Katholische Landjugendbewegung

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The Katholische Landjugendbewegung Deutschlands (KLJB) is a Catholic youth organization for rural areas in Germany. Founded in 1947 in Hardehausen, it has grown to about 70,000 members in roughly 1,900 local groups and is part of the umbrella group Bund der Deutschen Katholischen Jugend (BDKJ). It used to be known as Aktion Landjugend (Action of the Rural Youth).

KLJB works on faith, community life, politics, and social issues. Its goals include education, solidarity, environmentalism, and democracy for young people in rural areas. Members are typically 14 years old and up, with some diocesan groups allowing younger members. The organization operates on local, regional, diocesan, and federal levels; the General Assembly, made up of delegates from the dioceses, is its main decision body. About 5,000 volunteers and 20 staff support the movement, which has its federal office in Bad Honnef-Rhöndorf, North Rhine-Westphalia.

Over the years, KLJB has tackled topics like democracy, social justice, and peace, and it has also focused on ecology and rural development. Notable initiatives include the eco-friendly clothing campaigns and the LamuLamu clothing brand. KLJB is connected to MIJARC (the international Catholic Agricultural and Rural Youth Movement) and works with other organizations in Germany.

In Bavaria, KLJB has around 26,000 members and is recognized by the Bavarian Farmers Association. The patron of KLJB is Nicholas of Flüe. Since the 1970s, the organization has operated with gender-parity leadership, and in the 1990s it introduced campaigns like eco fair wear and the LamuLamu brand. KLJB also collaborates closely with the Catholic Rural People’s Movement (adult members) and other groups.