“I didn’t pay for a visa, intermediaries, or anything under the table.” That’s how straightforward Mayara, a young Cuban nurse, explains it as she transformed her life by discovering a legal and free way to leave Cuba: the volunteering programs in Germany.
From her Instagram profile @d_kuba_pa_alemania, Mayara shares how she managed to move to the heart of Europe without having to spend thousands of dollars, something that seems impossible for many Cubans.
Mayara now lives in Germany and works at a nursing home. However, her journey began in a social volunteering program where she collaborated with disabled youth during her first year. Thanks to that program, the organization covered her basic expenses: housing, food, health insurance, and a small stipend.
In addition, they helped him process the visa, without intermediaries or questionable payments. “I just had to prepare, research, and take the plunge,” he says with a smile, as if inviting other Cubans to follow his example.
What programs are available?
Germany offers two main avenues for engaging in symbolically paid social volunteering:
FSJ – “Voluntary Social Year”
- Aimed at young people aged 18 to 27.
- Activities in hospitals, nursing homes, daycare centers, etc.
- German organizations provide accommodation, food, insurance, and a stipend.
- A letter of acceptance from a German institution is required.
BFD – "Federal Volunteer Service"
- For those over 27 years old.
- More flexible in duration and age.
- It is carried out through social, ecological, or educational institutions.
These programs are not work visas, but they do provide a legal and safe way to live temporarily in Germany, gain experience, learn the language, and, as in Mayara's case, open the door to new job opportunities.
And the visa from Cuba?
Mayara explains it in her videos: once you have the contract with the organization, you can apply for the visa from the German Embassy in Havana. For that, you need:
- Valid passport.
- Curriculum vitae or motivation letter (translated into German).
- Volunteer contract signed by both parties.
- Health insurance (covered by the organization).
- Certificate of German language (usually A2 or B1).
Other documents that may vary according to the embassy's requirements.
It's not mass access, but it is a real pathway
Although there is no large-scale program in Cuba, some young people have gained access thanks to European NGOs, Christian associations, or direct contacts with German organizations. It requires preparation, perseverance, and good documentation, but as Mayara says, "if you get organized, you can achieve it."
Amid an unprecedented migration crisis, Mayara's story inspires thousands of young Cubans who dream of succeeding without having to risk their lives at sea, trek through jungles, or fall into crippling debt. Her testimony provides a little-known yet legal, dignified, and transformative alternative.
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