National Service
- FM Plassnik with Austrian Volunteers on the roof of the Austrian HospicePhoto: Sami Nachmani
In Austria, young conscripts whose conscience prevents them from accepting military service have the possibility to serve in civilian areas. This compulsory civilian service at the moment has a duration of 14 months. Civilian servicemen can work in Austria or - via certain organising associations in Austria - in several countries abroad. For instance, Austrian civilian servicemen, via arrangement by Austrian Memorial Service Associations, work in Auschwitz, at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, at the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam and in Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. Others work in social or peace-oriented projects, also in Israel, e.g. in homes for the elderly or the disabled.
The Quicklinks lead to information about the compulsary civilian service (Zivildienst) in Austria in general (in German) and some specific services abroad.
Some institutions in Israel , such as the Austrian Hospice in Jerusalem, the Kibbutz-Movement, the christian Kibbutz Nes Ammim or the Organisation for Arab Youth Baladna, offer internships for young people from abroad.
