Dear brothers and sisters,
We would like to provide you with an update on the upcoming summer workshops, based on the current international travel situation related to COVID-19 and on German regulations for holding youth camps.

Currently, we are still planning to go ahead with two of the European summer workshops, but we are not able to finally confirm until things become clearer:

Senior HARP workshop is scheduled to take place 10th – 18th August 2021 in Seminarhaus Neumuehle, Bad Camberg, Germany

ODP+ workshop is scheduled to take place 19th – 30th August 2021 in Seminarhaus Neumuehle, Bad Camberg, Germany

1. Capacity of the workshop center and registrations

Participants who have already registered for each of the workshops are accepted. However, due to restrictions on the capacity we kindly ask all registered participants to confirm or cancel their registration by Sunday 18th July (registered participants will be notified by email). We understand that your situation might change after 18th July or even just before the workshop. This confirmation indicates you want and plan to participate, and it will be important for us to know as accurately as possible. Please use this link to confirm.

We will still accept new registrations for the waiting list, even though the capacity is almost full. If you are interested in either of the workshops please register by Sunday 18th July, and we will get back to you by Thursday 22nd July if there is a space for you.

To register for a workshop, please fill out online form either for Senior HARP WS or for ODP+ WS.

We appreciate all staff volunteers who registered to support the summer workshops – we will send you confirmation by 22nd July, once the number of participants and capacity restrictions are clearer.

Capacity restrictions for hotels, hostels and accommodation facilities based on German regulations do not allow for 100% usage of capacity. There are limits of participants for youth camps as well. However, the limits do not count individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 (at least 28 days and a maximum of 6 months before the workshop) or who had been fully vaccinated (date of the second vaccination minimum 16 days before the workshop) and who can present the proof. Therefore, you will be kindly asked to provide that information.

2. Travel restrictions

The majority of the registered workshop participants come from countries which can freely enter Germany. Unfortunately, it is not the case for all countries. However, policy changes and a re-assessment of the situation is expected to take place on 20th July.

International risk areas designated by the German Federal Foreign Office, the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of the Interior is available online and regularly updated – link is here.

3. Next update on summer workshops and booking travel

We will give the next update on 22nd July 2021, based on the situation with travel restrictions and with regulations on the permitted capacity of youth camps. Unfortunately, whilst wanting to find solutions, we need to respond to the ever-changing circumstances, so at this stage we cannot rule out the possibility that workshops would have to be modified or cancelled.

Therefore, we strongly recommend for everyone to wait for the next update before booking your travel, or when choosing to make a reservation, that you select the reservation which can be changed easily.

We do appreciate everyone’s flexibility and understanding with the ongoing uncertainty and unprecedented situation. We hope that all will work out well and that we will see many of you at the summer workshops.

Yours Sincerely,

The ESGD Team
Patrick, Yebuny, Julius and Martin