Das Interview — The Interview

Volunteering and the Media

Local media in Berlin, from district papers to city magazines, regularly feature residents who volunteer in their neighborhoods, and such profiles are a common way for initiatives and neighborhood centers to recruit new helpers. German journalists usually let interviewees check and approve their quotes before publication, a practice called Autorisierung, which is common in Germany but less so in some other countries. Many volunteers in Germany are reluctant to call themselves activists. The word Aktivist suggests demonstrations and political campaigns, while most volunteering takes place in clubs, social projects, churches and neighborhood centers. Surveys show that people volunteer for a mix of reasons: to help others, to meet people, to learn something, and to have a say in their community. For newcomers, volunteering is often recommended as a way to practice German and build a network. Many neighborhood centers, food banks and language cafés welcome helpers with any level of German, and some projects are specifically designed so that recent arrivals can contribute their own languages and experience.