WITH YOU FOR US ALL Magazine

The Virtual Operations Support Team (VOST) of the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) is a specialised, digital unit in civil protection that has played a central role in supporting crisis teams since it was founded in 2016. More than 70 dedicated volunteers from all over Germany work together in a digital network to analyse and classify decision-relevant information from publicly accessible sources in real time and prepare it as an overview for crisis management – for example in the form of maps, dashboards or structured reports. VOST relies on capabilities such as social media monitoring, open source intelligence (OSINT) and tools such as geographic information systems (GIS). What makes VOST special is that it is flexible, online-based and inclusive – a volunteer possibility, which is open to people with a wide range of backgrounds. Volker Tondorf, founding member of VOST, current head of the team and local representative of the first virtual local organisation (vOV), provides insights into the special features, challenges and opportunities of this innovative form of digital engagement in civil protection. From fascination to function – the path to digital volunteering Volker Tondorf describes his path to digital volunteering as a combination of personal interest and social commitment: ‘My path to digital volunteering was characterised by my fascination for technology and the desire to continue to be involved in civil protection.’ He had already recognised the importance of digital media during his studies and his time in the rescue service – a field that still received little attention in Germany at the time. He summarises his motivation as follows: ‘Digitalisation offers enormous opportunities for civil protection – I wanted to help shape this change’. At the International Police Cooperation Center (IPCC), EURO24. Digital volunteering at VOST makes it possible to work flexibly and from any location. ‘The opportunity to help in a highly flexible way, regardless of location,’ describes Tondorf as a special attraction. The digital format in particular means that crisis teams can be supported with very little preliminary lead time, situation reports can be created and information can be provided that gives operational forces real advantages. The variety of operational scenarios, from natural disasters to combating disinformation, makes everyday life varied and exciting.   Digital skills and virtual teamwork as the key to success VOST requires special skills from its members: ‘Analytical thinking, media skills, confident use of proven and new digital tools and remote teamwork’ are key. Although an affinity for technology is helpful, it is not everything: ‘Communication skills, the ability to work under pressure and a willingness to undergo further training are just as crucial.’ The work at VOST differs significantly from traditional forms of deployment. ‘In almost 100 per cent of cases, we also send liaisons or technical advisors to the crisis team of the requestor. These are the only people from the VOST who actually travel to the vicinity of the incident,’ explains Tondorf. However, the majority of the work is carried out virtually and is based on the systematic evaluation of social and digital media or data sources as well as the creation of digital situation reports and dashboards – a completely new form of deployment in civil protection that operates digitally and independently of location. Presentation of the founding certificate Inclusion and flexibility through digital formats A major advantage of digital volunteering is inclusion, for example people with limited mobility can easily get involved: ‘The digital volunteering programme at VOST is perfect for inclusion,’ says Tondorf. The flexible time management and the variety of tasks enable individual focal points and promote broad social participation. In contrast to traditional ideas of disaster control, which often focus on robust equipment in the field, VOST shows ‘that a valuable contribution can also be made beyond water-repellent boots and sturdy tools.’ The digital form of collaboration creates new access routes for people who would otherwise hardly have the opportunity to actively participate in civil protection. Challenges in operations and in the system The VOST has already gained valuable experience in over 80 operations. The flood in the Ahr valley in 2021 was particularly challenging, as the team had to deal with a highly dynamic situation, a huge flood of information and high emotional stress due to eyewitness reports. At the same time, the spread of targeted disinformation was a major problem, which undermined confidence in the emergency services. The organisational framework conditions also posed a challenge: ‘A purely virtual unit was not initially envisaged in the THW’s established structures.’ The recent founding of the first virtual local organisation marks a ‘decisive milestone for future integration into the regular structure of the THW ’. This shows how innovative and at the same time challenging the establishment of digital forms of volunteering in traditional civil protection is. Training, exercises and the path to professionalisation In order to prepare new members, the VOST ‘relies on a specially developed, digital and modular teaching concept.’ The specific requirements of digital volunteering have so far hardly been reflected in traditional THW training formats. Exercise scenarios are difficult to simulate realistically due to the special features of VOST, which is why the team often uses ‘real situations in which we are not officially involved as exercises’. This keeps digital collaboration alive and the operational capability is continuously developed. Added value and prospects for digital volunteering in civil protection According to Tondorf, the particular added value of digital volunteering in civil protection lies in ‘bringing in new skills, supplementing traditional structures and increasing the speed of response’. The VOST manages to build ‘a bridge between technical innovation and practical operational reality’. He sees great potential for the future, especially in the use of new technologies: Screenshot of the VOST’s digital map of the 2023/2024 winter flood.‘AI-supported analyses, automated processes and new technologies can make a decisive contribution to overcoming situations in the future.’ At the same time, he warns of the risks: ‘AI-generated disinformation is becoming increasingly sophisticated and, in the worst case, can distort decision-making processes.’ However, a strong VOST could counteract this, by identifying and categorising reliable information as a ‘digital sensor’. Digital volunteering thus opens up completely new perspectives for civil protection, which is increasingly orientated towards the possibilities of digital networking and information processing. Screenshot of the VOST’s digital map of the 2023/2024 winter flood. Recommendations for beginners Tondorf’s most important tip for anyone interested in digital volunteering is simple: ‘Get started, because volunteering begins where expertise is not left unused!’ Nobody has to be an expert; the team supports new members right from the start. ‘The most important thing is the willingness to take on responsibility at and to be part of a team that is committed to society.’ In conclusion, Tondorf emphasises: “Digitalisation is not an end in itself, but a tool. It can build bridges, promote participation and improve our overall protection.” The VOST has already shown many times that commitment ‘has many faces today – and every one of them counts.’ The VOST impressively demonstrates how digital volunteering and social commitment go hand in hand – and thus make civil protection fit for the future. In an increasingly networked world, digital deployment options open up new ways of making civil protection more flexible, inclusive and effective.

The ‘Henry 2.0’ project combines innovative technology with sustainable energy production to provide mobile cooling facilities for disaster management. A reliable and environmentally friendly energy supply is essential, especially in crisis situations. In times of climate change, this aspect is becoming increasingly important. The project was honoured with the ‘Helping Hand’ award for its pioneering idea. Tobias Homann, a long-standing member of the German Red Cross and co-initiator of ‘Henry 2.0’, talks about the origins, challenges and future plans of this special project. Far-sighted volunteer work Tobias Homann has been a volunteer with the German Red Cross (DRK) for more than 26 years. As a paramedic, organisation leader and in management positions, he has experienced and helped shape numerous operations. In the ‘Henry 2.0’ project, he is part of the team led by project manager Gina Lüers. Together with other members of the Berlin Steglitz-Zehlendorf DRK district association, he created and implemented the sustainable catering system. From idea to realisation ‘In 2022, a grant from the Berlin S-Bahn gave us the opportunity to convert an old trailer for food distribution – the “Henry” project idea was born,’ recalls Tobias Homann. But it was only during a major operation in Berlin’s Grunewald forest that the need for another trailer to secure the cold chain became apparent. “The idea of converting another trailer for cooling food and drinks was born during the fire in Berlin’s Grunewald forest. The Berlin Steglitz-Zehlendorf district association was tasked with catering for the approx. 330 emergency services from the fire brigade, police, Berlin Forestry, etc. But with temperatures well over 30°C, maintaining the cold chain was a major challenge for the volunteers,” says Tobias Homann. This gave rise to the idea of ‘Henry 2.0’ – a climate-friendly refrigerated trailer that generates most of its own energy. Thanks to an internal DRK grant, this project could be financed and realised. Sustainable solution for disaster management  ‘Henry 2.0’ is an innovative and environmentally friendly addition to existing systems. The trailer can operate autonomously and is largely independent of an external power supply. ““Henry 2.0” has two solar cells and a wind turbine. This makes the trailer different and significantly less dependent on the infrastructure that would otherwise be required,” explains Tobias Homann. This system offers decisive advantages, particularly in crisis situations where a stable infrastructure cannot be guaranteed. The combination of field kitchen, distribution trailer and ‘Henry 2.0’ forms a coordinated catering system that enables several hundred people to be fed efficiently. ‘Of course, we still need gas for cooking in the field kitchen, but the lighting, cooling and communication can be provided by the solar cells and the wind turbine if the conditions are right,’ says Tobias Homann. ‘There is therefore no longer any need for regular refuelling of power generators, for example.’ Challenges and solutions A key issue in the realisation of the project was the storage of the energy generated. “As with many systems, storing the electricity generated is one of the biggest challenges. When the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing, we still need electricity for cooling,” explains Tobias Homann. Should a bottleneck nevertheless occur, ‘Henry 2.0’ can be supplied with external electricity, ideally from renewable sources: “In this case, the trailer has two batteries, which hopefully still have energy stored from the previous day. In an emergency, however, “Henry 2.0” also has a way of feeding in – hopefully green – electricity externally.” Significance in the context of climate change Climate change is leading to ever more frequent extreme weather events, which are increasingly challenging the field of civil protection. Sustainable solutions such as ‘Henry 2.0’ not only help to provide effective aid, but also to reduce our own emissions. “We can all see that climate change is progressing. Floods like those in the Ahr valley or in Spain, fires like those in the USA, southern Europe and Saxony show us that it is high time to act, even on our own doorstep,” emphasises Tobias Homann. ‘In my view, it is only logical that those who rush to help in such cases also do their bit to prevent the cause from being exacerbated.’ Tobias Homann sees great future potential in this approach: ‘If you understand “Henry 2.0” as the idea of making components and technical resources more climate-friendly by focussing on renewable power generation, then I can see solar cells on the roofs of all emergency response lorries in the future.’ Awarded with the ‘Helping Hand’ The innovative idea and its sustainable approach were honoured with the ‘Helping Hand’ award from the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community. For Tobias Homann and his team, this is not only a great honour, but also an opportunity to further develop the project. “Internally, the “Helping Hand” award is an enormous honour for volunteers. For me personally, appreciation in voluntary work is very important. In my eyes, it is the basis for successful work for the benefit of all,” says Tobias Homann. ‘The prize money gives us the opportunity to further expand the two trailers and realise our other ideas.’ Looking to the future The project is not yet complete. The use of ‘Henry 2.0’ will continue to be trialled in practice in order to identify weak points and make improvements. The trailer can be used in a variety of ways: whether for large forest fires, power outages or planned major events – the climate-friendly catering system can be used flexibly to supply emergency services and affected citizens. It also helps to establish the German Red Cross as a player for sustainable solutions in disaster management. Appeal to organisations and volunteers Tobias Homann is convinced that sustainable solutions will play an even greater role in disaster management in the future. His advice to other organisations: “Where there’s a will, there’s a way. If an idea arises within the structures to make an area of civil protection more sustainable or otherwise better, then a way will also be found to implement this idea.” ‘Henry 2.0’ shows how innovative technology and renewable energies can work together to make disaster management more sustainable. In a world that is increasingly characterised by climate challenges, the project sets an important example for sustainable solutions – and proves that volunteering and environmental awareness can go hand in hand.

What motivates people to volunteer in the field of civil protection and disaster management? What do they expect from the state and society? What is the current state of the emergency response organisations? The latest study results offer exciting insights from the perspective of both the volunteers and the organisations in which they are involved. The proportion of the total population in Germany that is involved in civil protection and disaster management remains constant at around three percent of the resident population – around 1.76 million people aged 18 and older volunteer in civil protection and disaster management. The three strongest motives for volunteering, cited by more than 90 % of respondents, were the desire to help others, doing something good for the common good and having fun volunteering. Two thirds of those who volunteered stated that they spent between two and five hours a week on this, while the other third invested even more time in volunteering. 90% of this time is spent on practical work and around 80% on personal assistance. Greater crisis awareness, greater need for resources Nobody wants to get involved anymore? Not quite – of all civil society organisations, the operational civil protection and disaster management organisations* recorded the largest increase in memberships  while at the same time recording the lowest number of member departures. It is possible that a growing social awareness of current threats is increasing the desire to help – but: only a third of operational organisations state that they have enough members to carry out all tasks satisfactorily. This could possibly also be a consequence of the increasing demands. Strong cohesion, socially mixed While the cultural and gender diversity of volunteers in civil protection is growing rather slowly, it is traditionally characterised by a high mix of educational qualifications. Most of the almost two million volunteers have a secondary school diploma (35%), followed by the group with a (technical) baccalaureate or vocational school diploma (30%) and finally the group with a lower secondary school diploma (27%) and school pupils, who make up eight per cent. Volunteering is therefore a real social melting pot. Even if the individual biographies are different, they are all united by the desire to help others in need. Accordingly, four out of five respondents see their aid organisation as a community of like-minded people who not only support each other, but also share common values. Seven out of ten organisations have already published these values in the form of guidelines for democracy and diversity. Local roots, nationwide responsibility You can help anywhere, but logically you start on your own doorstep first. Four out of five operational organisations are active directly on site, i.e. in their local community. About a half of them state that they have also been deployed nationwide, especially when dealing with large-scale operations. Accordingly, volunteers in civil protection have a comparatively above-average self-image as a service provider for society and see themselves in a partnership with the state. 17 out of 20 respondents see a clear division of tasks – the state has the financial responsibility and they are responsible for the implementation. In order to better fulfil this responsibility, more than half of those surveyed would like more support in providing suitable spaces and resources for their own work. What the respondents would like to see less of is bureaucracy in the reimbursement of costs incurred when carrying out voluntary work (47%). Conclusion Volunteering in civil protection brings people together who enjoy helping in the community and are not afraid to lend a hand. Whether fire brigades, THW or aid organisations – there are meaningful activities for everyone that suit their own wishes and interests. Curious? Then take a look at our interactive map and find your way into volunteering: https://mit-dir-fuer-uns-alle.de/standorte-finden/ *By operational civil protection and disaster management organisations, we mean the 5 private aid organisations DRK, DRLG, JUH, ASB and MHD. THW and volunteer fire brigades are not included in this term, as they are not included in the list of associations on which the study is based, as they are organisations under the auspices of the federal government or local authorities.

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.

People who volunteer are a great support to society: They can be found as trainers in sports clubs or as organisers of cultural events. They work with refugees or help people without a permanent home. Furthermore  they  look after our safety, put out fires and care for the injured. About the importance of volunteering we interviewed Ralph Tiesler, President of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance. How important are volunteers in the field of civil protection in Germany? “Well, accidents and disasters can happen at any time. Their effects can affect everyone and every community. In Germany, many volunteers are involved in these  emergency situations, and they are responsible for over 90% of all operations. They play therefore a key role in ensuring the safety of all of us. This also applies to the field of civil protection, meaning the protection of the population in the state of tension and defence.” In which areas are volunteers deployed? “For example, they attend road accidents. They reinforce dykes, rescue people from their homes or secure buildings in the event of flooding. Technical assistance, such as the emergency power supply for hospitals or the construction of bridges, is also one of their tasks. However, it doesn’t always have to be an emergency service operation: thousands of volunteer swimming trainers, first aid instructors, extras during exercises or administrators in front of computers play an equally important role.” And if you want to volunteer in the field of civil protection? How can you do that? “All organisations introduce themselves on our campaign website. This gives you an insight into the many different activities. Last summer, we published an interactive map of Germany. Interested people can now use a simple postcode search to see where they can get involved in their neighbourhood and contact the organisations directly. Simply call or write an e-mail, go there and join in.” Why do you think it is important for as many people as possible to volunteer? “Oh, the list is quite long. On the one hand, climate change and the changing security situation present us with major challenges. The state cannot provide for and protect millions of people solely through full-time staff. Our assistance system is based on a strong partnership between the state and society. On the other hand, it makes sense from an individual perspective to get involved. It teaches you how to help yourself and help others. Volunteers shape our society. Their commitment holds us together as a society.”

‘The Helping Hand is slowly coming of age’ – this is how Federal Minister Nancy Faeser categorised the long tradition of the 16th presentation of the “Helping Hand” award. The award was established in 2009 to honour volunteer work in the field of civil protection. A tradition which is more than just an award ceremony. The personal exchange between the nominees and the heads of the aid organisations about projects and ideas once again formed the lively setting for this year’s gala in the office building of the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community (BMI). With around 120 participants, the hall was packed when the Berlin based band ‘Stand Arts’ accompanied the festive part with a mix of styles ranging from bossa nova to chanson – a musical reflection of the diversity of voluntary work in civil protection. Host Susanne Schöne was already able to announce a record in her welcoming address: With 640 submissions, more projects applied this year than ever before. This initially meant a lot of work for the jury, which had the difficult task of selecting worthy nominees and ultimately award winners. Above all, however, it meant that the nominees present in the hall had already beaten hundreds of other applications so that, as Susanne Schöne put it, all those who made it to Berlin could already see themselves as winning projects before the award ceremony. Nancy Faeser recalled the increased importance of civil protection in Germany, driven by heavy rainfall, flooding and landslides as a result of the climate crisis on the one hand and war in the centre of Europe on the other. Let this be a reminder to everyone to ‘make our country more resilient’. ‘We have felt too safe,’ said the Federal Minister, summarising the threat situation. ‘Even our strong society is vulnerable’. To counteract this, considerable investments were made e.g. in the warning system, but direct improvements for the numerous volunteers were also necessary. Some had already been implemented, for example, by taking pension entitlements into account, but also by increasing penalties for attacks on helpers. In the eyes of the Federal Minister, the annual Civil Protection Day and the Joint Civil Protection Competence Centre, supported by various stakeholders at federal and state level, are also examples of further efforts in the field of civil protection. Cooperation as a success factor The principle of cooperation between different organisations subsequently formed the common thread for many projects that were awarded with the Helping Hand. A conspicuous number of projects were set up jointly by several organisations. Some partnerships extended beyond the circle of traditional aid organisations. For example, the third place in the ‘Innovative concepts’ category went to the ‘Emergency bell ringing’ project, where the bell ringing of six Protestant and Catholic churches fills gaps in the local siren network and thus helps to alert the population  in the event of an emergency. This was made possible by the creative cooperation between the local civil protection organisation and the church communities. In the district of Plön, six organisations (ASB, DLRG, DRK, FFW, JUH and THW) have joined forces to introduce nursery and school children to the work of emergency service organisations. In this way, they were able to give the children and young people real-life experiences, individually tailored to the respective educational institution, from teddy bear hospitals to plaster-driving-licences. The reward for the work of the ‘Blue Light Project’ was a large number of people interested in joining the volunteer organisation – and first place in the ‘Young talent work’ category. The winner in the ‘Support for Volunteering’ category also involved a broad network: The Service Centre for Volunteering at the Würzburg District Office came up with the striking name ‘FEEL FR.E.E.’ for its collaboration with ASB, DLRG, DRK, FFW, JUH, MHD, THW and others to summarise the guiding principle of voluntary, honorary and committed work. So far, the project has motivated 570 young people to spend a school year getting a taste of the structures and working methods in the field of civil protection. The winners of the third prize in the ‘Support for voluntary work’ category also presented a new image. The Dormagen reservist comradeship accepted their prize for their commitment to dyke protection in a Bundeswehr field suit. A motivation for volunteers beyond the traditional civil defence and disaster control organisations to apply for the Helping Hand. The award, which was not decided by the jury but by votes cast via the website, also went to a joint project: the ‘Disaster Prevention Action Day’ at 40 schools, organised by ASB, DFV/FFW, DLRG, DRK, JUH, MHD and THW. On stage, the delighted organisers revealed the secret of their success – they had canvassed for votes from all over Baden-Württemberg. The ceremony concluded with perhaps the most important part for many: the personal exchange from project to project in order to be inspired and make connections across regions and organisations. In some cases, initial project ideas for the next Helping Hand were already being discussed.