Shaping society

If you work for the society or the community voluntarily in your leisure time, this work is called volunteering (“Ehrenamt”), civic engagement (“bürgerschaftliches Engagement”) or voluntary work (“freiwillige Arbeit”).

Volunteering or civic engagement means to work for the society or the community for free. Mostly many people work together. Sometimes a small compensation is paid, e.g. for driving costs. A volunteering you can choose in many areas. Here you get more information:

In Germany, all people have the right to choose a volunteering according to their own interests. That goes for everyone, whether born here or immigrated. For that purpose they can team up with others. The country does not influence the selection of the volunteering. In volunteering it is also possible to pursue common goals towards politics or the country. You learn more about that in the category “Political participation” („Politik mitgestalten”).

Volunteering has many benefits and provides chances for you and other people. Voluntary work makes joy and fun. In your work you get to know other people, people who engage together with you and people who are pleased about your help. In the voluntary work you are incorporated into a new community. Together with other people you will evolve and learn from each other.

Volunteering can help you to discover your strengths and weaknesses. It can also help to try out yourself, to improve language skills and to gain experience for education and profession.

You can get a certificate for your work. This is useful for an application for an apprenticeship or a job in Germany. Many people who work voluntarily say that they like volunteering because they do something useful in their leisure time, because they are not alone anymore and because they receive thanks and appreciation for the work. A voluntary work can go for a short, a long or for a very long time. It depends on how much leisure time you have and what kind of volunteer activity you want to pursue.

Since 2002 it is possible for Inhabitants of Dresden, who are truly dedicated to voluntary work, to be suggested for a voluntary work passport (Ehrenamtspass). With this passport you can get a discount for various offers of different facilities, e.g. a lower entrance fee for many museums, cinemas or theatres in Dresden.

Further forms of appreciation:

In all social areas you can work voluntarily. This includes for example:

• democracy/politics and human rights
• education
• rescue services, emergency measures and volunteer firefighter
• religion
• school and daycare facilities
• social commitment, youth work, integration and health
• neighborly help
• culture and music
• sports and movement
• leisure time and sociability
• nature conservation and animal welfare
• judiciary, court and prisoners help
• political and professional interest representation

When you chose a social area, then you find the possibilities for voluntary work for example at:

• clubs and associations
• churches, synagogues, mosques and foundations
• private and public facilities
• political parties and trade unions
• initiatives, citizen movements, projects
• self-organized groups
• networks of neighborhood and
• support groups

Ask for opportunities for volunteering. You can go there alone or with a friend. You can write a mail or call. Dare! You are welcome!

A volunteering has to fit your interests! You can ask yourself these questions:

• What do I like to do?
• What fits to me?
• What can I do well?
• What do I not like to do?

If you are unsure what fits to you, ask for advice. If you are an asylum seeker or a tolerated person or a recognized refugee, social workers of Migration social work, the municipal volunteer coordinator or the volunteers of the district networks will help you. But it is also possible to ask at the voluntary agency “ehrensache.jetzt” (volunteering now) of the “Bürgerstiftung” (citizen foundation). You can find the contacts here:

Almost always it is possible to try out a voluntary work for a short time first off. This way you can test if you like the voluntary work. Dare to ask!

On the internet are some search engines and overviews where you can find a fitting location. Here you can find further information:

Who wants to help refugees may find the fitting offer here:

The city council too provides opportunities to volunteer. The offer is very big. It goes from short actions (e.g. cleaning the Meadows on the Elbe) over voluntary service up to regular tasks at the shelter, in libraries, the volunteer firefighters, youth court assistance or as honorary judge.

For your voluntary work often you do not have to drive a long way or to look for it a long time. Mostly there is an opportunity for a voluntary work very close to you or in a facility you or your children use. A kindergarten, a school, a meeting, a church or mosque, a Culture house, a sports club, a migrants organization, a library, a dorm, a meeting place for seniors or just in the neighborhood if someone needs help there…

The volunteer can take a short, long or very long time. It is important that you agree with the person responsible for your volunteering. That also applies if you want to give up your voluntary work.

The time required can be very different. The volunteer has to fit well to your everyday life, because mostly volunteers have further duties, for example through the family, the circle of friends, the school, the studies or the work. That’s why there are voluntary works with very different time expenses and different durations. For example, once a year (or more frequently) you can help to prepare a feast at the kindergarten or school of your child. Or you help an elderly person to buy once a week regularly. If you engage in a club and take on a task there (e.g. as a coach) you will need more time in the week. Then you should exercise the task for a longer duration, for example one year.

Do I always have to do that?

No. A voluntary work you only do as long as you want to. Sometimes a volunteer is only for a very short time, for example only for one day.

No. A voluntary work you only do as long as you want to. Sometimes a volunteer is only for a very short time, for example only for one day.

The volunteer can take a short, long or very long time. It is important that you agree with the person responsible for your volunteering. That also applies if you want to give up your voluntary work.

A voluntary service is a special form of volunteering. A voluntary service is a voluntary work in a charitable institution for a fixed period. This can be some weeks, a whole year or more. The voluntary service goes on for several hours a day. The volunteers receive pocket money and, if necessary, accommodation and catering. The volunteers are insured. Voluntary services are mostly linked with educational offers.

There are voluntary services for people of all ages and in very different areas such as natural conservation, social commitment, culture, sports, politics, historic preservation or pedagogy. For newly immigrated people a voluntary service too is possible and an interesting chance to try out oneself, to establish contacts to other people, to gain experience for working life or to help other people. More information you find here:

If you want to qualify further for your volunteer work, you can attend courses of various providers. There you can learn, for example, more about the basics of administration or communication in associations.

The Volkshochschule Dresden (VHS, adult education centre) provides those offers for free for voluntary workers.

Get more information about providers and courses here:

Together with other people, no matter if born here or immigrated, you yourself can found an association and determine goals and tasks of the association. The framework is specified in the “Grundgesetz” (basic law). However, it is not so easy to found an association. The employees in the “House of Resources” like to help you.

The "Engagement-Stützpunkte" are a model project of the city of Dresden, which supports Dresden migrant associations.

The model project was developed by the Commissioner for Integration and Foreigners and the Lord Mayor. The "Engagement-Stützpunkte" are intended to promote the networking of migrant associations, strengthen their commitment and increase the visibility of migrant associations in the city of Dresden.

There are currently two "Engagement-Stützpunkte" in Dresden. Up to five associations can use a common office space in an "Engagement-Stützpunkt". The office space can be used by each association once a week on a fixed day, Monday to Friday. A small monthly fee is charged to each association. The offices are located in the Volkshochschule Dresden (Annenstraße 10) and in the Zentralwerk (Riesaer Straße 32). Furniture and technology are already available in the rooms.

The "Engagement-Stützpunkte" are easy to reach by train and bus. There are also other rooms in the "Engagement-Stützpunkten" that can be used in consultation with the Volkshochschule or the Zentralwerk.

The Kulturbüro Dresden e. V. supports the model project as a cooperation partner. It provides an "Engagement-Berater" and a "Engagement-Beraterin" for the migrant associations. The "Engagement-Berater" and the "Engagement-Beraterin" helps the associations with funding applications, questions about organising events and much more. Associations that use an "Engagement-Stützpunkt" are therefore in regular contact with one of them.

Migrant associations can apply for a place in the "Engagement-Stützpunkt" at any time. To do this, contact the "Engagement-Berater" or "Engagement-Beraterin".

Currently all places in the "Engagement Stützpunkten" are filled. We would be happy to put interested migrant associations on a waiting list. If a place becomes available, we will contact the associations.

Important contacts: 

Integrations- und Ausländerbeauftragte

Engagement Advisors ("Engagement-Beraterinnen"):

Kulturbüro Dresden e. V.

Irina Preuss und Irma Franz                                                                            

Telefon: 0351-40766253                     

E-Mail: irina.preuss@kulturbuero-dresden.de, irma.franz@kulturbuero-dresden.de

Schweizer Straße 32            

01069 Dresden

Volkshochschule Dresden e. V.

Telefon 0351-2544000                                                                     

E-Mail: post@vhs-dresden.de                                                         

Annenstraße 10

01067 Dresden

Zentralwerk Dresden e. V.

Telefon: 0351-20869381                                                                  

E-Mail: verein@zentralwerk.de

Riesaer Straße 32

01127 Dresden

Rooms for migrant organisations in the city of Dresden are rare and finding them is often difficult. The Commissioner for Integration and Foreigners has therefore conducted research in 2019 to collect rooms that migrant organisations can rent for temporary use.

This makes it possible to offer the organisations space in and around the city so that they can carry out their commitment and work in Dresden. The rooms are made available for temporary use by various associations, companies, etc. This helps migrant organisations that are looking for rooms for celebrations, meetings, seminars or other events. We are happy to advise you on the research and selection of rooms.

There are many different rooms, with different equipment and sizes: barrier-free rooms, equipment with technology, tables and chairs. Currently, rooms with space for 5 to 30 people can be rented on a temporary basis. The price depends on the size and equipment of the room. 

If organisations want to make their rooms available, it is possible to be included in the existing offer through a short consultation with the advisory offices. We look forward to your support!

These offices can advise on rooms for temporary use:

House of Resources Dresden+

Phone: 0351-40766253                                                                    

E-Mail: info@hor-dresden.de                                                           

Website: https://www.hor-dresden.de

Schweizer Straße 32

01069 Dresden

 

Koordinator Ehrenamt im Bereich Asyl

Clemens Hirschwald

Phone: 0351-4881442

E-Mail: chirschwald@dresden.de

 

Freiwilligenagentur der Bürgerstiftung Dresden

Phone: 0351-3158120                                                                      

E-Mail: info@ehrensache.jetzt         

Website: https://dresden.ehrensache.jetzt/                                     

Barteldesplatz 2

01309 Dresden

You can get the latest news about volunteer work at ehrensache.jetzt:

For further information about volunteering you can have a look at these Websites: