Blog post - 16. Jun 2025

Engagiert im Quartier invites you to the first open garden for volunteering

Last Friday, the garden of the Old Gasometer in Zwickau experienced a premiere: the first ‘Open Garden for Volunteering’ opened its doors. This event brought together volunteers, interested citizens and social actors to get to know each other, exchange ideas and network.

A total of 33 guests found their way to the idyllic garden. Among them were around 10 visitors from civil society who wanted to find out more about volunteering and current requests, as well as numerous representatives from organisations and initiatives. Among others, the German Child Protection Association Zwickau e.V., the Emergency Pastoral Care / Crisis Intervention Southwest Saxony, Caritas with the project ‘People strengthen people’, the West Saxon University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, the art plantation, the historical village and the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired Saxony e.V. were present. In a relaxed atmosphere, the participants took the opportunity to get to know each other better.

After a brief welcome and project presentation by the volunteer coordinator of the ‘Engagiert im Quartier’ project, there was plenty of room for personal exchange and intensive networking. A particular highlight was the tables at which volunteers from Zwickau were available to answer visitors’ questions. These included, for example, a trainee who has been helping out in the historic village for around three months, a student who helps out in the Tivoli student club and a mother of three who regularly reads aloud in the library and offers counselling on the topic of neurodiversity. They shared some very personal motivations (‘Why do I get involved? That’s my motivation’) and spoke openly about the challenges they have encountered in their voluntary work. These direct insights were very valuable for those interested.

The evening was complemented by, among other things, a volunteering gallery, which displayed quotes from people who are actively involved in shaping society. The quotes reflected the positive impact that volunteering has had on their lives and how it enriches them personally. So-called ‘volunteer bags’ were also available for anyone who was specifically interested in volunteering. These contained brief introductions to selected associations as well as important information about the ‘Engagiert im Quartier’ project – a practical starting aid for potential volunteers.

Over the course of the warm summer evening, the players and their initiatives briefly introduced themselves in the open garden. They explained whether and for what they are looking for voluntary support and how interested parties can get involved. There was a clear need for voluntary help from all of them. It became clear that volunteers are essential in order to successfully organise projects and events, help people and ultimately play an active role in shaping our society.