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Valuable contribution to society: Young people are active in voluntary service in various social areas such as rescue services.
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Should school leavers be required to spend a year of community service serving the community?
The idea is not well received by the relevant authorities in the district - despite the staff shortage.
The unanimous opinion: Mandatory commitment is the wrong approach.
Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen - The Salesians Don Bosco in the Benediktbeuern monastery have a clear stance on the introduction of a mandatory year of service.
“We advocate voluntariness,” says Magdalena Wiesinger, specialist for domestic voluntary services at “Don Bosco Volunteers”.
She believes that a commitment to social engagement is not the right solution.
It makes more sense to make voluntary service more attractive, for example by offering free local transport.
There is a need for young people who want to contribute to society, says the specialist.
But: “Social commitment cannot be forced.” In addition, it is a lack of solidarity to shift social well-being onto a specific group of people.
There are currently 16 volunteers working on the monastery grounds
There are currently 16 volunteers working in three areas on the monastery grounds.
While the focus in the youth hostel is on educational work, the Center for Environment and Culture (ZUK) is primarily about collaboration in landscape and moor maintenance.
In the monastery, however, young adults can gain insights into monument preservation.
The work of the volunteers not only represents an enrichment, but also enables the implementation of the diverse program, explains Wiesinger.
“Individual offers can only be managed because we have volunteers in-house.” And the Voluntary Social Year is also beneficial for society as a whole.
“Over 90 percent continue to volunteer afterwards,” says Wiesinger.
Social commitment should “always remain voluntary”
Stefanie Bauer from the Geretsried rehabilitation service confirms that voluntary service has an influence on your later career choice.
She is currently supervising two FSJ members who work with people with disabilities in the Oberland workshops.
“Many people stay in the social sector later on,” says Bauer.
During the twelve months, the young helpers would learn to take responsibility for themselves and others.
In addition to personal development, voluntary service also contributes to inclusion, adds Ursula Heigl, spokeswoman for the Oberlandwerkstätten.
“Many inhibitions are broken down through contact between young people and people with disabilities.”
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Despite these advantages, she is critical of the current debate: "We reject a mandatory social year because social commitment should always remain voluntary," says Ursula Heigl - even if there are fewer applicants since the abolition of community service.
The volunteers are “almost an integral part of everyday work,” adds Stefanie Bauer.
We are very happy about their support.
The Oberlandwerkstätten are therefore calling for more resources to be provided for the current voluntary service.
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The BRK also does not see coercion as the right way
A total of nine volunteers are working in emergency rescue and patient transport at the BRK Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen this year.
So far we have always been able to fill all places, says rescue service manager Thomas Schnubel.
The crux of the matter, however, is the lack of planning security.
“Every time there is trembling and fear as to whether enough people will come forward,” he explains.
The volunteers are an integral part of the respective teams and do irreplaceable work.
Many of them remained with the rescue service even after their service ended.
Despite the need to find sufficient personnel in the rescue service, coercion is not the right way.
“This contradicts the principles of the Red Cross,” emphasizes Schnubel.
The attitude of young adults should also be taken into account: “It makes a difference whether you are forced to do a job or do it of your own free will and with passion,” says the rescue service manager.
Give young adults more freedom
Work tends to suffer if, as a young person, you have the feeling that you are being held back from studying or training.
He therefore advocates giving young adults the freedom to develop according to their abilities and preferences.
However, Schnubel also points out that social commitment among young people is not a given these days.
Instead, it is usually about achieving “as much as possible, as quickly as possible”.
If you want to promote social commitment, you should take the pressure off young adults to succeed.
(fs)