Whether cleaning the playground, at an intercultural picnic or in a sports club: Family members getting involved together is the aim of a new project from which clubs can also benefit.
The idea has already won an award.
District
- Gabi Hager-Königbauer, coordinator at the volunteer agency of the Caritas district association, sees several advantages that the desired family commitment - also known as "family volunteering" - can bring with it.
In this way, family members would have the opportunity to experience something across generations together without spending a lot of money - for example, to work in nature or to organize a party.
Clubs could attract new volunteers.
In addition, there is an opportunity to involve disabled people in campaigns.
In order to promote family commitment in the district, the volunteer agency now wants to use its award-winning project idea "Pack ma's!
Encouraging commitment with Family Volunteering” with the help of fellow campaigners.
She was successful with her suggestion for the Bavarian Innovation Award for Volunteering.
She received one of the awards in the “Ideas” category.
And was praised by Social Affairs Minister Ulrike Scharf: "Thinking about volunteering with and from the family" is an interesting approach, said the politician at the award ceremony.
"In this way, voluntary work can be anchored even more deeply in our society."
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Award ceremony: Minister Scharf (right) with (from left) Eva Gottstein (Bavarian Volunteer Officer), Claudia Hörbrand (2nd Chairman of the Caritas District Association), Gabi Hager-Königbauer and Margareta Drexel (Caritas Council).
© Alexander Goettert www.PLAN-BILD
The concept of family is broad in the project
When implementing the family commitment project, Königbauer wants to work with an existing network in areas such as "environment and nature", "social issues", "sport" and "culture".
But: "New partners who are interested in the idea of 'Family Volunteering' are also very welcome to contact us and be involved in the project," says the volunteer agency coordinator.
The term "family" is used in "Pack ma's!" much more broadly than in its normal meaning.
A family counts "any group that defines itself as a 'family' and in which different generations are represented," according to Caritas in a press release.
In an interview with the local newspaper, Hager-Königbauer said that, for example, two sisters or a group of friends could get involved in the “Family Volunteering” project.
According to the Caritas employee, if young people are active in "Pack ma's!", this can also have a long-term social benefit: Experience shows that those who volunteer when they are young are more likely to do so as adults than others.
Parents can serve as role models for their children.
The fact that family commitment is fun has already become clear with projects in the district - such as at the Gmünder Hof near Weilheim.
A Ramadama is also a suitable project for "Pack ma's!"
The "Ramadama" of the local Nature Friends group in Weilheim is to take place this year as a "Pack ma's!" project.
The association can also present itself to the participating families, says Hager-Königbauer.
For 2022 there is a grant from the Free State for "Pack ma's!".
"We'll see what else we can try out this year," explains Hager-Königbauer.
However, the project is to be continued after the end of the year.
According to the volunteer agency coordinator, anyone who wants to take part in the project does not necessarily have to come up with something completely new.
Existing activities could also be adapted in terms of their family suitability.
Anyone interested in taking part in the "Family Volunteering" project with a project can now contact us on 0881/909590-17.
Also read: If the money for care is not enough: the district offers "on-site advice".