs (juengerPerspektive), sexual education, inclusion services, media education, and an e-commerce shop for materials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• juenger: The primary brand used by the Amt für Jugendarbeit der EKvW for its youth work programs, materials, training, and events, including juenger Bandcoaching, juenger Perspektive, juenger App, juengerDESTINATIONEN, and juengerREISEN.
• juengerGIPFEL
• juengerBANDCOACHING / Bandcamp
• juengerDESTINATIONEN
• Gewalt Akademie Villigst

Products and services

• juenger App Mobile application providing access to resources, information, and services for youth workers in the Protestant Church of Westphalia.
• juenger Bandcoaching Music coaching program that supports young people in learning to play in a band, particularly for youth services.
• Konfi-Camps Confirmation camps offering young people community experiences through various activities and faith-based programs.
• Gewalt Akademie Villigst Violence Academy Villigst — a network of experts specializing in violence prevention and anti-racism work.
• Mobile Beratung gegen Rechtsextremismus Anonymous, unbureaucratic, and free mobile counseling service that travels to clients to provide consultation on right-wing extremism.
• juengerDESTINATIONEN Platform for booking holiday accommodation, helping secure vacation trips and explore new destinations for youth groups.
• Traumapädagogik Trauma-sensitive educational services including training, materials, and work aids for professionals working with children and youth.
• juengerPerspektive Facilitation services including Liberating Structures training and coaching for organizational development.
• Materialien Shop Online shop offering materials, publications, and resources for youth work practice.
• Faires Jugendhaus Certification program recognizing youth centers that meet fair trade and ethical standards.
• How to LUV Workshop Workshop series focused on faith and life topics for youth workers.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Ecclesia (insurance)minorOthersFramework contract established between the Landeskirche (regional church) and Ecclesia insurance company, providing coverage for all subdivisions within the structured church (parishes, church districts). The contract includes provisions for travel safety certifications valid until December 31, 2027.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BDKJ (Bund der Deutschen Katholischen Jugend): National umbrella for Catholic youth work in Germany, directly comparable as a confession-based coordinating body that networks, qualifies, and resources volunteer youth workers at parish and diocesan levels.
• CVJM Deutschland (Christlicher Verein Junger Menschen): German YMCA federation offering youth programs, leadership qualification, and volunteer training comparable to the Amt's juenger offerings, though parachurch rather than parish-anchored.
• Landesjugendring NRW: State umbrella for youth associations in North Rhine-Westphalia, comparable in scope (networking, qualification, advocacy) but secular and broader than the church-specific Amt für Jugendarbeit.
• Evangelische Akademie Villigst: Co-located at Haus Villigst, the Evangelical Academy offers adult political and theological education with overlapping audience of church workers; a near neighbor in venue, brand family, and qualification mission.

Broad incumbents

• Evangelische Jugend in Deutschland (eJD): National umbrella of Evangelical youth work in Germany, comparable as the broader parent network above the Westphalia Amt; provides similar qualification, advocacy, and event infrastructure across all Landeskirchen.
• Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Evangelischen Jugend in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (aej): Federal working group of Protestant youth associations in Germany, an umbrella and advocacy body similar in function to the Amt's coordination role but operating at the federal level across denominations and member associations.

Regional players

• Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Evangelischen Jugend im Rheinland (aej Rheinland): Peers through the AEJ-NRW page; serves the neighboring Evangelical Church in the Rhineland, with parallel structure for qualification, counseling, and youth participation programs targeting a different but adjacent Landeskirche.
• Bischöfliches Jugendamt (Catholic counterpart dioceses): Diocesan Catholic youth offices that mirror the Amt für Jugendarbeit structure for parishes, training, and safeguarding in a different confessional and geographic context.

Emerging players

• Verband Christlicher Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder (VCP): Protestant scouting association in Germany providing youth group programs, leader training, and outdoor education comparable to the Amt's adventure, holiday, and band-coaching portfolio.
• Caritas Jugendhilfe NRW: Catholic welfare youth services in NRW delivering counseling, safeguarding, and youth work support that overlap with the Amt's violence-prevention, trauma-pedagogy, and inclusion programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/AfJEKvW
• Instagraminstagram.com/amtfuerjugendarbeitderekvw

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Villigst