Tim Kramer: New ambassador Active against Loneliness” in Berlin!

Tim Kramer: New ambassador Active against Loneliness” in Berlin!

On September 12, 2025, Tim Kramer, photographer for university communications at the Ruhr University, was appointed engagement ambassador “Active against Loneliness” in Berlin. This award was presented by the State Minister for Sport and Volunteering, Dr. Christiane Schenderlein, as well as the Federal Network for Civic Engagement (BBE). Kramer's goal is to make the issue of loneliness more visible in society and to promote active exchange.

Kramer's appointment took place as part of the 21st Week of Civic Engagement, which runs until September 21, 2025. The week of action, under the motto “Commitment makes you strong!”, includes around 20,000 actions and is supported by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The focus this year is on loneliness, a challenge that affects many people.

The “Unite Bochum” initiative

Tim Kramer has been involved in Bochum for several years to combat loneliness. In 2023 he founded the “eigen.” initiative together with Sonja Israel, from which the “Vereint Bochum” association emerged in May 2025. This association has set itself the goal of strengthening the community in Bochum by bringing people together across generations, origins and life situations. Kramer's commitment was highlighted by the BBE jury, which viewed his many years of work as remarkable.

In addition to Kramer and Israel, the founding board of “Vereint Bochum” consists of Dr. Bastian Hartmann, Anthony Losilla, Prof. Dr. Maike Luhmann, Sari Köhler and the RUB student Savio Hadaya. The program highlights so far include a discussion event at the Schauspielhaus Bochum in June 2024, which attracted around 400 guests and was intended to raise awareness of loneliness.

Loneliness as a social problem

The issue of loneliness is a challenge for society as a whole with far-reaching effects. As the 2024 Loneliness Barometer from the Federal Ministry of Education, Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ) shows, loneliness affects people of all ages and life situations, including old and young people as well as people with refugee and migration experience. This highlights the importance of civic engagement, which can help counteract loneliness.

Commitment creates structures that connect people and offer meeting spaces. Initiatives like “United Bochum” play an important role in creating networks against loneliness and isolation. Kramer emphasizes that the best way to combat loneliness is through exchange and openness and sees his role as an ambassador as an opportunity to further raise awareness of this issue. In the coming weeks he will educate people about the topic of loneliness at various events and encourage active participation.

With his appointment as ambassador, Tim Kramer will have the opportunity to bring the important issue of taking action against loneliness even more into the public eye. His commitment should not only reach those affected, but also raise general awareness of the problem.