Deutsch-Polnisches Jugendwerk

What Deutsch-Polnisches Jugendwerk does

Deutsch-Polnisches Jugendwerk (DPJW), also operating under its Polish name Polsko-Niemiecka Współpraca Młodzieży (PNWM), is an intergovernmental bilateral organization established by treaty between the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Poland in 1991 following the German-Polish Treaty of Good Neighbourhood and Friendly Cooperation. Its core function is to fund and methodologically support bilateral youth exchanges between German and Polish young people aged 12-26 (4-28 day programs), vocational internships for trade school pupils and students under 26 (4 days-3 months), and specialist programs for organizers, teachers and trainers. The organization operates under presidential patronage of both countries and is governed by a binational Council of 24 members plus two co-CEOs (Stephan Erb for Germany and Małgorzata Bochwic-Ivanovska for Poland), with dual headquarters in Potsdam and Warsaw and a combined staff of roughly 22-30 across both offices.

DPJW's core "products" are non-commercial in nature: it provides grants and methodological support rather than technology products, and is legally tax-exempt under German law as a nonprofit. Its substantive portfolio comprises a project-funding workflow administered through the OASE online portal, more than 50 published guidebooks and educational materials in German and Polish, the proprietary Sprachanimation (Zip-Zap) language-animation methodology, scenario packs for online exchanges, and recurring conferences such as the Austauschlabor (teacher congress), the triennial Jugendforum, Forum Trebnitz (vocational), and the TRIYOU-Forum (trilateral with Ukraine). Supporting digital properties include the Sherpa sustainability-education portal, the Diversity Box portal, the Ideenfundus methods database, the Berufliche Perspektiven vocational platform, and mobile phrase-guide apps.

The revenue model is grant-based and treaty-anchored: €13.65 million in 2025 annual member contributions from Germany (€8.3M) and Poland (~€5.35M equivalent from 23M PLN), supplemented by €1.26M in third-party (Drittmittel) funding from foundations and other public sources. No fees are charged for services; funding flows outward to grantees (schools, youth organizations, partner associations, Bildungsstätten) rather than inward from customers, making the entity structurally a fund-distribution and capacity-building body rather than a commercial operator.

Name

Deutsch-Polnisches Jugendwerk

Legal name

Deutsch-Polnisches Jugendwerk (Polsko-Niemiecka Współpraca Młodzieży)

Website

https://dpjw.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Deutsch-Polnisches Jugendwerk (DPJW) is a bilateral German-Polish intergovernmental organization, established by treaty in 1991, that funds and supports youth exchanges, vocational internships, and educational programs for people aged 12-26 across Germany and Poland, with dual headquarters in Potsdam and Warsaw.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Youth Cooperation Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Educational Support Services (6117)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Erasmus+ and Government-Sponsored Exchange Partnerships (EDAIABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Student Funding & Mobility Grants Administration (EDADAHAL), Peer Mentorship, Buddy & Host-Family Matching Programs (EDAIAKAD), Democracy, Human Rights & Governance Assistance (BPADABAG)

Keywords

• Youth exchange programs
• Bilateral youth cooperation
• Vocational exchange programs
• Language animation training
• International youth work

Headquarters

HQ city

Potsdam

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Contributions: The primary revenue source comes from member contributions from the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Poland. In 2025, the government contribution totaled 13,647,842 EUR (Germany: 8,300,000 EUR; Poland: 5,347,842 EUR equivalent from 23,000,000 PLN).
2. Third-party Funding: DPJW additionally secures third-party funding (Drittmittel) of 1,261,997 EUR to supplement government contributions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

DPJW provides funding and methodological support for German-Polish youth exchange projects, including youth meetings, internships, vocational exchanges, and educational programs for young people aged 12 to 26. It also develops specialized tools, publications, and online platforms to facilitate cross-border cooperation between schools, youth organizations, and vocational institutions in Germany and Poland.

Product overview

The Deutsch-Polnisches Jugendwerk (DPJW) is a bi-national youth exchange organization offering a multi-faceted portfolio centered on project funding and educational programmes. Core offerings include financial support for German-Polish youth meetings (ages 12-26) and vocational internships, alongside publications (50+ guidebooks and materials), language animation methods, and online exchange scenarios. The organization operates several digital platforms: Sherpa for sustainable development education, the Diversity Box for diversity topics, an Ideenfundus methods database, mobile language guide apps, and the Berufliche Perspektiven vocational platform. Training products include DPJW-Online-Seminare, customized on-request trainings, and recurring conferences (Austauschlabor for teachers, Forum Trebnitz, TRIYOU-Forum for trilateral exchanges with Ukraine). Flagship events include the triennial German-Polish Youth Award and the Jugendforum youth conference.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SOWA-Wiki: Internal wiki platform for DPJW staff and partners
• Perspektywy zawodowe / Berufliche Perspektiven
• Diversity Box / Vielfalt
• Sherpa
• Ideenfundus
• Sprachanimation (Zip-Zap)
• TRIYOU

Products and services

• Project Funding (Projektförderung) Financial grants for schools, youth organizations, and associations planning and conducting German-Polish youth exchange projects, applied through the OASE database.
• Vocational Exchange Program (Berufliche Perspektiven) Funding and methodological support for vocational schools, training institutions, and companies organizing professional internships and vocational exchanges between Germany and Poland.
• Youth Meetings (Jugendbegegnungen) Funded cross-border youth meetings for young people aged 12 to 26 from Germany and Poland, organized by schools, NGOs, and youth organizations.
• DPJW Online Seminars Online training seminars for educators and youth workers on methodology for German-Polish youth exchanges, including language animation and intercultural learning.
• Customized Training (Maßgeschneiderte Fortbildungen) Customized training programs for school classes, youth groups, and organizations preparing for German-Polish youth exchanges, tailored to the specific needs of the group.
• Language Animation (Sprachanimation) Specialized methodology and training for language animation in German-Polish youth exchanges, providing tools for playful and creative language learning.
• Online Exchange Scenarios Structured digital exchange scenarios and online programs enabling remote and hybrid German-Polish youth exchanges for schools and youth organizations.
• DPJW Publications Educational publications, methodological guides, and informational materials for organizers and participants of German-Polish youth exchanges.
• Youth Award (Jugendpreis) Award program recognizing and highlighting outstanding examples of German-Polish youth projects and cooperation initiatives.
• PolenMobil Mobile program that brings Polish culture, language, and educational resources to schools and youth groups throughout Germany.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50+ publications produced over 20+ years of activity
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

28 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBIBB is the German Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training, serving as a cooperation partner on the Berufliche Perspektiven platform. This platform facilitates the organization of German-Polish vocational exchange projects and internships.
• Stiftung Kreisau für Europäische VerständigungcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in organizing the TRIYOU Forum, which brings together youth workers from Germany, Poland, and Ukraine. Also collaborated on the conference 'Between Real and Virtual World - German-Polish Encounters that Connect' (October 2026).
• ConAct – Koordinierungszentrum Deutsch-Israelischer JugendaustauschcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in the Youth Forum 2025, bringing together 80 young adults from 26 countries to discuss peace and democracy.
• Deutscher Bundesjugendring (DBJR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in Youth Forum 2025.
• Deutsch-Französisches Jugendwerk (DFJW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in Youth Forum 2025.
• Deutsch-Griechisches Jugendwerk (DGJW)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in Youth Forum 2025.
• IJAB – Fachstelle für Internationale JugendarbeitcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in Youth Forum 2025. IJAB also co-organizes the 'Zip-Zap' language animation seminars.
• JUGEND für Europa – Nationale Agentur Erasmus+coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in Youth Forum 2025.
• Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in Youth Forum 2025.
• TANDEM – Koordinierungszentrum Deutsch-Tschechischer JugendaustauschcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in Youth Forum 2025.
• Bildungsstätte BredbeckcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in organizing the TRIYOU Forum 2026, bringing together youth workers from Germany, Poland, and Ukraine.
• Stadtteilkulturzentrum Bronowice (Lublin)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in organizing the TRIYOU Forum 2026 in Lublin.
• Akademie für Kinder- und JugendparlamenteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Youth Forum 2022 'Parlament der Parlamente' for German and Polish youth parliaments.
• Sächsische Servicestelle für JugendbeteiligungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Youth Forum 2022.
• Polnischer JugendringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Youth Forum 2022.
• Europäische Akademie OtzenhausenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Youth Forum 2021 'Europe Calling' in Chemnitz.
• Bundeszentrale für politische BildungminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Youth Forum 2019 'Spread the Vote' on youth participation in European Parliament elections.
• PolenMobil (Deutsches Polen-Institut)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolenMobil visits schools (grade 3+) to teach about Poland, its culture, and language. Project of the German Poland Institute in Darmstadt.
• Maximilian-Kolbe-Haus (Danzig)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner offering tandem language courses for organizers of youth exchanges, where Germans and Poles learn from each other.
• Sprachenzentrum Germanitas (Rzeszów)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner offering tandem language courses for youth exchange organizers.
• JuSeV – Jugendhilfe und Sozialarbeit e.V. (Fürstenwalde)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner offering group interpreter courses for people with excellent knowledge of the neighboring language.
• viadrina sprachen gmbh (Frankfurt/Oder)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner offering group interpreter courses for youth exchange participants.
• Gedenkstätte StutthofminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFormer Nazi concentration camp (1939-1945) near Gdańsk, whose museum provides educational programs for youth about totalitarianism and human rights.
• Gedenkstätten Buchenwald und Mittelbau-DoracoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the two-part seminar 'How to deal with a difficult past?' in Buchenwald, Sachsenhausen, and Auschwitz-Birkenau (July-September 2026).
• Gedenkstätte SachsenhausencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the two-part seminar 'How to deal with a difficult past?' (July 2026).
• Gedenkstätte Auschwitz-BirkenaucoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the two-part seminar 'How to deal with a difficult past?' (September 2026).
• Pilecki-Institut BerlinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganizer of 'Geschichte – Schule – Begegnung' (History – School – Exchange) professional seminar for schools interested in youth exchange with focus on historical-political topics.
• Dortmundzko-Wrocławsko-Lwowska Fundacja Św. Jadwigi (St. Hedwig-Stiftung)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganized vocational internships for young Poles in Dortmund since 1992, with 241 participants completing programs through 2021.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Stiftung Kreisau für Europäische Verständigung: Kreisau Foundation is a strategic partner of DPJW, co-organizing the TRIYOU Forum. Comparable as a youth-encounter, historical-political education, and European reconciliation organization adjacent to DPJW's mission but operating on a foundation grant model rather than government treaty.

Broad incumbents

• JUGEND für Europa - Nationale Agentur Erasmus+: JUGEND für Europa administers the German portion of EU Erasmus+ Youth and European Solidarity Corps funding, providing the wider EU-level umbrella above DPJW's bilateral programs. Cooperation partner in Youth Forum 2025.
• Goethe-Institut: Goethe-Institut promotes German language and cultural exchange abroad with public funding, operating in a similar bilateral/educational exchange space but with a German-only federal mandate.
• IJAB - Fachstelle für Internationale Jugendarbeit: IJAB is Germany's central specialist agency for international youth work, supporting a broader portfolio than DPJW's bilateral focus. Co-organizes DPJW language-animation seminars (Zip-Zap) and works alongside DPJW in the same ecosystem.
• British Council: British Council is a quasi-governmental international organization delivering cross-border cultural and educational programs with parallel mandate to DPJW. Comparable as a large-scale publicly funded international educational exchange operator.

Direct peers

• Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO): RYCO is a multilaterally funded youth exchange body for the Western Balkans, modeled in part on bilateral offices like DPJW and explicitly cooperating with DPJW on Youth Forum 2025. Closest functional peer operating across multiple neighboring countries.
• TANDEM - Koordinierungszentrum Deutsch-Tschechischer Jugendaustausch: TANDEM coordinates German-Czech youth exchanges via a structurally similar bilateral model and explicitly partners with DPJW (e.g., Youth Forum 2025). Direct counterpart in the German government's family of bilateral youth-exchange coordination centers.
• Deutsch-Französisches Jugendwerk (DFJW) / Office Franco-Allemand pour la Jeunesse (OFAJ): The Franco-German Youth Office is the structural template for DPJW: a bilateral intergovernmental organization established by treaty between two governments to run youth exchanges, with parallel dual-headquarters governance and identical funding logic. DFJW/OFAJ explicitly cooperates with DPJW (e.g., Youth Forum 2025).
• Deutsch-Griechisches Jugendwerk (DGJW): DGJW is another treaty-based German bilateral youth exchange organization, partnered with DPJW on Youth Forum 2025. Closest parallel among Greek-German counterparts.
• ConAct – Koordinierungszentrum Deutsch-Israelischer Jugendaustausch: ConAct runs the German-Israeli youth exchange under the same federal coordination model and is listed as a Youth Forum 2025 cooperation partner. Directly comparable bilateral mandate and funding pathway.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/DPJWPNWM
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/DPJWPNWM
• Facebookfacebook.com/PNWMDPJW
• Instagraminstagram.com/dpjw_pnwm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deutsch-polnisches-jugendwerk

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Deutsch-Polnisches Jugendwerk