Volunteering in the spotlight: Oberraden celebrates the third year of the year!

Volunteering in the spotlight: Oberraden celebrates the third year of the year!

On March 30, 2025, the third annual reception of the local community of Oberraden took place, which was entirely devoted to the topic of volunteering. Mayor Achim Braasch welcomed the numerous guests, including the Rhineland-Palatinate President of the Landtag Hendrik Hering. The event turned out to be a big event for the community, with political celebrities from the region. Among those present were Hans-Werner Breithausen, VG Mayor of the Rengsdorf-Waldbreitbach community, as well as the district deputy Philipp Rasbach and Birgit Haas and other local deputy.

The annual reception offered a platform to honor the voluntary commitment in the community. So the topic of volunteering was no coincidence, because this sector in particular plays a central role in community life in Oberraden and beyond. The event emphasized the diversity and value of voluntary activities that develop in numerous areas.

volunteer engagements and the volunteer card

A way to make the volunteers' commitment visible is the volunteer card, which is exhibited in Rhineland-Palatinate. People aged 14 and over can apply for this card if it works on a volunteer at least one year and invest average five hours a week or a total of 250 hours a year. It is important to emphasize that there is no general financial compensation for the commitment, but expenses such as telephone and travel expenses may be reimbursed. The validity of the volunteer card is two years, but can be requested again after the expiry. Particularly noteworthy is the anniversary honorary card that is awarded to people who work on a voluntary basis for at least 25 years and in which the other award criteria are eliminated.

This card recognizes all forms of voluntary, common good -oriented activities, be it in associations, associations, churches or social initiatives. Political participation is also included. However, it is pointed out that mere memberships or on -call times are not counted, which requires active participation. The volunteer card is therefore not only a symbol of recognition, but also a motivation for many to get involved more intensely. idar-oberstein.de explains the award and meaning of this card in detail.

Promotion of volunteering and networks

Rhineland-Palatinate has established itself as a particularly committed federal state in the promotion of the volunteer. The initiative "I am there!", Which was launched in 2013, pursues the goal of gaining older people in particular for volunteering. In 35 participating municipalities, numerous formats appear that are tailored to the needs and interests of the volunteers. These range from volunteer coaches, in which 3,100 people realized 180 projects, to special training programs for digital support for volunteers.

Prime Minister Malu Dreyer has made it clear how important networking and the exchange of experiences between the municipalities are. Various projects have already been presented at the “In the Land Daim-Tour”, which show how volunteering works in practice and what challenges caused by the Corona pandemic. Future projects focus on promoting further and further training as well as support for digital challenges. The country offers comprehensive structures and support programs to support the valuable work of free providers and initiatives. rlp.de offers comprehensive information about these programs and the importance of the honorary office in the region.