Blog post - 07. Feb 2025

Volunteering and voluntary work are important pillars of society in Germany. Both thrive on active citizens who contribute to the common good. With their commitment, they contribute to individual participation, social integration or social ties, cultural life or health. Volunteering also takes place in Zwickau through numerous committed individuals in associations, initiatives and projects. Nevertheless, just 12%* of citizens in our city are involved in sports or allotment garden clubs, orchestral choirs, children’s and youth work or selected events. We say there is more to be done!

In future, the new “Engagiert im Quartier” project aims to get more people interested in volunteering and voluntary work. This is initially planned as a model in one or two neighbourhoods in Zwickau.

Volunteering can be very meaningful and valuable for personal development. Being part of something new, improving or preserving what already exists can make people happier, break down barriers and open up new paths. These are the aims of the project:

To promote volunteering and support existing volunteers
Creating local meeting places: The establishment of neighbourhoods is to be promoted with local network partners
Strengthening social cohesion: By promoting engagement, the aim is to improve coexistence in neighbourhoods

In order to make progress and achieve the objectives, the following is planned:

supplement existing network structures
Act as a local information and mediation centre for voluntary work
organise community meetings
organising events
Initiate local network meetings and volunteer fairs

Engagiert im Quartier thrives on the participation of people. From large and small, young and old, in the city and especially in individual neighbourhoods. Each individual can get involved to the best of their ability and help shape their neighbourhood. Through these many small steps, “Engagiert im Quartier” aims to strengthen volunteering in Zwickau and improve the quality of life in the selected neighbourhoods with the help of many stakeholders.

In future, all information and news about the project as well as contact details for the volunteer coordinator will be available on the project page.

This project is supported by the German Society for Engagement and Volunteering and is part of the nationwide efforts to promote civic engagement and improve the framework conditions for volunteers. It helps to implement the goals of the Federal Government’s engagement strategy, which was adopted in December 2024, at local level.

 Zwickau Ticker