MIT DIR FÜR UNS ALLE Magazin

Today we´re talking to Frank Twardy. He has been a volunteer with Malteser since 2017. In this interview, the 58-year-old tells us how he came to join Malteser International, how the collaboration between younger and older colleagues works, why volunteering reminds him of rock’n’roll and how it can perhaps help against loneliness in old age. Mr Twardy, thank you very much for taking the time to talk to us today. Let’s start at the beginning, how did you come to join the Malteser organisation? Hello! I´ve been with Malteser emergency service for 24 years now. However, not all of that time as an active member, but as a passive member, a sponsoring member so to speak. And how did I first come to join Malteser? My parents were mainly involved. My father was also an active member of the emergency services during his lifetime. Also with Malteser International. He often took me with him on his missions whenever possible. So you have been with Malteser for 24 years, but when did you become an active member? Since 2017, after both my parents passed away. Then I started in the visiting service for Malteser, helping lonely people. Elderly people who may no longer have any relatives. I went outside with them and we had a chat. I then picked them up from the care home. One lady, for example, could no longer go out on her own because she was not as mobile anymore. And as long as the weather was reasonably warm, we packed up the wheelchair and went to Tegeler See to go for a walk and talk. However, the lady passed away at the age of 93. She was in a care home during the coronavirus crisis which was not that easy. The care homes were more or less sealed off. And then I thought to myself: would you like to continue the visiting service? Or perhaps get to know new fields? Because I´m interested in medical things, technical things and social areas. Being a Malteser is not only about emergencies, it has different components. Finally, I ended up in the care service. The care service is all about looking after casualties at the scene of an emergency. And looking after the emergency services, the fire brigade, the police and the other emergency services. You´re an interface. What exactly does that mean? Looking after the emergency services? Looking after the emergency services means being able to provide a meal, drinks, tea or hot soup if necessary. We´re not talking about one hour’s work of the emergency services here, but a much longer period of time. What do you think is the best thing about volunteering? What is the best way to describe it? It is a combination of many things. Firstly, perhaps being able to pursue your own interests, but also being able to help when you are needed. You also have the opportunity to be flexible. Volunteering does not mean you have to help. Or you have to take part in all events or all assignments. Instead, you can. Everyone helps as much as they want to. You can contribute a part of yourself according to your personal skills and interests without having to invest any financial resources. You can learn from others or from your missions and experiences. But you can also take part in further training – even digitally. I also wanted to pursue an activity with a Christian and humanitarian background. And Malteser is a Christian organisation. What else counts? Team spirit. Humanity. Togetherness. New challenges. Getting to know new topics. Practising and training together. So really also the collegial aspect? On the one hand, the aspect of the new challenge and further training opportunities, but on the other hand, the aspect of sharing? Absolutely. Let me put it this way: volunteering brings people together. You have the same goals despite often having very different personalities. That makes it exciting. Never being alone, that’s what the Malteser motto says: ‘Because closeness counts’. You help each other and not just yourself, instead you´re also there for the community. And in which situations do you notice the solidarity of the Maltesers the most? First and foremost in real-life operations. The first thing you look at is: how can we help? What is the situation? What resources are available? What resources are already tied up? Who is available at all? I think that requires a great deal of mutual help and willingness.There are also regular group evenings where we can exchange ideas and socialise. Of course, we talk a lot about the voluntary work here, but also about private matters. Joint events are organised, including on special occasions. An anniversary, for example. There is also a Christmas party, with a corresponding Christian mass, where everyone comes together. There is also an annual kick-off event with the presence of the Bishop of Berlin. There are many opportunities where you do not have to be alone and can socialise. And if one person in the team isn’t feeling well, are you there for each other? Yes, for example, I once had a situation where help was needed from my circle of friends. I did not know how I could help at the time either, but then I was able to use my Malteser contacts and asked: Hey, who could help or name contact points. And they then supported me. That´s great, this networking. And you´re really not alone. Volunteering brings many different people together, including people of different ages. There are younger and older colleagues at Malteser – how do you experience the interaction with each other at Malteser? As part of my professional training, I learnt that younger and older people can work together. I associate it a bit with the music scene. I’m not talking about ‘the older ones’, but about the ‘stars’. They take the newcomers on stage with them in the supporting programme or in the middle programme to give the newcomers the opportunity to make progress. It’s a bit like that with the Malteser. The environment is also a bit like music, like rock ‘n’ roll: from totally relaxed, spending a Tuesday evening together to rock ‘n’ roll in a mission where everyone is challenged. That’s roughly how you can describe it. When you’re on a mission, you’re usually not travelling alone. How many of you are always on duty? That varies greatly. There are usually at least two of us on the road. But that depends on the services – what is required in the services. So, if you take major events, it’s not just Malteser that are requested, but actually all the aid organisations that are available. At the European Championships, for example, all organisations are asked to help if possible. There is also a lot of cooperation because you have to organise yourself together. But that always works well. What is the approximate age range of the team members you often work with? That’s very interesting, because Malteser already offers the opportunity to join as a school paramedic at the age of 16/17. Of course, you have to be of legal age for certain activities. And from there, anything is possible: from 18 to around 65 – that’s a broad spectrum. You just said that their collaboration is like rock ‘n’ roll. The stars take the newcomers on stage with them. Is it a case of the younger ones learning from the older ones? Or is it sometimes the other way round? It’s also the other way round. That’s why I deliberately didn’t want to talk about the older ones, but rather about the stars, because I may be older personally, but I also learn from the younger ones. And younger people can perhaps learn other things from older people or gain experience. So, it’s by no means a one-sided approach. Are older colleagues deployed differently to younger colleagues or do they take on different tasks? In fact you have the opportunity to choose jobs that are a little less physically and mentally demanding than, for example, emergency rescue. For example, in the care service, where you´re more between the situation and the emergency services. In the care service and visiting service, for example, you can still help at 65, or in neighbourhood assistance or refugee aid. When do you think someone is too old to volunteer? I don’t think there is an age limit. It all depends on your personal judgement – how young you are at heart. And how long you can and want to do it physically and mentally. You are still working at the moment. What do you do for a living? I’m a banker. So, a completely different direction. There’s a gap, especially for people who retire. So perhaps the desire arises to use the new free time in a meaningful way. Have you ever experienced something like this in your environment? I can only really say for myself: yes, it’s an issue that goes through your mind. You think that if one day you don’t have to work 110% of the time in your main job, you’ll have more time available at that stage of your life. And how can you make good use of it? This is definitely an issue that I´ve also considered personally and where I think: yes, volunteering is a meaningful task – out of interest and enjoyment of the cause. It probably won’t take up 100% of my time if I also have another hobby or something similar. But it is quite conceivable for me that it will continue to take up a larger part of my time later on. When people retire or later find themselves in a care home, many are unfortunately affected by loneliness. This is especially true when social contacts also dwindle due to the loss of a job. The children may also have left home. Do you think that volunteering can help combat loneliness? Yes, definitely. I believe that if you can give joy yourself, a certain amount of joy comes back. I recently spoke to an elderly lady by chance on the public transport. She had approached me and told me that she was a fully qualified ward sister. And that her husband had died three years ago. And I then asked her if she had the training, wouldn’t she like to do something somewhere in the area of support? Then she told me: maybe that’s not a bad idea. We spoke briefly earlier about the fact that volunteering brings a lot of different people together, young people, older people, but also completely different personalities. So do you think that this might also cause conflicts? Or that it can also be an advantage that you get to know people you wouldn’t otherwise have met? Definitely. It’s really exciting to get to know people who think differently. As far as hobbies and interests are concerned, there are very different directions, for example IT or water sports. And also professions: from electrical engineering to project work, IT projects to education, children, school – there’s everything. You can see that not everything runs smoothly everywhere in society. There are rough edges, problems and hurdles to overcome everywhere. And you can see that every sector has its own special features, but there are also similarities somewhere. Now, if I want to join Malteser, how does it work? Where can I get information, where can I register, who can I talk to? For example, you can call the offices, including the head office, and ask. For example, the Volunteering Department. There are also information brochures about the different areas where you can find out more in advance. You can take a look at the Malteser website: What do they actually do? As I said, we do everything from the school service to the dog squadron. So much is possible, from refugee aid, care services, visiting services, neighbourhood help, integration to hospice. And you’re not forced to say: I’m going into one area for ever and ever and then you’re stuck there. No, you also have the opportunity to say: now I want to do something else. And an honorary position can also be handled very flexibly. It doesn’t mean that you have to do so many hours a month in a year, but that everyone can do what they can and want to do. What everyone is willing to give of their time.

We have long suspected it, but now it has even been scientifically confirmed: Volunteering not only helps society, but can also improve your own cognitive performance. This is the conclusion reached by a research team from the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU) and the Bavarian Digital Dementia Register (digiDEM Bayern). In a systematic review, the team analysed the links between volunteering and cognitive performance. To do so, the researchers analysed a total of 14 studies from around the world that were published between 2017 and 2021. They included studies from Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, England, England/Scotland, New Zealand, China, Japan and the USA. The FAU researchers came to the conclusion that nine of the studies indicate a positive correlation between volunteering and brain functions. These functions include, for example, perception, thinking, attention and language skills. However, scientists are divided as to whether the frequency of volunteering has a proportional effect on cognitive performance. After all, too much strain from volunteering can lead to stress. The results of the study are particularly relevant for the prevention of dementia. Although the causes of dementia are as varied as they are complex, there are also risk factors that can be modified, such as obesity or smoking. A lack of education can also affect cognitive reserves. Volunteering can counteract this – after all, voluntary work challenges the brain and trains cognitive abilities. In civil defence and disaster control, for example, it is important to quickly recognise a complex situation and find a targeted solution. Volunteering can therefore prevent or delay the risk of developing cognitive deficits. Two of the 14 studies analysed even showed that people with a lower level of education benefit more from the advantages of volunteering for cognitive performance than people with a higher level of education. But other risk factors for dementia are also potentially reduced by volunteering. The sense of camaraderie in civil defence and disaster control organisations provides social support and counteracts isolation. There is also always something to do, so that physical inactivity – another risk factor – is effectively avoided. Incidentally, it is never too late to reduce your own risk of dementia. The study shows that the risk of developing dementia can be significantly reduced even later in life if several factors are reduced at the same time (for example through voluntary work). This is particularly relevant for women, as they are statistically more likely to develop dementia. Of course, voluntary work is no guarantee of ageing without dementia. The main author of the study also points this out. It was only possible to confirm a positive effect on cognitive abilities – not on the risk of dementia. The results were too varied for a clear prognosis. Nevertheless, we are certain that the varied tasks of voluntary work in civil defence and disaster control keep the mind and body fit! If you would like to find out more about the study, you can do so here: https://www.fau.de/2023/07/news/wissenschaft/ehrenamt-staerkt-die-eigene-geistige-leistungsfaehigkeit/ The study itself was published in the Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare. Anne Keefer, Kathrin Steichele, Elmar Graessel, Hans-Ulrich Prokosch, Peter L Kolominsky-Rabas: Does Voluntary Work Contribute to Cognitive Performance? – An International Systematic Review

When human lives, the environment, private property or important public facilities are endangered on a large scale in Germany, many volunteers from the civil protection organisations are usually deployed. They have been specially trained to support people in emergency situations. However, in addition to civil protection, civil defence is also becoming increasingly important. Ralph Tiesler, President of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, explains what this term means and why volunteer work is so important here. Mr Tiesler, what are the tasks of civil defence in Germany? ‘Essentially, civil defence includes all non-military measures to protect the population from the effects of war. This includes, for example, warning the population of threats, evacuating and caring for those affected, caring for the injured and maintaining waterworks, electricity and telecommunications lines.’ How have the demands on civil defence changed in recent years? ‘Previously, the focus was more on civil protection. This task is the responsibility of the federal states, and we as a federal authority support and supplement them. However, with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, our situation has fundamentally changed, and with it the importance of civil defence. We are now increasingly preparing ourselves to be able to act in the event of an attack on us or our allies and to protect and defend the foundations of our free and democratic society.’ What role does volunteering play in civil defence? ‘More than 90% of all civil defence missions are carried out by volunteers. These helpers also make a major contribution to protecting the civilian population and infrastructure in the event of an alliance or even a defence situation. That sounds very abstract at first, but in most cases the volunteers will do the same as they do in a disaster situation: they put out fires, care for the wounded or provide technical assistance. I believe that the role of volunteers in civil defence in particular cannot be emphasised enough.’ What tasks can citizens take on in civil defence? ‘First of all, it is important that every citizen knows what they can do to help themselves, friends, family and neighbours in the event of an emergency. In addition, you can register with an aid organisation, the volunteer fire brigades or the Federal Agency for Technical Relief and undergo training. The activities in civil defence are as varied as life itself. It doesn’t always have to be physically demanding or risky.’

The Federal Volunteer Service (BFD) is an easy way to get involved in Germany for a certain period of time for the common good – for example in civil protection and disaster control. We spoke to former volunteers Laura Killemann and Christian Seiler and volunteer coordinator Martin Kummer about how this works at the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (ger. Technisches Hilfswerk/ THW) and what the benefits of the BFD are. The Federal Volunteer Service was introduced in July 2011 after compulsory military service in Germany and the associated civilian service were suspended. It is therefore possible to complete a BFD in many places where civilian service was previously possible. It usually lasts around 12 months and can be started at any stage of life after completing compulsory schooling at the age of 15 or 16. A growing program Qualified teacher Martin Kummer is head of the Federal Volunteer Service department at the THW in Bamberg. He has been working with volunteers at THW for five years. When he started there, the program was still being developed. “Before my time, there were only a maximum of two volunteers per year at the Bamberg regional office,” he recalls, ”now there are 14-15 on average.” Across Germany, the THW now has around 800 so called „Bufdis“ (name for the BFD volunteers) per year. The program has therefore grown significantly in recent years. The support situation for the volunteers has also continued to improve as a result of experience, reports Kummer. Today, in addition to a wide range of tasks, the volunteers generally expect close supervision and numerous educational opportunities. Mostly it is the desire for orientation The reasons why someone decides to do the Federal Voluntary Service are very diverse, reports Kummer. Mostly it is the desire for orientation after school. After leaving school, young people are initially somewhat overwhelmed by the many opportunities available to them and then decide to do something completely different for a while before starting university or an apprenticeship – not learning again straight away, but getting a taste of working life – with working hours, breaks, vacations and defined tasks. According to Kummer, some people also join the THW specifically because they want to join the professional fire department, the police or the armed forces later on. Gaining experience in professional life Laura Killemann also decided to do her BFD with the THW regional association in Saxony and Thuringia after leaving school because she didn’t know exactly what she wanted to do afterwards. She wanted to gain professional experience and was very interested in technology. On the recommendation of her brother, she ended up at THW. “I read up on the THW on the internet beforehand and saw what areas of work they offer and it sounded very interesting – the different areas: Administration, IT, media, technology,” she reports. After the BFD, Killemann decided to train as an orthopaedic technician. The THW helped her a lot with her decision, she says. As she was able to get a taste of various practical activities as part of the BFD, she discovered her skills in the trade and at the same time realized: “Administration is not really my thing.” „”The next steps should already be set” During her BFD time, Killemann was not only able to gain practical experience, she also received support with her job applications for the rest of her life, she explains. The Bufdi coordinator Kummer also emphasizes: “When the BFD ends, the connection should ideally already be ‘in dry cloths’ (german saying). The volunteers are therefore also supported in their career orientation. He believes it is important to “pack a rucksack for all volunteers during their year, which will help them later on”. The BFD therefore also includes numerous educational opportunities – from political, social and cultural education to practical training. However, all volunteers are given the opportunity to complete the THW basic training as part of the BFD. They can then take this with them for later – both as experience and as a qualification. Driving safety training, first aid courses or even a forklift license can also be completed as part of the BFD. If they wish, the volunteers leave the year with a “whole packet of certificates”, explains Kummer. These are practical and verifiable experiences that could be enriching for many young people’s CVs. BFD is also a good choice for bridging the gap For Christian Seiler, it was not so much uncertainty about his future career path that led to his decision to do the BFD with the THW, but rather the desire to fill the time between the end of school and his apprenticeship with a meaningful activity. “I decided relatively late after school not to go straight to university because I wanted to do an apprenticeship after all. However, the apprenticeship places for 2023 were already gone and I couldn’t start my apprenticeship until 2024. So I thought: I’ll just do a voluntary service in the meantime.” Christian Seiler is now training to become a mechatronics engineer. He says he was particularly interested in the technical aspects of the TWH, “that I can learn a lot of technical things that will also help me with my training. I was interested in the fact that I could do something practical. And I found it exciting to get to know the THW better because I didn’t know much about it.” What does a volunteer do – lots of things. When asked “What does a volunteer do at THW?”, all three give us the same answer: the tasks are varied – as varied as the volunteers themselves. In the last five years, all age groups from 16 to 65 have been involved, reports Kummer. Then you have to look – “Is this someone who is fresh out of school and would like to get a taste of different activities and learn something? Or is it someone who is about to retire and would simply like to be a bit of support, for example in administration or would like to get to know something new than his or her previous job description?” The interests and skills of the individual volunteers therefore play just as much a role as the location, as the BFD can be completed at the THW management, in the regional offices, in the regional offices or even in the volunteer-run local associations. Depending on where you end up, the tasks that volunteers can take on change. The tasks range from repairs and equipment testing to driving services and support at events through to public relations work and administrative tasks – so an interest in technology is not absolutely necessary if you want to complete the BFD with the THW. Normal working days and special moments The BFD day is designed like a normal working day, describes Laura Killemann. “You arrive in the morning, greet your colleagues, ask if anyone has any tasks for you and whether you can help somewhere.” One task in particular sticks in her mind: “At the end of my federal voluntary service, we helped out at a state youth camp in 2022 at Leipzig-Altenburg Airport in the municipality of Nobitz, and I was allowed to help with the preparation, follow-up and implementation. It was great to see the whole thing for myself and to see the logistical effort involved.” She has particularly fond memories of the happy faces of the young people who took their performance badge at the national youth camp. „No two days were ever the same“ Christian Seiler also describes his tasks as varied: “Some things were repetitive, but there were no two days that were the same, it was really very varied.” During his BFD, he worked at the Bremen regional office. The regional offices are subordinate to the management and the eight regional associations. There are 66 regional offices in the THW organization. Each regional office in turn coordinates around ten local associations. Seiler worked in the Bremen regional office as part of the “audit team”. This team inspects the materials in each of the ten local branches every year. For around two weeks, he was involved in the inspection in each local association. “Those were long days,” he recalls, as the team always drove from the regional office to the local association in the morning and back again in the evening. During these two weeks, he got to see a lot of the day-to-day work in the local associations. When he wasn’t out and about with the inspection team, his tasks were varied, he remembers: “You arrived in the morning and then did what you had to do.” In addition to testing equipment, his tasks also included transporting equipment from the regional office to the local associations and vice versa, programming Excel spreadsheets here and there, designing a patch for the volunteers and vehicle maintenance: “That didn’t come up so often, but it also involved doing things like changing tires. That was also very interesting because I personally hadn’t done that before. It’s not rocket science, but it was cool. These are things that always help in life if you can do them.” Independence and self-confidence Seiler particularly remembers the moment when he completed his THW basic training – and held his certificate in his hands. He went to the training center in Brandenburg an der Havel three times for a week each time. But it wasn’t just technical knowledge that helped him, the BFD also helped him personally, says Seiler: “The fact that you simply become much more independent, that you have to work on tasks on your own, that you go somewhere on your own and do something. You become much more self-confident – that kind of thing really helped me a lot with my personal development.” Seiler can highly recommend the BFD at the THW regional office, because there was always something to do. “It was a strange feeling when it was over,” he says today, shortly after the end of his voluntary service. He really enjoyed the time. Do volunteers later become volunteers? How many volunteers went on to become THW volunteers? About half, Kummer estimates. Of the 73 volunteers who have completed a BFD in his regional office in the last five years, around 80% have also registered as volunteers in a local association. Around half of them have also remained in the local association after their BFD. So for many of them, the BFD really is their first step into volunteering. However, Kummer emphasizes that it is of course also okay if you don’t want to continue after the BFD. The exact number of people who stay with the THW after their BFD is not easy to determine, because many people move to other cities after their BFD, for example to study, and then continue working in a THW local association there. “We actually see this all the time now,” says Kummer, that helpers ‘come to THW from other cities with their qualifications and say: I did my Federal Voluntary Service here and there and am already joining you as a qualified helper’. Or they get to know THW through the BFD and then initially have other priorities such as finding a career or planning a family. And then, when they have more time again, they become volunteers. Anything is possible. Doing good and being happy yourself Laura Killemann also stayed with THW as a volunteer after her BFD. “I realized that I wanted to make a difference, help out and you can also feel the sense of cohesion at THW and I wanted to be a part of that.” Why should others also consider the BFD? “You can work for the common good in Germany, get to know lots of new people and have exciting experiences,” reports Killemann. Today, the THW has also become a kind of family for her, which gives her support in bad moments. “I can do good in my voluntary work and be happy at the same time, which motivates me,” she says.

Firefighter, marketing specialist – and, together with his team, proud winner of the ‘Helping Hand’ award from the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland (BMI): In today’s interview, Niklas Rückborn tells us why his employer Dräger has launched a campaign for voluntary work, the idea that convinced the jury of the award in the ‘Support for Volunteering’ category and why supporting voluntary work is definitely worthwhile for companies. Mr Rückborn, how did you get involved in the fire service? I was a founding member of the children’s fire brigade at the age of nine. After that, I joined the youth fire brigade and then the active fire brigade at the age of 16 – a ‘second life’, so to speak. I am currently a breathing apparatus wearer, machine operator and member of a nationwide special unit for forest and vegetation firefighting. Professionally, I work in marketing for the fire service and authorities at Dräger in Lübeck. With more than 16,000 employees worldwide, we manufacture medical and safety technology products – for example for hospitals and rescue services, for mining and industry or for the fire service. What idea convinced the jury of the sponsorship award? I need to expand a little on that: In the fire service sector, a lot revolves around the ‘Interschutz’. The world’s leading trade fair for the fire, rescue and civil protection sectors takes place every five years. In the two years leading up to this major event, the focus was clearly on our new products, which we presented during the trade fair. However, we don’t just want to launch our products on the market, we also want to support our customers in their daily operations. We are aware of the current and sometimes worrying situation surrounding the fire service. What exactly do you mean? For example, there are problems with recruiting new members in the volunteer fire brigades, but also the frequent lack of financial resources for their own image video shoot to recruit new members. At the same time, there is increasing violence against firefighters. All of this has prompted us to set up a campaign. It is intended to put the firefighters in the spotlight. Our main aim was to draw the public’s attention to the important role of the fire brigades, the voluntary work, and at the same time to provide a platform on which the fire brigades can present themselves and promote their work. And what have you specifically done in your company? To coincide with the start of ‘Interschutz’ on 20 June 2022, we launched the campaign ‘Dräger is looking for you! Your passion in the spotlight!’ campaign. Its core idea: to put the fire service and its members in the spotlight by showcasing their passion and commitment. We launched a landing page and asked the volunteers two questions: ‘Why are you in the fire service?’ and ‘What is your passion?’. They were able to submit their answers along with a photo and enter the lottery pot. The response to the campaign was also impressive, wasn’t it? Yes, the campaign ran for a total of nine months, until February 2023, during which time 151 entries were received. Who took first place – and with which story? There were many great submissions. First place went to the Grömitz volunteer fire brigade. They submitted a great story about their release from the compulsory fire brigade. What does ‘compulsory fire brigade’ mean? If a volunteer fire brigade is not formed due to a lack of members – and fire protection cannot be guaranteed as a result – citizens are obliged to serve in the fire brigade. However, the Grömitz fire brigade has managed to free itself from this compulsory fire brigade relatively quickly, with great cohesion and various campaigns to recruit members – which really deserves respect. And what was the first prize? A professional image video: In this, we recreated the history of the Grömitz fire brigade – from a postman dropping the ‘compulsory fire brigade commitment notice’ letter to the formation of a cool big squad. The video now has almost 40,000 views on YouTube and has also been reported in the local press. This has generated a lot of attention for the Grömitz fire brigade. This not only helps them with their public relations work. The comrades are naturally also proud of the result. Was this a one-off project to support Dräger’s voluntary work or were there other campaigns? A women’s group from the Marburg fire brigade also submitted a very impressive application for the campaign. We took this as an opportunity to address the topic of women in the fire service – and the associated prejudices. To this end, we made short videos for social media. We have also recently returned to the topic of promoting young talent. The ‘XXIV International Youth Fire Brigade Encounter’ took place in July. For this event, we set up a joint sponsorship programme together with a wide range of manufacturers. Where do you see the advantages for companies of supporting voluntary work – even within their own organisation? A commitment to society also has a positive effect on the corporate culture. After all, values such as empathy, community and solidarity are emphasised. And in my opinion, employers who support their employees’ voluntary work are repaid in many ways. Consider, for example, increased employee satisfaction and loyalty. In addition, voluntary activities offer valuable opportunities for team building and the development of leadership qualities. Overall, corporate support for volunteering can be a win-win situation that benefits both society and the company itself. It contributes to corporate social responsibility and strengthens the community.

Today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Irene Hillger. Since 2001, she has been involved with the Youth Red Cross, served as a youth group leader for twelve years, and has worked with hundreds of children. Additionally, in collaboration with the Red Cross in Heidelberg, she initiated the “School Starter Weeks,” a program where preschool children can explore various emergency services professions over three weeks. This project was recognized in 2023 with the “Helping Hand” award from the Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland (BMI) in the “Youth Engagement” category. In our conversation, she shares her experiences of volunteering with children.Whether as a group leader or organizing fun, play, and sports events, Irene Hillger, a trained pediatric nurse, is passionate about introducing children and adolescents to first aid. Every Child Has Experienced an Emergency “You can start teaching children to help as early as kindergarten,” Hillger explains. To show children how they can assist in emergencies, she visits kindergartens and schools with the Red Cross, talking with the children. In small workshops, they teach the kids what to do when another child is not feeling well—for instance, not to walk by but to stop and ask what happened. “When you ask, every child has experienced an emergency and has been able to help a little,” Hillger says. Helping, for a kindergarten child, could mean fetching a teacher or comforting a distressed peer with a hug. First Responders of Tomorrow Starting at age six, children in the Heidelberg area have the opportunity to meet weekly in a group to learn more about first aid. They learn about different medical conditions—like heatstroke in summer or hypothermia in winter. They discuss what could happen and how to react in each situation. For example, they might role-play a sports injury as a group. Even in elementary school, children can become “school paramedics” if they wish. With a First Aid Kit and Reflective Vest in the Schoolyard These children are invaluable during the school day. They keep an eye out during recess, equipped with their first aid kits and perhaps a reflective vest, ready to help if another child gets hurt, Hillger explains. As they grow older, their ability to assist in school increases. In secondary schools, “school paramedics” are not only available during breaks but also assist their classmates beyond that, supporting the school’s first aid staff. They are knowledgeable about various issues: from stomachaches to dizziness, nausea, and sports injuries. Some of the children who participated in Irene Hillger’s first aid group still greet her years later. “It always makes me happy—they seem to have good memories of the project,” she says, smiling. Three Weeks of Intensive Blue-Light Careers Training Beyond group activities, her volunteer work with children includes organizing an annual camp with over 100 participants. A special project since 2016 has been the “School Starter Weeks”: for three weeks before starting school, future first graders can explore various emergency services professions and learn how they, too, can help others. This not only brings joy to the children but also eases the burden on parents, who often need to figure out how to fill the five-week gap between the end of kindergarten and the start of school. During the School Starter Weeks, the children are under full-day care by the Red Cross, go on excursions to various rescue organizations, and learn about different jobs and activities through play. More Than Just Band-Aids The program usually starts with a get-to-know-you session at the Red Cross facilities, Hillger shares. Since it’s part of the Red Cross tradition, the children first receive a small first aid course. Here, they learn what first aid is, how to apply bandages, and how to handle wounds. Then, the children visit the ambulance station, where they get a close look at the ambulance and other Red Cross vehicles because, as Hillger emphasizes, “the Red Cross is more than just band-aids.” Often, the program includes a visit to the rescue dog unit, where children learn how the dogs are trained and how they search for people. In one exercise, the children hide in a park and are found by the dogs—a favorite activity. Firefighting, Visiting a Holding Cell, and Boat Rides The children also get to explore other emergency service professions. A trip to the fire department has always been a part of the program, Hillger reports. At the fire station, the children see what a firefighter wears and what’s inside a fire truck. They even get to use a small fire hose—a highlight Hillger says is “always a fantastic activity.” When thinking about emergency services, many children immediately think of the police, so a visit to the police station in Heidelberg is also on the agenda. At the station, a police officer demonstrates the various uniforms used for different occasions. If the holding cell is available, the children can take a look inside—along with, of course, the police car. If time allows, a visit to the Technical Relief Agency (THW) or the German Life Saving Association (DLRG) is also included. At the THW, children might try out the grabber tool, while at the DLRG, they can go for a boat ride, examine diving equipment, and learn how to throw a lifebuoy. Breaks Are Important Too Since the children are transitioning from kindergarten to school, they also need breaks. “When you go on an outing every day for three weeks, you notice they get tired,” Hillger says. That’s why sometimes the group just does crafts at the base station, or the supervisors take the children to the playground, the woods, or a water playground if it’s hot. When Small Thoughts Grow Big What remains from volunteering with children? Do today’s children become tomorrow’s helpers? Hillger immediately recalls cases where school paramedics went on to become professional paramedics. And sometimes, former group members become doctors: “It happens again and again that we plant the seed of an idea, and it grows into a career aspiration,” Hillger says. She acknowledges that they don’t always know what becomes of the children later, as not all those who take up volunteer work end up with the Red Cross—some join the THW, the Maltesers, or other organizations. “But we must recognize that even with the small activities we do, we still have an impact on children and young people,” she emphasizes. Sometimes, they nurture future volunteers, and sometimes it’s just “the helping thought that we spread and support.”