- Volunteers need to be appreciated - Politics says thank you
Volunteer activity has rebounded to pre-COVID levels in Saxony-Anhalt, according to the assessment of the state's volunteer agency. After the initial shock of contact restrictions, engagement has surprisingly and positively picked up again, said Jan Greiner, co-managing director.
Not only sports clubs have experienced a boom, but also sustainability and environmental protection projects are new. "COVID has not left any lasting damage." However, there are deficits in committed engagement in emergency services, the voluntary fire brigade in rural areas, and education.
Reception in the Garden of the State Chancellery
The state government invited around 100 engaged individuals, along with their partners, to a reception in the garden of the State Chancellery to thank them on behalf of all. Among the guests were mushroom experts, nature conservationists, clinic clowns, supporters of the children's fire brigade, people from integration work, a man who runs a children's construction site in a kindergarten, Stolperstein activists, and volunteer firefighters.
Minister President Reiner Haseloff (CDU) said, according to the State Chancellery: "Volunteer engagement contributes to making our homeland even more livable and lovable. Those who give the society a more human face and initiate and positively change things in their hometown have already achieved a lot."
He encouraged everyone to not let up in their commitment to the common good. However, the state cannot withdraw, as the volunteer sector cannot solve all problems alone, said Haseloff. Volunteering is not a replacement for good politics - it is an expression of active citizenship and the glue that holds society together.
Overall, 37 percent of people in Saxony-Anhalt are engaged in community service, said Greiner. The 14 to 19-year-olds make up a particularly large proportion, with almost 60 percent involved in sports and youth associations. "The young people of today are engaged!" According to Greiner, young people make up the largest group.
Among people over 60, there are only about half as many volunteers. Individualized life plans, health issues, and the lack of a long tradition of civic engagement in Saxony-Anhalt due to its DDR history play a role.
Engagement changes over the course of one's life
Greiner speaks of an "engagement biography": Those who volunteer as children and teenagers usually continue to do so as adults. However, there are also developments over the years: After leaving school, engagement often takes a back seat and then increases again with professional activity, family, and social integration.
According to Greiner, surveys show that 30 percent of people can imagine getting involved if the framework conditions are right. Support for volunteers and volunteers is needed, as are points of contact and less bureaucracy. Volunteers also do not want to feel like they are only filling gaps, such as parents at unsanitary schools.
An important aspect is the recognition and appreciation of engagement - money usually does not play a role. It can be about spaces that can be used or sometimes about equipment from the maintenance department. However, free entry to the swimming pool is also conceivable, said Greiner. There is a lot of engagement in many areas in Saxony-Anhalt that often goes unnoticed.
In light of the increased volunteer activity, it's crucial for the government to support these initiatives further. Social policy should prioritize the needs of volunteers, providing necessary resources and reducing bureaucracy to foster a more conducive environment for active citizenship.
Moving forward, the recognition and appreciation of volunteer work should be a key focus in Saxony-Anhalt's social policy, ensuring that volunteers feel valued and motivated to continue their contributions to the community.
