Open Door International e.V. (ODI)

Open Door International e. V. (ODI) is a Cologne located non-profit organization which is organizing exchange programs for adolescents and grown-ups in and from the whole world since 1983. The main objective of our work is to support a peaceful coexistence of all peoples. At the same time we would like to sustain the constitution of a strong civil society. With our contribution we would like to overcome prejudices, frontiers and conflicts and herewith expand the tolerance between us humans. Our organization is recognized as “Träger der freien Jugendhilfe” (state-approved voluntary youth welfare organization) and uses the generated surpluses for scholarships for extraordinary socially committed and financially underprivileged teenagers. Furthermore we belong to the exclusive “Arbeitskreis gemeinnütziger Jugendaustauschorganisationen” (AJA), a committee for non-profit youth exchange organizations. Moreover its members are realizing long-term education orientated (student-) exchange programs worldwide, based on honorary dedication. The common goal is to further intercultural learning, understanding and the respect for different life-styles. ODI is offering a preferably big range of different programs and different countries to foster the international exchange between the diverse cultures. We are working with several partner organizations in the context of student exchange, volunteer work and work&travel in the following countries: Argentina, Australia, Chile, China, Ecuador, England, France, India, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, Spain, Tanzania, USA. Here it is equally important for us to enable and organize stays abroad for young people or people young at heart and the accommodation of foreign students in German host families. We see ourselves as mediators and want to support all involved to gain experiences with foreign cultures. To live up to this great responsibility we network with honorary and full-time associates as well as numerous partners abroad, of whom we demand the same high standards. This lasting network is said to support all involved – exchange students, volunteers, families, host-families, school, project, etc. – and provides professional competence to enable a successful exchange. In this regard we consider a transparent and open communication within our organization, with our partner organizations, our participants and our host-families as the key premise. The daily work of our organization is supported by over 200 volunteers and more than 130 ODI members, who operate Germany wide. Many of them are former exchange students, the globetrotter’s parents or former host families. The work of these volunteers forms the basis of our organization. Thanks to their commitment and passion for intercultural youth exchange we are able to offer young people the chance to spend time abroad. According to our idea, the participants of our programs are to immerse in a different culture and simultaneously take on the role of ambassadors of their own country or region. We are deeply convinced that spending time in a different country and culture not only contributes acquiring a foreign language but also intercultural competences which help to move freely in their host country and its culture. We attend the participants in their process of gaining maturity and help them become more independent and adaptable. Furthermore we want to strengthen their self-reflection on different cultures and their own life style. Moreover ODI gives support in handling conflict situations as well as imparts knowledge and abilities of conflict resolution.