Doing good things for society
More than 23 million Germans are involved in voluntary work. International Volunteer Day recognizes their social commitment.
Taking action and becoming involved for the benefit of society: Frederik Sander from Leipzig decided to take the initiative. After graduating from high school, the young man chose to become a volunteer with the Disabled Persons Association Leipzig. He helped physically handicapped people in everyday life, assisted them with shopping, accompanied them in their leisure activities and enabled wheelchair users to join in community life more than before.
In Germany voluntary involvement is rated highly in society. More than 23 million people are involved in voluntary work. According to the German Survey on Volunteering, a representative survey on volunteer work and civic engagement, 36 per cent of the population over 14 years of age are involved in voluntary work in Germany. The largest level of commitment, 49 per cent, is found among the younger age groups. And the largest increase in voluntary involvement was notched up by senior citizens. Kristina Schröder, the Federal Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, is impressed by the fact that more than a third of the population is engaged in voluntary work. She says the volunteers are “invaluable capital and represent one of the most important resources that we have”.
The desire to do something good and to make a difference is visible in many areas. In addition to the social sphere, environmental protection and conservation, volunteers are especially involved in sports, integration, culture, and monument preservation as well as in civil defence and disaster protection. In Germany, the largest amount of civic engagement is carried out through almost a million organizations. In July 2011 the Federal Voluntary Service was founded. It enables all Germans over the age of 27 to become involved and demonstrate their sense of responsibility. The introduction of the Federal Voluntary Service has surpassed all expectations: at the moment 35,000 volunteers are actively involved.
International Volunteer Day on 5 December
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