35 years of Johanniter: departure with the new Akkon center in Cottbus!

35 years of Johanniter: departure with the new Akkon center in Cottbus!

A great event for the Dahme-Spreewald region: On Monday, the new Johanniter Center “Akkon Cottbus” was ceremoniously opened and at the same time the 35th birthday of the Johanniter Südbrandenburg was celebrated. Around 200 guests came to attend this special occasion. The Dahme-Spreewald district did not miss the opportunity to congratulate the Johanniters personally and to acknowledge their long-standing cooperation in the areas of emergency services and disaster control niederlausitz-aktuell.de reported.

The name “Akkon” recalls the origins of the Order of St. John, which had its headquarters in the city of Acre in 1191. What once started with just 35 members has now developed into a strong association. Today the community has over 750 full-time and around 320 volunteer employees. The board, consisting of Matthias Rudolf, Andreas Berger-Winkler and Silvia Enders, received warmest congratulations on the successful further development from the head of the regulatory department, Stefan Klein.

The new center in detail

The new “Akkon Cottbus” center not only serves as the Johanniter’s operations center for civil protection, but also plays a crucial role in disaster control. The modern facility offers space for the central storage of all emergency vehicles and optimizes the training and further education of volunteers in excellently equipped rooms. This facilitates the important voluntary work that is indispensable for society, as the Johanniter emphasize.

In cases of major damage, such as flooding or technical malfunctions, the building can even be used as an emergency center for those affected. This shows how important the infrastructure is for the region and its security. The new center will therefore not only be a training location, but also a place of refuge in times of crisis.

Strengthen volunteerism

The importance of volunteering in civil protection cannot be overestimated. According to the Federal Office for Civil Protection and Disaster Relief, structural solutions are urgently sought to ensure voluntary work in the future. The voluntary commitment in Germany not only provides valuable work, but is a central component of civil defense and disaster protection. The need for well-trained volunteers is unbroken and is being further strengthened by initiatives such as those in the new “Akkon Cottbus” center.

This celebration was not only a homage to the past 35 years, but also a clear step towards a future-oriented orientation of civil protection in southern Brandenburg. Anyone who feels connected to the Johanniter and their work has the opportunity to show a good hand and actively help - because volunteers are always needed. The district and the Johanniter are looking forward to the challenges ahead and the opportunity to achieve great things together in the future.