Kiel students: Volunteering as the key to social participation!

Kiel students: Volunteering as the key to social participation!

Students at the Christian Albrechts University of Kiel (CAU) show a remarkable commitment to society. A recent study conducted by the CAU in collaboration with the Kiel volunteer office, known as “nettekieler”, surveyed 485 students online. The result is revealing: Over half of those surveyed are active on a voluntary basis, working in various areas such as social projects, political advocacy groups and sustainability initiatives. This commitment is driven by social participation, personal development and the pursuit of professional experience.

Professor Markus Hundt from the CAU emphasizes the essential role of volunteering for social cohesion. He emphasizes that volunteers develop important social skills that are of great benefit not only for personal but also for professional development. In particular, there are differences in commitment: female-identifying students tend to be more frequently involved in youth work and adult education, while male-identifying students are often active in accident and rescue services. Students with a migrant background often find their place in cultural and musical activities.

Challenges and wishes of the students

The survey also reveals challenges that many students face. In particular, those in their first degree and students with a migration background often have less family connection to volunteering. In addition, two thirds of students have a part-time job, often for more than 15 hours per week, which makes it difficult to commit time to volunteer work. In many cases, a lack of appreciation leads to a withdrawal from volunteer work.

The students express their desire to have their voluntary work counted as credit points. They also call for an improvement in the framework conditions: suggestions range from fixed contact points to digital platforms for networking and the visibility of existing initiatives. Christiane Micus-Loos from the CAU emphasizes the need to integrate volunteering more closely into the university culture in order to make volunteer work more attractive.

Kiel – A committed city

Kiel itself has distinguished itself as a committed city and was included in the nationwide “Engaged City” network program. The city is home to numerous people who volunteer in various volunteer positions. To thank these committed citizens, a cinema spot was created. The spot, which lasts 60 seconds, shows how volunteers live their commitment and how it shapes their perspective on life. The artist Moritz Boll, Kiel's culture prize winner, produced this film on behalf of the press department of the state capital Kiel. The cinema spot is available on the city of Kiel's social media and on the state capital's official website kiel.de/engagement available.

Volunteering plays a central role in Kiel's social fabric and not only offers students a platform for social engagement, but also a valuable opportunity for personal and professional development. Efforts to promote volunteerism and better integrate it into university culture are now more important than ever.