Author: Verena Nowatzky

Görlitz is a city that would not be the same without the commitment of numerous volunteers. Cultural events, sports clubs, social projects - all of these are largely based on the work of volunteers. Especially in view of the war raging virtually on our doorstep and the fact that thousands of people are seeking refuge in Görlitz, the city is reliant on help. We are particularly looking for people with language skills in Ukrainian and Russian as well as helpers to coordinate the allocation of accommodation and fill out applications.

I was interested in the extent to which students at our faculty in Görlitz get involved or what reasons prevent them from doing so. Out of 47 respondents, a majority of 26 say that they are involved, e.g. in the FSR, the Maus, the COA or the ZuVi.

Some are driven by the desire to maintain student life and to experience and help shape human interaction. However, the opportunity for co-determination as well as learning leadership skills and team building are also factors that fuel commitment.

Alina is a member of the Maus student club and told me about her reasons for volunteering.

"I do it because I enjoy it and because I know that the Maus can't exist without volunteers. I do it for myself and the other students so that we can all have cool parties and have a place where we can all come together."

Which brings us to the topic: The Mouse is urgently looking for new members! If you want to really immerse yourself in student life, helping out in the Maus is the ideal opportunity. Together with other cool people, you'll organize memorable evenings and learn a lot about event management. At the same time, you'll be at the forefront of every party, have the power to decide on the music and be part of a first-class team that goes through thick and thin at the bar and when cleaning, as well as at beer pong and on the team retreat. Feel free to write to the mouse on all social media channels or simply come along to the plenum on Mondays at 6 pm. It's worth it!

Involvement in the student council

We are also looking for members of the student council . Anonymous joined this semester and reports:

"At our meetings, we plan the next events and allocate tasks for them.

I started because I like being in the thick of things and organizing great things for others. I'm also happy to take on some kind of leadership position. In the FSR, however, you tend to work in a team. That's something I can also learn there."

Involvement in the visions for the future

I myself am involved in the Future Visions team (Zuvi for short), a contemporary art festival that takes place in the center of Görlitz from 8 to 17 July. We work in various working groups and I am part of the "Programme" team, in which we organize a varied and exciting supporting programme around the exhibition.

Through my involvement with ZuVi, I would like to play a small part in ensuring that Görlitz continues to shine with its flourishing cultural landscape. I also want to organize a cool event that brings all the people of Görlitz together and thus do something about the persistent "Görlitz is so dull and stuffy" prejudice. In addition, I can gain a lot of valuable practical experience in event management, which could benefit me on my career path to becoming a tourism manager.

So you can see that the majority of MK students are very committed, both at the university and in Görlitz itself. However, in the course of my survey, I also heard reasons why some of them were unable to get involved. In addition to looking after their own children, a lack of time and energy due to a very extensive module catalog was mentioned.

I myself am of the opinion that students should always be given the opportunity to do voluntary work alongside their studies. It not only contributes to a functioning society, but also offers the opportunity to broaden your horizons and learn management skills, teamwork and other soft skills. The "Culture and Management" course has recently introduced a module in which students can participate in a project of their choice and earn ECTS points. More on this in a later article - stay tuned!

Finally, I would like to give you a few recommendations if you are not yet sure where you would like to get involved.

• Coordination office for Ukraine aid (regional office of the Greens)
• Mouse student club
• Faculty Council
• Student Council (FSR)
• Student Council (Stura)
• Campus Open Air (COA)
• Future Visions Festival (Zuvi)
• Rabryka

You have now gained a small insight into the many different volunteer activities in Görlitz and at our faculty. Of course, there are so many other initiatives and projects in which we students have our fingers in the pie. Keep up the great work and if you are not yet involved: In Görlitz, you have the great opportunity to help shape a huge part of socio-cultural life yourself - take this chance and get involved!