Blog post - 26. Nov 2025

The training and networking of volunteers form an important cornerstone of the “Engagiert im Quartier” (Committed to the Neighborhood) project. Over the past few months, a series of practical workshops has been used to impart knowledge and promote exchange. The positive feedback from participants confirms the importance of this educational offering for the Zwickau association landscape.

The last session in the workshop series took place at the tram depot on Schlachthofstraße. The focus was on communication in associations. Speaker Matthias Myska from Dresden made the four-hour event entertaining, informative, and charming. He offered participants a variety of food for thought and presented effective communication methods. Some of these were applied and explored in depth in practical exercises. The participants quickly realized how conversations can change when, for example, you listen consciously, convey “I” messages, and give feedback to the person you are talking to.

All those present once again showed great enthusiasm. They thoroughly enjoyed acquiring new knowledge or refreshing existing knowledge for their clubs and personal development. The response to the workshop was consistently positive, not least because of the unconventional venue. The SVZ building on Schlachthofstraße was built in 1928 and housed, among other things, a carriage hall, a workshop, and the administration building. The former carriage hall has since been converted into a workshop for the tram. The depot received an architecture award for the adaptation of the historic exterior façade.

With regard to the workshop series for volunteers, the desire to repeat the event was expressed. The successful conclusion of the series marks an important contribution to the promotion of civil society work in Zwickau. The events have shown how valuable joint educational formats are for strengthening participation and promoting democratic co-determination. The association plans to continue the volunteer training format in the coming year. The insights gained from this series will be incorporated into the design of future projects.