Future of volunteering: Brandenburg is looking for innovative ideas for diversity!

Future of volunteering: Brandenburg is looking for innovative ideas for diversity!

In Brandenburg, volunteering is very important! The “Future Volunteering” competition, launched by Prime Minister Dr. Dietmar Woidke is looking for creative projects that sustainably strengthen volunteering and make it accessible to everyone. A total of 15,000 euros in prize money is available, and the application deadline ends on July 18, 2025. The ideas are intended to help promote social cohesion in Brandenburg - after all, around 800,000 people from Brandenburg are already involved in voluntary work.

The Prime Minister himself found clear words: “We need innovative ideas to break down barriers to volunteer work and enable inclusive engagement.” The focus of the competition is on central questions such as “How can more people become active for the common good, regardless of social conditions?” and “How can volunteering be designed so that it is open to everyone and encourages participation?” These issues are more important today than ever before, because volunteering is an essential part of social life.

Why volunteering is important

Volunteering not only strengthens the community, but also makes Brandenburg worth living in. Whether in sports clubs, the volunteer fire department or in churches – the possibilities are diverse. According to current statistics, there are almost 86,000 sports clubs and over a million volunteers in the fire department in Germany. The Protestant Church also has around 900,000 volunteers who are active in various areas. But demand is increasing, for example at food banks, which urgently need more volunteers.

Volunteering is not only voluntary, but also a form of social commitment that is highly valued in different countries and cultures. International Volunteer Day takes place on December 5th, which highlights how important these activities are for society.

Competition successes and awards

Various cash prizes are available for the best ideas in the “Future Volunteering” competition: 1 x 5,000 euros, 2 x 2,500 euros and 5 x 1,000 euros. The winners will be announced at the end of September 2025 and the awards ceremony will take place in October. The competition is a great addition to existing formats such as the “Volunteer of the Month” and the Volunteer Reception, which already make important contributions to the recognition of volunteer achievements.

Those interested can submit their project proposals online and become part of an initiative that aims to make volunteering in Brandenburg more accessible to everyone. Further information and the application form are available honoramt-in-brandenburg.de to find.

Be there and contribute your ideas to make volunteering an even more valuable part of our society!