Elena Bless Stiftung

The Elena Bleß Foundation is a charitable foundation based in Haltern am See, Germany, dedicated to helping school students gain international experience. Its work focuses on supporting overseas work placements and student exchanges, giving young people opportunities to explore careers, develop practical skills and encounter different cultures and working environments. The foundation provides funding for vocational internships abroad, with applications accepted at any time from parents or schools in Germany and other European countries.

Applicants can apply using the foundation’s application form. Student exchange programmes are currently supported only through the foundation’s partner schools, which submit funding requests on students’ behalf. The foundation also shares students’ internship reports and practical information about placements, including a downloadable guide.

Published experiences range from placements in media production, social care and theatre to research at CERN, illustrating the variety of opportunities its support can make possible. Through its funding, partnerships and public information, the Elena Bleß Foundation aims to make international internships and exchanges more accessible to school students