Senior Expert Service (SES) gGmbH

The Senior Expert Service (SES) is the leading German sending organisation for volunteer experts and executives in retirement or taking some time off work (Weltdienst 30+). SES has been helping people to help themselves worldwide since 1983.

The SES headquarters are located in Bonn. In Germany, SES is supported by 16 regional offices, and worldwide by 200 representatives in 90 countries. Since 1983, SES has carried out more than 60,000 assignments in 170 countries, about one third of them in Germany.

More than 14,000 experts from all commercial, technical, craft, medical and social professions are registered with SES. They contribute knowledge from 50 sectors and 500 professional directions. All of them provide their expertise and experience on a voluntary basis.

With its activities abroad, SES contributes to the transfer of knowledge in developing and emerging countries. Its experts provide help for small and medium-sized enterprises, public institutions and administrations as well as for educational and health care institutions. SES is also active in these fields in Germany, but with the emphasis on the promotion of young skilled workers in schools and training. The largest programme in this area, VerAplus, is dedicated to preventing apprentices from dropping out of their courses.

The SES was established by the leading associations of German industry and receives financial support from the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ) and from the German business community.

Since 2024, SES has maintained its own brand with GSE. The income generated by GSE strengthens the voluntary work of SES. At home and abroad, GSE offers its expertise in the areas of integration mentoring and further education, teaching companies and educational institutions such as German schools abroad.

The SES's partner at the GSE is the World Association of German Schools Abroad (WDA)