Schwerin honors volunteers – submit suggestions now!

Schwerin honors volunteers – submit suggestions now!

In the heart of Schwerin, the achievements of volunteer citizens are honored. Last Friday, a ceremony was held in the town hall at which 25 committed volunteers were honored for their outstanding contributions to the common good. In his speech, Mayor Rico Badenschier emphasized the immense importance of volunteer work for city society. At the same time, the state capital is calling on all citizens to submit suggestions for honoring volunteers in order to further recognize these tireless helpers.

During this year's ceremony, which will take place on December 12th in the Demmlersaal of the town hall, the people who work for the community free of charge and with a lot of heart and soul will be honored. In order to suggest such committed people, suggestions from citizens, clubs and associations can be submitted until October 31st. The criteria are clear: The proposed person should live in Schwerin, have been active for at least three years and spend between three and eight hours a week on their volunteer work. However, even in exceptional cases, recognition can be given to people who do not fully meet these requirements but have made a special contribution to the city or their fellow human beings. A corresponding form for the suggestions can be found on the city website [Schwerin.de](https://www. Schwerin.de/ehrenamt).

International Volunteer Day

Another important occasion to celebrate volunteering is International Volunteer Day, celebrated annually on December 5th. This day was established by the UN in 1985 and has since been used in Germany as a valuable opportunity to honor volunteers in various areas such as sport, nature conservation and neighborhood help. This year there is also a call for people to share their gratitude on social media. In particular, sharing stories and pictures under the hashtag #TeamVolunteering is intended to help make the diversity and importance of volunteering visible.

The German Foundation for Commitment and Volunteering offers an entire communication kit to provide creative material for this occasion. Sharepics, text suggestions and craft templates are provided here that individuals and organizations can use to recognize their volunteers. The combination of creative activities such as crafts, making videos or telling stories is intended to inspire others to show how important volunteering is.

Federal President awards Order of Merit

In a larger context, volunteer work is also recognized through special state awards. Every year the Federal President awards the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany to those who have distinguished themselves through exceptional civic commitment. These awards span a variety of areas, from education to senior ministry to conservation. In the past, both national and international citizens have been recognized, highlighting the global dimension of volunteering.

The city of Schwerin would like to encourage all citizens to become enthusiastic about volunteering and to submit their own suggestions. Only together can we appreciate the commitment that is so numerous and diverse in the city. Let us remember that there is a story behind every award – every person nominated could become the next volunteer star!