Citizens’ initiatives, volunteering and engagement

In short: Democracy thrives on participation: citizens can get involved in associations, initiatives, petitions and voluntary posts. Around 40 percent of people in Germany are volunteers.

In more detail: Volunteering is unpaid, voluntary work for the common good.

In detail

• Associations: Sport, music, fire brigade, Technical Relief Agency, rescue services.
• Citizens’ initiatives: Groups for a concrete cause, such as cycle paths or nature conservation.
• Petitions: Anyone can make a request to the Bundestag or state parliaments.
• Citizens’ referendum: In many municipalities citizens can vote on specific issues.
• Voluntary services: Voluntary social year and Federal Volunteer Service.
• Benefit: Community, new skills, meaning (maslowsche-beduerfnispyramide).
• Protection: Check volunteer allowance and insurance cover.
• Getting started: Volunteer agencies arrange suitable tasks (parteien-und-politische-willensbildung).