MIT DIR FÜR UNS ALLE Magazin

Spontaneous aid in Ahrtal Fabian Menzen is one of thousands of spontaneous helpers who were on site in the Ahr region in summer 2021. He lent a hand when the need was greatest after the flood disaster. Today, he talks about his experiences as a spontaneous helper. Cars being swept away by masses of water as if they were children’s toys. Bridge piers buckling like matchsticks under the pressure of the floating debris. A field of rubble where charming, intact houses once stood. But worst of all: the desperate voices of people who have lost everything in just a few hours. The images of the flood disaster, which dominated the media from July 14, 2021, seem surreal, apocalyptic, incomprehensible. Over 180 people died in the flood of the century in Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia. The biggest disaster since World War II What triggered the disaster? In the summer of 2021, extreme storms raged across Germany. Massive flooding and flash floods occurred. The Ahr valley was particularly badly affected with 135 deaths. An analysis by the German Weather Service shows that more rain fell on Wednesday, July 14 alone than in the entire month. The water had nowhere to go in the narrow Ahr valley. It destroyed the entire infrastructure of the region: the worst disaster since the end of the Second World War. The complete devastation of the Ahr Valley meant that many people in Germany wanted to help – whether by donating money, goods or in person. Fabian Menzen, 42, a product manager from Bonn, is one of the many thousands of people who decided to help spontaneously on the ground. Standing by and watching was not an option Like so many others, he sat in front of the television on that July evening and watched in shock as the disaster unfolded less than 25 kilometers from his home. He was deeply moved, his thoughts revolving around the victims of the flood and their families. His worries also had a very personal background: some of his acquaintances live in the flood area, and at first it was uncertain whether they would be okay. But despite the images that reached us on all channels at the time, Fabian says he couldn’t get an idea of what it was really like on the spot at the time. But one thing was immediately clear to him: he couldn’t just sit here and do nothing, he had to help. And that was relatively easy at first. Through direct contact with the people in the flood area, he and numerous friends immediately knew where they could lend a hand. “We knew where we had to go, what needed to be done and what materials were needed,” says Fabian, describing his initial efforts. But in the days that followed, it became increasingly difficult for him to find out where his help was most likely to be needed. Another obstacle: in many areas, access was restricted. People were asked not to drive into the flood area on their own so as not to clog up the access routes. The “helper shuttle”: spontaneous help, spontaneously coordinated It was at this point that Fabian became aware of the “Helfer-Shuttle” initiative. The “Helfer-Shuttle” team was founded on July 17 by two entrepreneurs from the Ahr valley. Marc Ulrich and Thomas Pütz had set themselves the task of bringing together the need for help on the one hand and the offer of volunteers on the other. The project also provided the necessary infrastructure and logistics and communicated effectively via social media. “The team managed and coordinated a mammoth task in a very short space of time,” says Fabian. This left the volunteers free to concentrate on the essentials: helping others. They could also be sure that their commitment would reach exactly where it was needed. And so Fabian arrived at the meeting point in the industrial park in Grafschaft-Ringen at around 9 a.m. on a Tuesday with hundreds of other volunteers. From there, thousands of helpers were brought to specific locations in the Ahr valley every day. In action against the mud The “standard equipment” of the volunteers? Buckets, brooms, shovels, gloves and rubber boots. When it came to the latter, Fabian quickly realized: “My rubber boots are more for sailing. They quickly reached their limits in the conditions.” Fortunately, there were also numerous donations in kind: Fabian was provided with more robust rubber boots with a metal insole early on – he was thus better able to ward off cuts and stabs. Fabian spent a total of eight days helping out in the Ahr valley, spending most of his time fighting against the omnipresent mud. Sometimes he also helped to core or prepare severely damaged houses. “Once we were at the mouth of the Ahr and collected what felt like thousands of drinks crates and bottles from the banks.” Help comes first: Time off work possible He was usually in the Ahr valley at the weekend to help. Every now and then, he has taken up his employer’s offer to take time off work. And Fabian’s employer was no exception: in the first days and weeks after the disaster, many local private companies and authorities gave their employees time off to help spontaneously in the flood areas, for example through special leave. Anyone involved in the volunteer fire department or THW can rely on a statutory regulation: employers must give volunteers time off during working hours if they are alerted. It is also specified that no professional disadvantages may arise in such a case. The hours do not have to be made up, nor does leave have to be taken for the deployment. In the case of the THW, a federal law regulates the details, while the respective state law on fire protection applies to volunteer fire departments. Helpers from the white organizations (the German Life Saving Association, the German Red Cross, Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe, Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Deutschland e.V., Malteser Hilfsdienst) are also released from their duties when a disaster is declared by the district or independent city. Further information can be found in the magazine article on equal opportunities for volunteers.” “An impressive experience” The conclusion of his commitment? “It felt good to be active and to be able to help. It made me feel a little less powerless during the disaster.” Fabian also felt how important his commitment and that of others was for those affected on the ground – as a signal that people are not alone in the disaster. The help was also able to provide a little comfort. It also created a great sense of community: “The solidarity among the people at that time was indescribable. It didn’t matter where someone came from or what they did. Everyone did what they could.” Today, Fabian is certain that he would volunteer spontaneously again at any time. At the same time, he emphasizes that it is important to assess your strengths and weaknesses well. After all, you often don’t know exactly what to expect on site. Fabian was impressed by both the spontaneous commitment of the “helper shuttle” and the professional help: “The efforts of the police, fire department, German Armed Forces, THW, DRK and many others were more than impressive.” But it was the reaction of the people on site that left the most lasting impression on him: “How many of those affected dealt with the situation in a calm and orderly manner despite the loss and despair – that was an impressive experience.”  

The public is not a statistic – volunteering means getting involved  Millions of people volunteer and help to ensure that clubs, rescue services and organizations such as the volunteer fire department or the THW can function and work successfully. However, it would be important for even more people in Germany to get involved in voluntary work and ask themselves: What can I do? Why volunteering plays such an important role for a strong and resilient society. We asked the President of the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, Mr. Tiesler, four questions on this topic.   Mr. Tiesler, how would Germany be without volunteers?  “Well, I think our society would experience much less community and solidarity without the many volunteers. Many non-profit organizations would not be able to exist and I believe that important tasks in the social sector, in sport, in culture or in environmental protection could not be accomplished. That’s why we should always be aware of the valuable work that volunteers do and express our thanks and appreciation to them.” How do you want to get more people interested in volunteering?  “We need to draw more attention to the topic and, above all, emphasize that civil protection and disaster control are largely supported by voluntary work. Our BBK campaign slogan ‘No matter what you can do, you can help’ sums it up perfectly: It’s not about finding professionals and specialists for special missions, but everyone has skills that are needed and that they can use for the good of others.” When we talk about civil protection and disaster control: How can volunteering be strengthened? “Volunteering must be recognized and valued. One way of doing this is through the ‘Helping Hand’ award, which honors outstanding projects every year and awards them with prize money. At the same time, however, we also need to raise awareness and educate the public about the fact that state aid is organized on a voluntary basis and not full-time.” Many volunteers are committed to protecting the population. How can this protection be improved in general?  “We want to encourage citizens to protect themselves and to be able to help themselves in emergencies until professional help arrives. Starting this year, we want to organize a nationwide ‘Civil Protection Day’. The aim is for aid workers and the general public to meet and for citizens to learn important skills for emergencies and planning personal emergency preparedness in a very practical and hands-on way. At the same time, the volunteer organizations can also recruit more young people.” This year’s “Civil Protection Day” will take place on June 24. Further information can be found here: Civil Protection Day.

Today we talk to Alan Wali about his voluntary work. He is 29 years old and originally comes from Kobanê in Syria. In 2015 – at the age of 21 – he fled to Germany because of the war in Syria and has lived in Kitzingen in Bavaria ever since. In this interview, we talk to him about his motivation for volunteering alongside his job. Alan, when did you start volunteering? I started volunteering when I was in fourth grade. I’m originally from Kurdistan/Syria and was born in Kobanê. During the war, I distributed food and clothes to people in need when I was 17 years old. When we had to flee to Damascus in 2013 due to the increasing violence, I gave away a lot of my family’s belongings. I am very proud of that. There aren’t many civil protection and disaster relief organizations in my home country, so I often got involved privately. I’ve been living in Germany since 2015 and have been a volunteer here right from the start. How did this commitment come about?  II am incredibly grateful that I had the opportunity to come to Germany. I wanted to give something back and started supporting other people shortly after my arrival. It was the least I could do, because I didn’t have much more to give than my commitment. I also didn’t speak German at the time. In the first two years after our escape, I worked at the station mission in Würzburg, which I had gotten to know during my time in Kitzingen. Among other things, I handed out food and drinks, sorted and distributed clothes and prepared the accommodation for homeless people for the night. What did volunteering mean to you during this time?  Volunteering has given me so much from the very beginning! It enabled me to learn German very quickly and obtain my B1 language certificate. I wanted to settle into German society as quickly as possible. A job seemed the best way to do this, which is why I wrote and sent off lots of applications for different jobs. One day, a friend from the station mission came to me and said that the local swimming pool in Kitzingen was looking for a lifeguard. I applied the same day and was invited to an interview the very next day. So you got a job through your voluntary work?  Yes, but in a roundabout way (laughs). When I was at the swimming pool for the interview, they asked me if I could swim – which I couldn’t. But I really wanted a job, so I said yes. I originally didn’t know what a lifeguard was and thought it was a job out of the water. To get the job, however, I had to pre-swim and after five meters – which I covered like a dog – I had to stop the “demonstration”. After I explained my motivation to them, they told me that they would teach me how to swim. And sure enough, within two weeks I learned to swim and went straight on to get my silver lifeguard swimming badge. Wow, congratulations! What happened after that?  Alongside my job as a lifeguard in Kitzingen, I trained as a specialist paramedic with the German Red Cross. Since 2017, I have been supporting the German Red Cross in this role on a voluntary basis during missions and, if necessary, in their water rescue service in Kitzingen. As part of this work, I am of course also continuously taking part in further training. That sounds like a lot of dedication to your voluntary work – do you still have time for leisure activities?  Of course I do! I’m now employed full-time at a swimming pool in Würzburg, where I give swimming lessons, freshen up the pools and prepare the sauna – after all, the rent and bills don’t pay themselves. However, I spend almost all of my free time doing voluntary work. My friends keep telling me that I’m crazy to devote so much time to my voluntary work alongside my full-time job. For me, however, volunteering is more than just a hobby – it’s the best way for me to give something back to the people of Germany. 2022 auf Rügen And today you are also active in the German Lifesaving Association – how did you come to join DLRG e.V.?  One day, a DLRG member came to our swimming pool and said that the relationship with the DLRG was very informal and that the work was a lot of fun. As I wanted to help even more and get involved, I decided to sign up. Since 2018, the DLRG has been like a second family to me. Here you support each other, have a lot of fun and can do good. My personal highlight is that I volunteer every summer for two to four weeks at the Baltic Sea in the central water rescue service. I am a member of the DLRG in Mönchgut. Unfortunately, I can’t stay longer because then I have to earn money again (laughs). Is there a special moment in your voluntary work that you will always remember?  About three years ago, I saw a girl playing ball with her mom in the swimming pool. The child was deaf and blind – and couldn’t swim. So I went to her mom and told her that I would like to teach her daughter how to swim for free. She agreed and after three months the girl could swim! I will never forget the delighted faces of the mother and her daughter, it was simply wonderful! I am still in contact with them today. It wasn’t easy to teach the child how to swim – you need a lot of patience and understanding, especially with people with disabilities. But it was so worth the effort! Are there any other special moments that you have experienced?  When you volunteer in civil protection and disaster relief, you experience many beautiful moments, but of course also some less beautiful ones. I saw a lot of suffering and death in my home country – these are images that I will never forget. Last year, however, I was also able to resuscitate a woman on the Baltic Sea. When I’m on a mission, my top priority is to help others. And when that works, it is of course a very fulfilling moment. This work in combination with the community at the organizations is what makes volunteering so special for me. Will you continue to volunteer for the rest of your life?  As long as I have the strength to help other people, I will continue to volunteer! Do you have a dream that you would like to fulfill through volunteering?  My biggest dream is to meet the Federal President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, to shake his hand and thank him for allowing me to live here in Germany.

Every day, over 1.7 million volunteers in the ASB, DLRG, DRK, JUH and MHD aid organizations, fire departments and the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief make a significant contribution to ensuring civil protection and disaster relief in Germany. For this fundamentally important work, however, they do not receive a salary in the traditional sense, but are committed to their voluntary work over and above their regular job. The majority of this commitment takes place during non-working hours. However, if a real commitment falls within working hours, there are different regulations regarding time off work, compensation entitlements and social security, depending on the federal state and field of activity. But why do these differences exist? And what can be done about them? While civil protection is in the hands of the federal government, disaster control is the responsibility of the federal states and is located at the municipal level (districts and independent cities). Due to these federal structures, there is as yet no uniform specification at federal level for all units with a voluntary structure that regulates the time and financial compensation in the event of work absences due to the voluntary deployment of personnel. Rather, these regulations vary from state to state. This compensation varies depending on the state and the field of work. This means that there are sometimes very unequal conditions for volunteers when it comes to volunteering during working hours. This inequality can become particularly clear when such missions take place across federal states or when volunteers are active in another federal state and work in another federal state. One example of unequal conditions is the joint deployment of units from the Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) with helpers from aid organizations and volunteer fire departments. While THW emergency services can rely on the THW Act, which applies nationwide, the legal framework for the other units varies depending on where they are deployed and where they come from. According to the THW Act, employees may not suffer any disadvantages in their employment relationship, social and unemployment insurance or company pension scheme as a result of their obligation to serve. If employees are deployed to THW operations or training events during their working hours, they are released from work for the duration of the deployment and are generally entitled to continued remuneration from their employer. Employers, in turn, are comprehensively compensated for absences due to THW service obligations. Volunteers in fire departments and, above all, aid organizations are generally not able to rely on these far-reaching privileges. This creates unequal treatment in the volunteer community in the fulfillment of an indispensable social task. The Federal Ministry of the Interior and Homeland (BMI) and the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) are committed to regulating the issue of equal treatment of volunteers on a nationwide basis. This would make the legally differing handling of possible compensation more transparent. As the issue of equal opportunities for helpers is essential for strengthening civil protection, it was included in the coalition agreement, not least at the request of the BMI and the BBK. In the agreement, the governing parties agreed to strengthen volunteers in civil protection through uniform nationwide exemption and insurance cover rules. The aim is to achieve nationwide equality and to establish fairness in the performance of helpers in order to ensure motivation and operational capability. The federal states have also signalled their intention to synchronize the equal treatment of helpers and thus achieve the same compensation entitlements and social security for volunteers throughout Germany. The BBK plays a mediating role here in the constructive exchange between the BMI, state governments and organizations with volunteers. Concrete proposals currently conceivable include model legislation on the part of the federal government or a state treaty. In addition, adjustments could be made to employment law, but this would only be possible as a joint initiative between the BMI and the Federal Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (BMAS). The federal states are currently preparing a report on the legal status of volunteer helpers and a proposal to harmonize existing regulations for the autumn 2023 meeting of the Standing Conference of Interior Ministers and Senators of the Federal States (Conference of Interior Ministers). It is to be expected that this report will finally set the course for further development.

1. community:  There are not just 10 reasons to volunteer. There are more than 1.7 million. Just as many people are involved in civil protection and disaster control in Germany. They not only form the basis for maintaining local emergency response and civil protection, but also form a community. Here, everyone stands up for everyone else. This is where acquaintances are made, friendships are formed and – as rumor has it – one or two relationships are started. 2. fun: Tackling and helping together is fun. But it’s not just the volunteer work that’s fun – it’s also the whole experience that has inspired many people to volunteer for years. The joint service evenings, the preparations, the exercises, the cool drink after the work is done and the companionship are what make volunteering so special. 3. meaningful activity:  Helping can do so much to you! Volunteering does something good for yourself and others. It gives meaning to life. As a rescue diver, you save people from water. As a training officer, you teach new arrivals how to secure rescue sites. As a youth group leader, you teach teenagers dispute resolution methods. These meaningful activities are inspiring and fulfilling. 4. further training:  You never stop learning in life. Volunteering is the ideal opportunity to learn new skills and continue your education: Emergency medical care, resuscitation, dam building, bridge building, ensuring stable power lines and transporting goods by water are just some of the content that volunteers can learn. However, activities such as social media work for the organizations, accounting and logistics can also be learned and developed through volunteering. 5. give something back to others:  “He who does nothing for others, does nothing for himself.” Although this quote by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe dates back to the 19th century, it is still valid today. Volunteering gives you the opportunity to give something back to others. There can be many reasons for this: you have experienced help yourself in an emergency; others have looked after close relatives when you couldn’t be there yourself… 6. adventure and variety: For many volunteers, their commitment means a change from their everyday studies or work. When the pager vibrates or the siren wails, the heartbeat increases, all sensory organs are on alert and stretched to the limit. The humdrum of everyday life is forgotten, now it’s time for action. Volunteering never gets boring, it guarantees action and variety. 7. help:  Volunteering is multifaceted. Not only the content, but also how and where you help. In addition to civil protection and civil defense organizations, you can also get involved as a spontaneous helper. The Mobile Helpers project aims to promote the involvement of the population by systematically integrating voluntary helpers into civil protection operations. 8. use strengths:  Volunteering is not just about trying out new activities and acquiring knowledge. Above all, you can use your own strengths. A tinkerer can repair equipment in the workshop after work. A consultant can assess the stability of a damaged building. A listener can give comfort to the relatives of a missing person. Everyone is good at something and it is precisely this expertise that is needed in civil protection and disaster control. 9. Shaping our society:  Getting involved in civil protection organizations also means helping to shape our society. We live the values that we have as a pluralistic community in the organizations and thus make them experienceable. We pass them on, integrate ourselves and welcome newcomers or marginalized people. Every volunteer has a say in the organization, can launch initiatives and help determine internal priorities. By volunteering, you are involved and experience participation. 10. community service:  Civil protection and disaster control in Germany is run by volunteers and, as one of the most important pillars of civil protection, is always on hand in the event of a disaster. Severe weather disasters such as the Ahrtal flood in 2021 would not have been manageable without the tireless efforts of volunteers. The helpers work voluntarily, unpaid and for the good of our community. Volunteering means serving our society and working for its best interests. Click here for the various civil protection organizations   

Without volunteers, civil protection and disaster control in Germany would not be possible. Over 1.7 million volunteers spend their free time working as firefighters, in emergency medical services, in water rescue and in many other areas to ensure a safe coexistence in Germany. But the volunteers themselves also benefit from their commitment. After all, volunteering is always personally fulfilling. It brings a lot of joy and promotes personal development. The “With you for all of us” campaign by the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) aims to showcase the range of voluntary activities. By showing that each and every individual can get involved in a very individual way, the aim is to inspire more people to volunteer. Because: “No matter what you can do, you can help” In order to visualize the attractiveness and versatility of volunteering, the photo competition “With your photo for all of us – Volunteering in focus” will be launched on this website on 15 May 2023. Anyone interested can submit a photo on the topic of volunteering in civil protection and disaster control, even if they are not a member of an organization. In line with the campaign claim “No matter what you can do, you can help”, the competition is aimed at both professionals and amateurs. The picture should focus on the volunteer helpers, their activities or successes: Exercises, missions, emotional moments in the team, people from the volunteer work, goals achieved together and other ideas – there should be no limits to creativity here. The photos can show the entire spectrum of volunteer work. You can submit your favorite until 12.06.2023, 23:59:59, so that the jury – consisting of BBK employees – can select the 20 best entries. The impact, realization of the theme and also the photographic, creative achievement play an important role.  The photos will then be placed on the website for a week for voting. Here you are in charge again! – Mobilize your comrades, friends and family to vote for your photo. The four photos with the most votes will win. They will be presented on the BBK’s digital channels and shown at the BBK’s photo exhibition in the fall. In cooperation with volunteers and local art academies, the winning photos will be exhibited in public places in the cities of Chemnitz, Jena, Kiel and Koblenz – bringing the competition from the digital community to the analog world. Everyone can admire your work on the street and be inspired to help along the way. Entries can be submitted using the entry form. Further information about the photo competition “With your photo for all of us” and the conditions of participation can be found here. If you would like to find out more about the many different people and activities, you can find lots of videos about volunteering in civil protection and disaster relief here.