05.03.2025 | Interviews
The Plön district blue light project introduces children and young people to the world of volunteering – in a playful, practical and enthusiastic way. Whether fire brigades, rescue services or disaster control – the project conveys important values and promotes social responsibility. As a winner of the ‘Helping Hand’ award from the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI), it sends out a strong signal of commitment. Neele Schwiderski and Nele Schütt report on how the project came about, the challenges it faces and the goals for the future.
Dear Mrs Schütt, dear Mrs Schwiderski, what is your role in the blue light project?
We are the double Ne(e)le team. We often hear from the children when we first meet: ‘Huh, you’re both called Nele?’ – and the atmosphere is already relaxed. Our team consists of two full-time nursery teachers: Neele Schwiderski and Nele Schütt. Neele Schwiderski has been with us since the start of the project in 2022. Nele Schütt joined in October 2023. Together, we are the main players in the blue light project. Our tasks include arranging and organising appointments as well as preparing for and following up on them. In this way, we act as a point of contact and interface between the facilities and the emergency services organisations. At the same time, we are constantly working on the further development of the project.
What does it mean to you to share this commitment with children and young people?
It is particularly important to us to get children interested in volunteering and to improve their skills. We want to show children and young people opportunities outside the media world and inspire them to gain valuable social and personal experience. As we are both volunteers ourselves, we are keen to pass on our knowledge to the next generation.
How did the idea for the blue light project come about?
The fire at a kindergarten in Bokhorst was a decisive event. It gave Kirsten Voß-Rahe the idea of introducing children to voluntary work and teaching them the importance of providing assistance. This eventually developed into a comprehensive pilot project involving all the emergency services organisations in the Plön district.
What gaps or problems in volunteering would you like to close with this project?
With our project, we want to tackle the lack of young talent, which is a major problem in many areas. In volunteering in particular, it is important to reach the youngest members of society at an early stage and to communicate the importance and value of volunteering to them. By inspiring children and young people to volunteer, we hope to counteract violence against emergency services personnel in the long term and promote a positive attitude towards helpers in society.
What makes the blue light project special compared to other initiatives?
We unite different organisations in a joint project. This promotes cooperation and exchange between those involved and maximises the reach and impact of our initiative. Our pedagogical training enables us to take the children’s stage of development and needs into account and to convey our content in a child-orientated way. We attach great importance to adapting our concept to the respective age group and continuously developing it further. Our overriding aim is to train children to become capable adults who are able to take responsibility and make a positive contribution to society.
How do you work together with the cooperating organisations THW, Johanniter, ASB, volunteer fire brigade, DRK and DLRG?
The blue light organisations actively support us in carrying out the events. They accompany us with emergency vehicles and show them to the children, which is always a source of great enthusiasm. They also support us by providing materials and sharing their extensive expertise with us. This close cooperation enables us to give the children and young people a practical insight into the work of the aid organisations and to successfully implement the project.
How does the organisational coordination between the participants work? Are there fixed structures or regular meetings?
The organisational coordination between the participants takes place through regular meetings with all participating organisations. These meetings enable a direct exchange and the planning of joint activities. Appointments are mainly arranged by telephone or email. We have appointed fixed contact persons from the individual organisations for the collaboration. We coordinate the appointments with them and ensure that all those involved are well informed and involved.
What have been the project’s biggest successes so far?
One of the biggest milestones was winning first place in the ‘Helping Hand’ award. This recognition confirms our work and motivates us to continue. Another significant highlight is the continuation of the project after a two-year ‘trial period’. The positive response and the success of the first two years have shown us that we are on the right track.
Were there any challenges during implementation, and how did you overcome them?
At the beginning, we were faced with the task of publicising the project to the general public and the relevant target groups. It was crucial to reach as many educational institutions as possible and get them excited about the project. To overcome this challenge, we contacted schools and kindergartens to present our project and encourage cooperation. We also developed a flyer and sent it to all educational institutions in the district. We also relied on word-of-mouth advertising. The positive response and the commitment of the participants helped to ensure that word of our project spread quickly.
What concrete steps would you like to take in the future to further expand the project?
In the future, we would like to take several concrete steps to further expand the blue light project. One important aspect is to get more schools on board and actively involve them in our project. By working with schools, we can reach a larger number of children and young people and teach them about the importance of volunteering. In addition, we plan to constantly revise and develop our concept in order to reach the children in the best possible way. By regularly obtaining feedback and adapting our methods, we ensure that our project always meets the current needs and interests of the children.
What support would you like to receive?
For the future, we would particularly like the support of schools. Close cooperation with educational institutions enables us to reach more children and young people and get them interested in volunteering. It is also very important to us that we continue to work well with the aid organisations. Their support and expertise are crucial to the success of our project. These two pillars – support for schools and close cooperation with the aid organisations – are essential to the continued success of our project.
What else would you like to pass on to children, parents and potential supporters?
Don’t look away! It’s important that we all help, no matter what. Every contribution counts and can make a positive difference in our community. We want to show how important and meaningful volunteer work is. Together we can achieve a lot and create a better future for us all. Get involved, because your efforts are valuable and needed.
The Plön district blue light project proves that early insights into volunteering not only impart knowledge, but can also promote long-term commitment. Through practical experience and close cooperation with aid organisations, the project creates lasting enthusiasm – and thus makes a valuable contribution to society.