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GERMANY EXPLAINED

How to volunteer in Germany – even if you speak no or little German

As spring begins to blossom across Germany, some international residents are looking for ways to give back to their communities. Volunteering opportunities abound across the country, but it can be tough to pinpoint how to get involved.

Published: 4 April 2024 12:52 CEST
tiny forest Mannheim
Volunteers help build a 'tiny forest' in Mannheim in March. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Schmidt

The Local spoke with different volunteer organisations to distil how you can find volunteer opportunities to give back to your community in Germany. 

Where should you look

The “Rathaus”, or city hall, is a great place to start to find volunteer opportunities in your city. You can also look for “Freiwilligenmesse”, or volunteer exhibition fairs, where you can hear from several volunteer organisations at once. These events are commonly held annually across the country in cities like Berlin, Munich and Stuttgart. Some volunteer organisations also table at  trade events. 

Churches and other religious organisations can also point you in the right direction for potential volunteering opportunities. You can speak directly with your local church or search for charities related to different religious denominations. 

For those interested in finding opportunities online, Vostel, a web platform aggregating volunteer opportunities across Germany, and German Volunteers provide users ways to meet the needs of community organisations in the short and long term.

You can also look for “Vereine”, or registered voluntary associations or clubs, to find another option for learning which organisations are looking for additional help. Joining a local volunteer Verein can provide another path to connecting with other like-minded people in your city. 

READ ALSO: Explained: How to start your own Verein in Germany

Still volunteering is not limited to in person activities. Online opportunities can include tutoring and transcribing documents so that they can be added to digital archives.

Language requirements

When volunteering, knowing German can be a major plus, but it is far from a requirement. Of the more than 2,100 open volunteering opportunities offered on Vostel, 93 percent or just under 2,000 projects required no basic, medium or advanced German skills to complete.

Time Commitment

Volunteer opportunities in Germany run the gamut of one-off shifts to year-long commitments. The rate of volunteering in Germany has grown across all age groups since 1999, according to the German Survey on Volunteering published in 2021. 

Volunteers stand in front of Tante Emma, a store offering free daily essentials to displaced residents after 2021 flooding in the wine village Dernau, Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany. Photo: “Without volunteers nothing here would work,” said one helper. Photo: INA FASSBENDER / AFP

Long term opportunities

For those interested in volunteering full time, Germany offers several opportunities to get involved. These opportunities are available to German citizens and internationals from EU and non-EU states. 

The Voluntary Social Year (FSJ) lasts between 6 and 18 months. The experience allows anyone from 16 to 27 to volunteer across the country and world. The placements can revolve around sports, culture, social affairs and more. Volunteers are expected to have at least an A1 or A2 understanding of German to participate. Over the volunteer period, you will receive a monthly stipend, holiday leave, and paid statutory social insurance. 

Volunteers between the ages of 15 and 27 interested in climate change and the environment can also participate in the Voluntary Ecological Year (FÖJ). Volunteers can choose the location of their placement and will work for small- and medium- sized companies to learn more about the importance of sustainable business. The year blends relevant on-the-ground career training with seminars focused on environmental protection and intercultural topics. 

For those older than 27 interested in spending a year volunteering, the Federal Voluntary Service (BFD) may be a better fit. Volunteers can work for up to 18 months, or up to 24 months if they need additional time to cope from the social and career impacts of the pandemic. Placements could include gymnastics for the elderly, wheelchair sports, and children’s painting. 

It is important to note, that regardless of if the work is paid or fully voluntary, you will need legal documents like a residence permit or visa. The visa must be issued for voluntary service, meaning visas previously given for study or au pair would not be permitted.  

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FOOD AND DRINK

‘People are eating less meat’: How Germany is embracing vegan food

Germany's second-largest supermarket chain has just opened its first vegan store in Berlin. Could the country see more vegan stores in future as more consumers buy in to plant-based foods?

Published: 19 April 2024 13:15 CEST
'People are eating less meat': How Germany is embracing vegan food

German grocer REWE opened its first vegan store on Warshauer Bridge in Berlin’s Friedrichshain neighbourhood last week.

‘REWE voll pflanzlich’ (wholly plant-based) is a relatively small store, but it offers more than 2,700 vegan products, according to information provided by the company. Unlike the REWE’s roughly 3,800 other locations, no meat, dairy or other animal products will be sold there.

In comparison, a regular REWE location often carries up to 1,400 vegan items – a selection that has grown in recent years. Milk alternatives and fresh convenience products in particular have proven to be popular items. 

REWE Group has previously seen success with plant-based franchises. Its Austrian subsidiary Billa, launched Billa ‘Pflanzilla‘ in September 2022.

At Warschauer Straße 33, the first ‘REWE voll pflanzlich’ is planted in established vegan territory. The location was previously home to a Veganz store, which had been Europe’s first vegan supermarket chain. Veganz sold its retail business in 2023, saying it planned to focus on product development.

How is the neighbourhood reacting?

Berlin resident, Leona, stopped by the store with her friend on their way to the East Side Gallery.

“I think it’s great,” she told The Local. “Here I can find things that they don’t carry at a normal REWE store.”

She added that the location in Friedrichshain makes sense, because the neighbourhood is home to a lot of vegan restaurants and veggie-friendly residents.

Lilla Fufavi, founder of Berlin Fashion Tours, stopped by the store while leading a street tour focused on sustainable commerce.

Bringing a tour group to REWE was perhaps a bold move, as it was Fufavi’s first time visiting the store herself, but she told The Local that her guests enjoyed the quick stop. 

“They loved the idea that you just go in, and without any effort you can be vegan. There is no other option,” Fufavi said.

She added that, as one of the biggest players in the industry, the fact that REWE is promoting more plant-based options shows how the industry is taking steps toward sustainability. 

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED – Why and how to start a zero-waste lifestyle in Germany

interior REWE voll pflazlich

The new REWE location is relatively small but offers 2,700 vegan foods and products. Photo provided by REWE / pivopix Christoph Grosse

Is Germany ready to leave Die Wurst behind?

Traditional German faire is known for its focus on Fleisch, like sausages,  meaty stews or pork shoulder. While local favourites like Thüringer Bratwurst certainly wont be going anywhere anytime soon, meat consumption per capita in the Bundesrepublik has been falling in recent years. 

According to preliminary data from Germany’s Information Centre for Agriculture (BZL), the per capita consumption of meat fell by 430 grams in 2023, to 51.6 kilograms – the lowest value recorded since the beginning of the survey. 

The same cannot be said of the US, where meat consumption continues to grow. In the UK, meat consumption is falling, but not nearly as dramatically as in Germany.

Interestingly, Germany’s previous fixation on meat has arguably positioned the country to be more willing to embrace plant-based options going forward. 

Many younger Germans have seen their elder relatives suffer diet-related illnesses, such as heart disease or cancer. Meanwhile research confirming the positive effects of more plant-based diets has gotten more attention.

The German society for nutrition (DGE) recommends a diet that consists of three-quarters plant-based foods. 

“Roughly speaking, people eat too much meat and drink too much alcohol, too few whole grains, too few fruits and vegetables, and too few legumes and nuts,” Astrid Donalie, press speaker for the DGE told The Local.

READ ALSO: Deutsche Bahn ‘goes green’ with vegan menu and porcelain coffee cups

Vegan or vegetarian diets tend to be more common among Germany’s younger generations, which suggests that the country’s meat consumption per capita may continue to fall for some time.

Considering the trend, REWE’s first fully vegan store may prove to be an early sign of a looming market shift as Germany’s food manufacturers and retailers ramp up efforts to capitalise on growing demand for plant-based foods.

“When it comes to their diet, Germans pay more attention to their health, the impact on the environment or the welfare of animals,” said Minister of Food and Agriculture, Cem Özdemir, of the Greens. “Today, many people are eating less meat, but more consciously – and all the figures suggest that the trend will continue.”

He added that this presents opportunities to make Germany’s food supply chains more sustainable, humane and equitable: “We should take advantage of the new market opportunities. Keeping fewer animals better…At the same time, we are counting on farmers being able to make good money with plant-based alternatives in addition to animal products.”

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