The Zeugen der Flucht Dresden (Refugee Witnesses) association is committed to anti-racist educational work. During workshops, participants can learn more about the topic of refugees and listen to personal stories. The initiative's members want to connect young people who had to flee and those who hadn’t by facilitating dialogue and interaction. Ben Balsmeier is a student volunteer and an active member of the Dresden university group. With his activities, he wants to foster intercultural exchange, so as to contribute to a more open and democratic society free from racism. In this interview, the TUD student tells us more about his award from the Studienstiftung (German Academic Scholarship Foundation) and why he will probably be a volunteer forever.

Who are Zeugen der Flucht and and what do you do?

The Zeugen der Flucht initiative organizes workshops in schools as part of anti-racist education work, bringing together refugees and local inhabitants. Since the 2015 refugee crisis, there have been and still are a lot of prejudices against individuals who have come as refugees or persons with other cultural and linguistic backgrounds in general. We want to counteract these prejudices by facilitating personal interaction, so that individuals talk to each other and not about each other. Our aim is to create a more differentiated view of the topic of refugees.

Could you tell us some more details about your work?

In the media, people are very often talked about, but not with. We would like to bring this very personal level into the debate and also into people's minds. To this end, we have developed a concept that first reports some facts about this highly emotionally charged topic. To this end, we use a quiz where the participants can test what they already know about the topic of refugees. In addition, we show a presentation in order to clarify the questions that may have arisen during the quiz and to provide a bit of information in general – such as how the asylum system in Germany works, what are the major host countries for refugees and their countries of origin, how is this all connected, what causes people to flee their countries, and things like that. The second part is the part that makes us special. A refugee talks about their personal story of fleeing and pupils can then ask questions to overcome their prejudices, and at the same time deepen their interest which has been sparked in the first part.

For which schools do you offer these workshops?

For schools with pupils aged from 9 to 18 – we’ve been covering everything. We've been to vocational schools and high schools, and now we've developed an elementary school concept, which means we also go to elementary schools. Of course, everything is explained in a more child-friendly, interactive and pedagogical way, and not in such detail in terms of war or violence. We always adapt our workshops very much to the audience, which means that if we do a workshop for the Green Youth, the audience will have a different background than if we go to an elementary school.

You've been involved with Zeugen der Flucht since 2019. How did you become aware of the university group back then?

The association actually comes from Freiburg and the Dresden branch was officially founded in 2022. Before that, it was more of a subgroup of Freiburg. So there was already something going on, but it wasn't that big yet. When I started studying international relations, there was a day during the freshman week where all the initiatives introduced themselves. Someone who I've since become good friends with, and who helped to build up Zeugen der Flucht in Dresden, introduced the project and I was immediately hooked. Then, you just grow into it, which I think is the association's strength. We always try to push personal contact. I just liked the people, we got to know each other better and then it also became a matter close to my heart. When my friend moved away from Dresden, I kind of took it over and then everything became a bit more serious and bigger, because we made ourselves independent of Freiburg.

By now, you've been the chairperson of the executive board since April 2022. Would you please tell us more about your tasks?

They are always different. There are obviously some core tasks, such as preparing and holding association meetings, writing a lot of invoices for workshops and the like, or managing the account. But also organizing events and workshops, communicating with the schools and then asking the association members when they have time and implementing their ideas and needs – I am kind of an all around person.

You were recently honored as a finalist of the Commitment Award from the German Academic Scholarship Foundation, congratulations! How did that come about?

This Commitment Award has been around for ten years. When we applied, we were at a point where we urgently needed money. The most essential thing for us was the financial support and the appeal for donations that we have been receiving through it. It is quite hard for a small, newly founded association to gain a foothold in Dresden, especially if you are doing something with flight and migration. It was a time when it was doubtful whether we would be able to continue our work financially, and the award itself, as well as the prize money and the coaching, was an honor and helped us a great deal. I am very grateful for all the funding and support. And the people who were also in the finals – they are involved in really cool projects that we have also been networking with.

In your opinion, why is it so important to get involved with volunteer work?

In general, I think there are a lot of problems and tasks in society that are not being solved or that are not being addressed by those in power. where volunteers have to step up instead. In our case, that holds true for integration and working against racism and right-wing extremism. In my opinion, not enough is being done against extremist, right-wing tendencies, and then you have to step in as a volunteer to fill this gap. In other words, sometimes there is simply a need for volunteers. Of course, there are many other areas as well. For me myself, I know and have gotten to know many people with migratory backgrounds and people who needed to flee, and this is of course a matter that is close to my heart. You know what they've been through. To give these individuals a little bit more of a stage and to help them express themselves or to take their experience into the larger society, and to overcome the hatred against these individuals that really exists – that's the personal component that has intensified a lot during the association's work.

When looking back, what experiences will you take with you as head of the team? Has your work also had an influence on your personal development?

I have definitely grown a lot from this task. Founding an association while being an undergraduate student – that was all kind of learning by doing. I learned a lot about how to get all the organizational things in order. But of course also how to lead and manage a team, what to look out for. What is beneficial for the team spirit and how do you structure it? Which tasks do you discuss in the large group and which in a smaller one? What personal sensitivities of people come into play? On the one hand, there's the administrative aspect, and then of course there's the team leading – that's what I will take with me as a strength. The intercultural interaction that takes place here is obviously a very enriching experience, as are the people I've gotten to know.

What do you wish for the future of your initiative?

First of all, I would like it to continue to run as well as it is doing now, and I would like the very cool and interesting people who are involved to stay with it. If I may be a megalomaniac, I would like it to become even bigger. That is, reach more schools, reach more people and perhaps expand geographically. In May, we held workshops in Leipzig and Berlin. That as an association, we position ourselves more broadly and do even more political work. We already take part in demonstrations and attend panel discussions, we give lectures and speeches, for example at the Tolerave. When I say “bigger,” I mean becoming broader in outreach and broader in terms of individuals. That is, even more countries, more individual refugee stories, and that we simply anchor ourselves firmly as voluntary, anti-racist educational work in Dresden and the surrounding area. That's what I would very much like to see.

Assuming I would also like to get involved with Zeugen der Flucht: What do I have to bring along?

A lot of things have evolved through someone bringing a buddy or a friend with them. I think you should be interested in the topic of refugees and be a good listener – that's what you should bring with you. You shouldn't expect us to have mega structured association meetings where we work with applications. If you want to get involved a little bit, do something and do something quickly, then that's fine. But it's all a pretty relaxed atmosphere, because of course people should also have fun when they spend their free time doing something.

Are you currently looking for new members?

Definitely! We are especially looking for individuals who want to share their story. And we're trying to bring in more diversity, of course. We now have a person from Ukraine, for example – our first female narrator. We always want more countries, more individual stories of fleeing and, of course, people to help us organize. We have a lot of fluctuation in the association. Some people come, then leave again or spend a semester abroad.

What events can people look forward to in the next few weeks?

We often have fun meetings where we hang out as a group in order to strengthen the bond within the association, expand teamwork, and things like that. It's about friendship and spending our free time together. If you are interested, you are welcome to join our workshop on July 23 at 3 pm at the office of Kassem Taher Saleh, a member of the German Bundestag, in August-Bebel-Straße 33. We will also have another workshop on August 20. More detailed information will follow on our Instagram account @zeugenderflucht_dresden.

If you were given the option of volunteering in this capacity all over again, would you still do it?

I think I will always volunteer because it's just very important to me. It's a good balance to my studies and, in the future, to my job. It's always extremely worthwhile to do different things so you're not too narrowly focused on one thing. I would like to keep doing it for that reason alone. The problems in Germany with regard to flight and migration have not been solved, but rather are getting worse in debates. That's why I would definitely get involved again. But I don't know if I would get involved as intensively as I have in the last two years, because it has taken a lot out of me personally.

Last but not least, what advice would you give other students who would like to volunteer?

You definitely have to think about what you're passionate about, what's crucial for you. Don't just go somewhere because you think: “It's cool to volunteer now.” First of all, do some soul-searching to find out what societal, political or social issues are important to you. And then check out beforehand how much capacity you actually have. Can you do one thing, can you do two things? And start out with a rough idea of what you want to do. There are enough possibilities. Inform yourself, then everything should go well!

This interview was conducted by Lu Ann Bahmann, student assistant in the Press Office.

The “Augustus the Strong” Leo Club Dresden  is a youth organization that belongs to Lions Club International, where young people can volunteer in keeping with the motto “We serve.” In addition to volunteer work, the club also places focus on community and personal development. Together, the members organize aid projects, which they call “activities,” and carry these out as a team. This is how they collect monetary donations and donations in kind. TUD student Jonathan Sternstein is a volunteer member of the Dresden university group. Since he became aware of the group in 2019, he has regularly taken part in various activities in the city and the surrounding regions. Jonathan shares in this interview how such an activity might be organized and what he has gotten out of his time volunteering up until now.

Briefly, who are you and what do you do as a university group?

We are the “Augustus the Strong” Leo Club Dresden. There are Leo Clubs all over Germany and in many countries around the world. The organization originated in the United States and is actually in essence a youth organization of the Lions Clubs, but in practice we act completely independently and are free to decide what we do. Our work is primarily defined by two things. The first is our volunteer work. We plan and conduct charitable projects. And the second is that we also take part in continuing education courses and organize events together where we meet up with other Leos across Saxony, Europe and the rest of the world.

How long have you been volunteering with the Leo Club Dresden? Tell us more about how you got started with it!

I’ve known about the Leo Club since 2019. I started as a guest for about three-quarters of a year before becoming a member, so I could see what the club was like because I had never heard of it before. A good friend who I’ve known since elementary school mentioned it to me and asked if I was interested in taking part. He in turn had learned about the group from another friend, so we both really heard about it by word of mouth.

You currently hold the position of secretary in the Leo Club. What tasks does this involve?

We always have four officers: a president, a vice president, a secretary and a treasurer. That is defined in our statutes simply for organizational purposes and each position is reelected each year. We’ve already had our elections this year because the term of election always ends in July. That’s when I’ll become vice president. The secretary’s main task, however, is to take minutes at the club meetings, especially when new ideas come into play or plans are discussed, to ensure that there is a record that can be referenced as a reminder at a later date.

What exactly does a club meeting look like?

We meet once a month to plan things, assign tasks and discuss who will do what as well as what we want to take on in the future. We also evaluate what we have done recently, and sometimes we meet up just for fun. For example, we’ve gone bowling before and last weekend we met in one member’s garden for a barbecue – it’s always a very relaxed atmosphere.

What personal benefits have you enjoyed as part of your student volunteer position?

I think that the greatest benefit of the Leo Club that you can use to your own advantage is that we take part in continuing education courses. There are events organized just for us to learn new things and workshops on any topic you can think of. And, of course, you also learn how to organize things and what is important in doing so. You learn to carry things through and really get them off the ground. Plus, you are taught responsibility for yourself and for other people and things. It’s also an excellent networking opportunity. You meet a lot of people, especially via the Lions, but also other Leos across Germany and around the world.

What have you gotten out of the volunteering you’ve done up until now?

I think that you definitely undergo certain personal development simply by virtue of the experiences you have that you otherwise might not. Likewise, the responsibility you take on in office and the things you organize push you forward.

Last October, you organized a blood drive with the support of the Saxon Leos as well as the “one extra item” campaign. Can you tell us more about your activities?

We host blood drives relatively regularly with the members who are interested in taking that on. I think everyone has an idea of how these work. A one extra item campaign is something that not everyone may be familiar with. We got together with other Leos from across Saxony – there are other clubs in Leipzig, Bautzen, Görlitz and a recently launched one in Chemnitz. We set up shop in front of an Edeka supermarket and a Fressnapf pet shop and politely asked people if they would be willing to buy an extra item that they wouldn’t have otherwise purchased. We then collected these extra items and donated them. We donated the groceries to a Ukraine aid program and the pet food went to an animal shelter in Freital. When Christmas rolls around, we organize gift sponsorships for an establishment for disadvantaged youth and children and bring the gifts to them there. At Easter, we decorate and fill Easter baskets. We’ve done this for two years in a row now. Additionally, we have also set up a mulled wine stand in front of the Auditorium Center several times.

These days, there are many different aid projects and donation campaigns. Why should young people join the Leo Club?

I first took the time to get familiar with it and experience up close how it works. Then I realized how much I liked it and that I wanted to get involved. I can only recommend to others that they do the same – just check it out. We also always have guests who join us and listen to what we do. Beyond that, it’s just fun. We organize really cool activities that are truly fun. For instance, last year we went rafting over the Neiße River and collected trash. We do something good and have fun while doing it.

Suppose I’d also like to come by as a guest. What would I have to bring with me?

Everyone is welcome to join us who is interested in volunteering and sharing their ideas – just come by. Send us an email first so we can tell you when our next club meeting is. But really anyone is welcome. The only prerequisite is that you’re between 16 and 30.

What activities do you have planned for the coming months?

One of our activities is the car wash – we organize that every year. It’s become a tradition. We get a washing system and sell tickets for the car wash and the proceeds go to charity. This year, we’re donating them to Sonnenstrahl e. V., which sponsors children suffering from cancer. Our donations usually go to regional organizations from Dresden and the surrounding area. When we organize something larger, for instance Germany-wide, then the proceeds are typically donated at a similar scale. We always look for something that we care about and want to support. Any groups and associations in need of aid are welcome to write to us.

If you were given the option of volunteering in this capacity all over again, would you still take it?

Definitely! I think if I didn’t want to do it, I wouldn’t be a member now.

What advice would you give to others who are interested in getting involved with volunteering based on your own experiences?

I can only say to have a look around and look for information, for example online or at events like dies academicus. That’s a good event for perusing all the university groups. And I can only recommend getting involved with something where you also have something to gain. It’s just a really nice thing to do something alongside your studies and try your hand at something new. It’s worth a lot and you don’t necessarily always have this opportunity, especially during studies or in addition to work. You need to find what works for you, then your commitments won’t feel like a chore.

This interview was conducted by Lu Ann Bahmann, student assistant in the Press Office.

Ingenieure ohne Grenzen (Engineers Without Borders) has been contributing to development work in the Global South for 20 years. The association works on an equal footing with its partners to promote the development of water and energy provision, educational institutions and civil infrastructure. Alongside his studies at TU Dresden, Friedrich volunteers at the Association’s Dresden branch. He is responsible for project and public relations work, and also manages the IT administration. In the following interview, he gives us some insight into his volunteer work and explains why it is so important for him to gain experience in volunteering alongside his studies

Tell us briefly who Engineers Without Borders are and what you do in the Dresden branch!

“Engineers Without Borders” is an organization for technical development cooperations, which is active across Germany and organized into regional branches. These regional branches primarily oversee domestic and international projects, but they also organize workshops, for example.

How did you get involved in volunteering with Engineers Without Borders?

Since starting university, I always wanted to pursue volunteer work – as long as I still had time time to study. At the end of 2020, another student brought Engineers Without Borders to my attention. Subsequently, I joined some meetings which were taking place online at that point due to the pandemic. I felt welcomed right away and got to know the organization, work methods and projects over the first few weeks. I was particularly enthused by the objective of improving the living conditions of disadvantaged people in the long term, the organization's preferred method of partnership-based support and its holistic approach, which also includes education and public relations work. Moreover, there is always a friendly atmosphere in the regional branch and we also have plenty of fun while we work. All of this inspired me to volunteer my time for Engineers Without Borders.

Your work spans from Ethiopia to Indonesia. What projects are you focusing on at the moment?

The Dresden regional branch is currently overseeing a domestic project in Dresden, and an international project in Taveta, Kenya. In Dresden, we want to bring people from immigrant and refugee families and people from German families together so that they can share their experiences, use their skills to help each other, cook together, garden, learn, play – in short, to live their lives together in Dresden.

In Kenya, we’re working with the Mbuyuni Women Group, which wants to expand its education center, Mbuyuni Sunrise Academy. It currently has an information center combating female genital mutilation, a kindergarten, a preschool and an elementary school. It is also planning on establishing a secondary school and a vocational school. Together with Akifra, a Dresden-based charity for children’s and women’s rights, we want to support the Mbuyuni Women Group. On a technical side, this comprises providing support in the construction of new buildings, the expansion of the water supply, sanitary facilities and energy supply, and the development of training programs.

What opportunities are there to get involved? Do you need to have any particular skills?

The great thing about Engineers Without Borders is that there are a lot of opportunities to get involved that don’t require specific expertise. Of course, experienced and skilled engineers are welcome! But students and young professionals from all fields can also get involved. Alongside technical project work – such as the planning and design of energy systems – public relations and fundraising are important components of our work. This comprises media design, social media, promotional work, the acquisition of funding and much more. There are plenty of ways to get involved, the most important requirement is enthusiasm for collaborative work.

In your opinion, why is it so important to get involved with volunteer work?

For me personally, it’s important to gain additional experiences alongside my studies. University life can easily become monotonous and often only highlights one perspective and subject area. Getting involved in volunteer work outside of university helps to expand your horizons. As a volunteer, I can arrange my work flexibly – both in terms of what I do and the amount of time I want to invest. I’m happy that I can give something back to society through my volunteer work. We all benefit from societal structures at the university – they afford us privileges on so many levels. Getting involved in volunteer work is an excellent opportunity to put these privileges to good use.

What do you think has been the biggest challenge so far? Is there any specific thing you’re particularly proud of?

A constant challenge that we face in our Engineers Without Borders projects is communication with our international partner organizations. Intercultural differences sometimes complicate our collaborative work. At the same time, we can also learn a lot about ourselves, other cultures, and what we have in common. Engineers Without Borders offers workshops in this area that can help to overcome these challenges. In this context, I’m glad that on our last trip to Kenya, despite intercultural differences from the partner organization, we were able to lay a good foundation for future collaboration as a team.

What do you hope to achieve with your work?

I hope that we really can improve the living conditions for disadvantaged people in the long term with our projects. This can be measured not only in terms of expanding infrastructure. Living conditions also include social and economic factors. However, I’m convinced that feats of engineering, such as a sustainable supply of clean water or a secure source of renewable energy, can help to foster sustainable development. As an example, a stable energy supply can provide learners at Mbuyuni Sunrise Academy with better digital education. This gives them better prospects for long-term employment later in their careers and thus more security in life

If you were given the option of volunteering in this capacity all over again, would you still take it?

Absolutely. It’s an amazing opportunity to gain another perspective, get to know other people, and develop skills both within your area of expertise and in other areas. I am lucky to have made many friends and important contacts at Engineers Without Borders

What advice would you give to others who are interested in getting involved with volunteering based on your own experiences?

Just give it a go! There’s a lot of volunteering opportunities in Dresden. There are organizations and university groups with incredibly varied points of focus which offer you the opportunity to enrich your life. You can train and improve your knowledge and skills while expanding your own horizons. And you can gain experiences that you never would in the lecture hall. Engineers Without Borders offers a lot of opportunities, so come have a look!

This interview was conducted by Lu Ann Bahmann, student assistant in the Press Office.

“Balu und Du” (Baloo and You) is a joint project of Diakonie Dresden and TU Dresden. As part of the program, volunteers like Jascha assume responsibility for an elementary school child for a specified time and mentor them outside of school. The volunteers meet the children in person, helping them to find their way in today’s society and to learn and thrive as individuals. In the following interview, Jascha tells us more about his time mentoring as a Baloo and how he managed to balance volunteer work with his studies.

There are a number of opportunities for getting involved with volunteer work at TU Dresden. Tell us more about how you got started with “Balu und Du!”

When I came to study at TU Dresden in 2017, I knew I wanted to get involved in some form of volunteer work. I was looking for something that would have a positive social impact, but would also be fun. When friends told me about their experiences with “Balu und Du,” I was immediately intrigued. After an initial phone call and a nice chat with the coordinator at the time, everything moved pretty quickly. I attended an information event, participated in some introductory events to prepare for mentoring and then got started.

What is “Balu und Du?” What do you do?

“Balu und Du” is a mentoring program where (mainly) university students mentor a primary school-aged child for a year. The pair tend to meet once a week for two to three hours and they undertake various activities together – anything from walks or playground visits to cooking together. The aim of the program is to support the child in developing in our society through these joint activities. The children often learn about new things and situations through the program, and thus how to successfully overcome any challenges that arise. These may be simple, incidental discoveries, such as how to borrow a book from the library or that vegetables actually taste pretty good. But the program also aims to equip mentors with social skills, such as how to explain to a child why they shouldn’t cross the street when the light is red, or simply how to listen attentively. The idea is to bring two people of different ages together who can learn a lot from each other through fun and laughter. To make sure this works, program coordinators from Diakonie Dresden provide support with supplementary events and help with questions and problems. “Balu und Du” also provides a small budget for the activities so that no additional costs are incurred.

Can you tell us why the program is called “Balu und Du?”

“Balu und Du” (Baloo and You) is a reference to The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. In the story, Baloo is the funny and good-natured bear who guides and accompanies the orphan Mowgli during his life in the jungle. They go on a lot of adventures together and get to know each other well. This relationship is at the very heart of the program. Making new discoveries and having fun together is at the core of the mentorship. The fact that the Baloos (mentors) and Mowglis (mentees) learn from each other is a nice perk.

What qualities do you need to be a “Baloo?” What does a mentorship typically look like?

The most important aspects are open-mindedness and fun! The beauty of the program is that not only do the Mowglis get to enjoy themselves, the Baloos do as well. The mentorship is a wonderful opportunity to try out totally new things. For me, it was baseball, which my Mowgli and I tried out at the city festival. Perhaps some Baloos will discover a hidden talent during the program. Creativity in planning leisure activities is of course helpful. But thankfully, you’re given plenty of ideas to help you along the way, and you don’t have to have a plan for every meeting! I went quite regularly with my Mowgli to the nearby sports field to play soccer, simply because we both enjoy it a lot. You should enjoy spending time with children, of course, and be a good example to them, because as a Baloo you are an important reference point for the child.

Could you tell us more about how you were able to balance your work as a Baloo with your studies?

During the lecture period, I always planned two to three hours of time on Thursdays for activities with my Mowgli, as well as 90 minutes on Fridays for the supplementary events. During the semester break, I could be more flexible in making plans with my Mowgli. If we weren’t able to see each other due to a holiday or vacation, we simply spent more time together when we next met up and were therefore able to plan longer trips. When it comes to integration into your studies, it is also very helpful that you can have the mentorship credited as a supplementary area for the Studium Generale or for teacher training programs.

The mentoring program ends officially after one year. If you want to volunteer for the program again, how would you go about this? What options do students have?

There are two options here, which can also be combined well with each other. You can continue the mentorship and you also have the chance to join the “Baghira” university group. If you continue with the mentorship, you will be working more independently, as the supervision by the coordinator:s and supporting structures decreases. As my year in the program drew to a close, I decided that I wanted to support the program in another way, and that’s how I got involved with “Baghira.” We work closely with Diakonie Dresden to organize advertising, training and events for the Baloos and their Mowglis. Each of our members is involved at their own pace, contributing their ideas and skills.

What makes volunteering with “Balu und Du” so special for you?

“Balu und Du” is special because fun and learning aren’t mutually exclusive in this program. When I started my mentorship, I quite naively assumed that only my Mowgli would learn something from me. I was probably lead to this misconception by the term “mentor.” But actually, I learned at least as much from my Mowgli. Looking at the world through a child’s eyes really does make it possible to see and get to know the world from a completely new perspective.

Describe your volunteer work in three words!

Conviction, joy, solidarity

Your work must have come with some challenges. Can you tell us what motivated you to carry on volunteering?

I would like to make it possible for other people to have the kind of experience I had during my mentorship. I’m convinced that being able to put yourself in other people’s shoes and being empathetic are important foundations for living together as a community. And I think this is exactly the skill this program requires. That’s why I’m motivated by the conviction that through “Balu und Du,” I can contribute to a more caring, empathetic society. The fact that the program also strengthens educational equity in Germany is another motivating factor.

If you were given the option of volunteering in this capacity all over again, would you still take it?

I’ll keep it short and sweet: yes!

Are there any tips you can offer to those interested in pursuing volunteer work?

You should definitely visit the information evening, so you can ask program coordinators and current and former Baloos questions. This way, you’ll get all the most important information in to addition first-hand reports. After that, you’ll be able to gauge much better if “Balu und Du” is right for you. You can find out when the next events are happening on our website or in our newsletter. You can meet us in person at the Ehrenamtmesse volunteer work fair in Dresden or at dies academicus. If have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at . We are always looking for help at “Baghira” as well. Whether you’re a social media expert or catering pro for events – you can find short or long-term opportunities to get involved

This interview was conducted by Lu Ann Bahmann, student assistant in the Press Office.

AIESEC is an international exchange organization that has made it its mission to place young people in internships and volunteer projects abroad. This affords them authentic, impactful intercultural exchange experiences. Over 100 countries and territories participate in the initiative – including Brazil, Sri Lanka and Mexico, just to name a few. One of the student members of this organization is Helene. Alongside studying economics, she heads the Dresden branch of the committee in her free time. In the interview below, she talks about the challenges she has had to overcome in this position and why it’s important to volunteer.

Tell us a bit about how you ended up volunteering with AIESEC.

I’ve been volunteering with AIESEC for nearly two years now. What makes the organization special is that many AIESEC members stick with the organization during the entire course of their studies and even beyond. From this perspective, two years really isn’t that long. I was made aware of the organization after a professor of mine sent an email about it. Right off the bat, I saw that the initiative catered to two of my primary interests: internationalism/interculturalism and volunteer work with an international organization. But the fact that this work incorporates economic elements also appealed to me. That’s how I came to join AIESEC after completing my first semester of studies in 2021.

What defines AIESEC? What exactly does the work of your university group entail?

AIESEC is one of the largest student organizations worldwide. Our goal is to offer young people opportunities for personal and professional development through intercultural experiences. We aspire to a world where people can work towards their own understanding of ‘peace’ and where they acknowledge and respect the views of others. Everyone should have the opportunity to be the best version of themselves. We assume that young people in particular are the key to a better future. So it only makes sense to work with and support them. To help them on their way, we want to use practical experiences in challenging environments to cultivate their leadership skills. We provide these practical experiences through our intercultural exchange projects.

How exactly are these exchange projects structured? What opportunities do you offer students to gain experience abroad?

Students can get involved with volunteer projects and complete internships as part of their teacher training or in other areas, for instance IT or economics. Through these projects, we can offer students completely new insights into another country, where they will stay for 6 to 8 weeks with a host family, in their own apartment or in a similar arrangement. There are many areas in which students can volunteer that are based on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. These include projects in the areas of environmental and climate protection, equal rights, education and many others. Our on-site teams are responsible for selecting the volunteer projects, which are then organized in cooperation with local NGOs. They are supervised by us in Germany, but also from the AIESEC members on location.

Assuming you decide to go abroad with AIESEC during your studies, how does the process work if you want to do a complete an internship in another country?

We try to make it as easy for students as possible. However, the process for an internship is somewhat more comprehensive and takes a bit longer than the process for a volunteer project. In general, those who are interested can register on our website and will subsequently be contacted by the committee to discuss individual expectations and desires for a project. We will then take care of looking for appropriate projects and provide support in making a decision and submitting an application. If a student is selected for a project, they can then choose whether they would like to pursue that one or if they’d rather work on a different one. Applying for a specific project doesn’t necessarily mean that the student has to do it in the end. Once the contract is signed, then students begin preparing and processing various topics. And then you’re already ready to go.

In addition to the exchange opportunities, students can also volunteer as part of your university group. Are there certain prerequisites for this?

Anyone between the ages of 18 and 30 can volunteer with us. There are no other criteria. Our teams comprise various people with different backgrounds. Our local committee, for instance, is subdivided into the areas of marketing, finances and legal matters, talent management and two teams who handle our projects abroad (teacher training internships and volunteer projects abroad). The tasks vary depending on the position. You have to mesh with our team and be able to dedicate enough time. It’s got to work for both sides. If it does, you can become an AIESEC member after just an introductory discussion and an initial local committee meeting.

You are currently the chairwoman of the Dresden branch. How does your volunteering activity look in this position?

As the key person responsible for our committee in Dresden, I primarily stipulate a vision and direction, and otherwise lead and support my team. We rely on an agile leadership model, where communication is essential. I’m also responsible for planning our weekly board and local committee meetings and conduct regular check-ins with the board members and with my consultant. The work is very multifaceted and always promises different and dynamic tasks. For instance, I am currently supporting students with looking for a project. At the same time, I’m also in contact with committees throughout the whole world to coordinate potential projects. Sometimes I have to handle marketing or financial tasks. But in general, the teams take on these activities. I either work in our office or remotely from wherever I am.

What differentiates you from other university groups? Can you tell us what sets AIESEC apart in your eyes?

What sets it apart for me are the people. I have never met so many approachable and inspiring people in one place as I have here. Everyone shares the same values and strives to achieve the same goal – it really unites us. We have multiple conferences each year where all 33 committees in Germany come together. For me personally, those are the best memories that I’ve made with the organization – engaging in lively discussions, gaining new perspectives and refining ideas. Plus, there’s the fact that the organization has already been around for 75 years and alumni are still so dedicated. We always say, “Once you go AIESEC, you never go back” – and it’s really true! 

Have you ever experienced disappointment within the scope of your volunteer work? What are some challenges you’ve had to face?

It hasn’t always been easy to be chairwoman, but for the most part, it’s helped me grow. The greatest challenge for me was to build up a committee again because when I started, it was still quite small. We had intense recruiting phases and had to explain the tasks and structures to all of the new members. It’s a lot of work and isn’t particularly easy. Even leading a multicultural team with so many different personalities is not so simple. But it has taught me a lot. The great thing about AIESEC is that you can really only grow from the challenges you face, and if you make a mistake, you learn from it. I’ve received immense support from the network in Germany during my entire time so far. You’re really not alone. Someone will always back you up, which makes the work and the challenges much easier to handle. The past year as chairwoman has been one of the most challenging that I’ve had, but also one that I’ve learned the most from, that enabled me to develop the most and the one that I’ve grown the most out of.

In looking back at the past year in your volunteer position, what experiences will you take with you as head of the team? Would you say that your work also impacted your professional or personal development?

Through my work, I’ve been able to learn and experience so many new things that have given me so much both personally and professionally. Work at AIESEC is very similar to the work that takes place at companies. I was able to gain many skills that I could then apply directly at my student job and took ideas with me that I put into practice at the company to improve internal processes. AIESEC also left an impression with regard to my leadership qualities. I now know exactly what kind of working environment I would like to be a part of later and how I can continue to shape it. I don’t think there’s enough time to describe in detail exactly all the ways that AIESEC has helped me both personally and professionally. But it has definitely shaped who I am now.

If you were given the option of volunteering in this capacity all over again, would you still take it?

That’s an easy answer. I would always say yes!

What tips can you offer to those interested in pursuing volunteer work?

I think that everyone should have taken on a volunteer post in their lives. Sometimes you think that there is not enough time or that you won’t learn anything from it. So I say: “Just do it!” Volunteer work – no matter what it is – always has something to offer to help you to develop and see things from a different perspective. Volunteer work can be extremely helpful for finding out what you would like to do later on and in what environment you would like to work. And if you’re lucky, as I was, you’ll find an organization that will help you uncover your passion.

This interview was conducted by Lu Ann Bahmann, student assistant in the Press Office.

Amnesty International is widely regarded as the largest movement worldwide that advocates for human rights and campaigns against severe human rights violations. One particularly dedicated member of the Amnesty International Dresden university group is Lotta Borkhardt. Alongside her studies in Political Science at TU Dresden, Lotta has been volunteering with the group for over a year. To give an example of just some of her work at Amnesty, Lotta is involved in two of the six subgroups that address various topics such as human rights education and women’s rights.

TU Dresden has a number of university groups that offer students the opportunity to engage in volunteer work. Can you tell us a bit more about how you got involved in volunteering in addition to your studies?

I am currently in the 5^th semester of my Bachelor’s degree program in Political Science at TU Dresden. So, the path to Amnesty Dresden was relatively direct. My work with Amnesty illustrates for me that my studies also have practical applications. Beyond the theory we learn at university, it’s nice to see how we can make a difference as individuals.

You are a group spokesperson at Amnesty. How would you describe a typical week working at Amnesty? Or is there no such thing?

I’ve been one of two group spokespersons at Amnesty since spring 2021. That means that I lead our meetings that take place once every two weeks and keep tabs on inquiries and appointments. The only set item on the agenda at our meetings is for each subgroup to give a brief update on what they’ve been up to and what they’ve got in the pipeline, since this makes up the most work between plenary sessions. Otherwise, we discuss various upcoming initiatives, for instance the info night for first-semester students on November 10, the letter marathon and larger Amnesty conferences.

You’ve just mentioned subgroups. What exactly do these look like? How is your university group organized?

We at the Amnesty in Dresden university group are split up into six subgroups that focus on different topics. These include human rights education, commerce and digitalization, women’s rights and our group for fleeing individuals and people seeking asylum. The subgroup focused on human rights education, for instance, holds workshops and visits schools to talk about human rights issues. Our women’s rights group is currently organizing a lecture series in cooperation with the GeNOW [gender equality now] university group. Our group in its entirety also organizes larger campaigns focused on human rights in general, such as the letter marathon in December, where we want to collect signatures.

The work surrounding human rights and the violation thereof must be fairly complicated a lot of the time. What motivates you to keep at it?

It can actually be quite sobering to confront all these human rights violations being committed all the time, all over the world. But it’s all worth it when we get reports about how our work has really effected positive change. That reminds me that my personal efforts really do make a difference for other people.

In your opinion, what was the greatest challenge that you’ve had to overcome in your volunteer work so far?

Sometimes, it can be difficult to keep up motivation, especially when watching or reading the news. The media really make it look like our efforts aren’t good for anything and can’t change anything anyhow. But on the other hand, it’s always rewarding to read reports of a prison release, a fair trial or the prevention of capital punishment thanks to Amnesty’s work. 

Would you describe your involvement with Amnesty as something that’s close to your heart? And if so, why?

Definitely. A volunteer position is always something close to your heart – otherwise you wouldn’t do it. I simply feel the need to take action when I see the state of the world. My work with Amnesty enables me to do this on my own terms.

In looking back to the period of time before you became a member, would you say that your life has also changed in other areas, or has your social life evolved?

It’s difficult to pinpoint. I would definitely say that my life and my social sphere have changed in the past 1 ½ years, especially compared to when I was in school. Whether that has to do with Amnesty, my studies or the pandemic is hard to say. It’s probably a combination of all three. 

Do you have any particular goals for the near future as regards your work as a student volunteer? Are there any larger projects planned?

Our next larger project is the letter marathon in December. The objective is to collect as many signatures as possible across Germany for ten cases of human rights violations pre-selected by Amnesty International. Each of these signatures stands for a letter or email, all of which the individuals or authorities responsible for the violations will be flooded with. In about 30 percent of these cases, we actually see a change following the letter marathon – and precisely that is our goal.

Can you imagine continuing your volunteer work after graduating, or even working for Amnesty International at the professional level?

I could definitely see myself continuing my volunteer work after my studies. Amnesty offers many opportunities for this across Germany. So, remaining part of the Amnesty group even outside of Dresden would be possible. 

What advice would you give to other students who are considering volunteer work in general, or even following in your footsteps?

Taking on a volunteer position benefits others and can be rewarding for you at the same time. Many people have the feeling that they aren’t getting anything done in their day-to-day life at university. For me, our university group’s meetings provide a regular opportunity to chat with other people who I may not have otherwise met in my studies. There’s always the option to increase or reduce your activity depending on your current capacity, but doing something is always better than doing nothing. 

This interview was conducted by Lu Ann Bahmann, student assistant in the Press Office.

The mission of the student initiative AIAS Dresden is to fight blood cancer. In many cases, stem cell transplants are the only hope for a cure for blood cancer patients. However, since the tissue markers have to be as identical as possible, it’s hard to match donors with recipients. Franz Riedel is a member of the university group and seeks to actively raise awareness of blood cancers and the issues that surround them. In the following interview, he reports on his personal experiences with stem cell donation and why young donors in particular are so crucial.

What does AIAS stand for?

“AIAS” actually isn’t an abbreviation, but rather a reference to the Greek mythological hero Aias, who was portrayed as greatly courageous and loyal. Being a real hero doesn’t always require great deeds. Sometimes, it’s the smaller things that count, like donating blood or signing up for HLA typing – these make you a true hero and lifesaver for others.

How did you get involved with volunteering alongside your studies in Forest Sciences? And why did you end up choosing this university group in particular?

I wanted to get to know people in an extracurricular setting who didn’t study the same thing as me while at the same time doing good. University groups and clubs are the first point of contact for this. I’ve also been involved in others, such as “Bühne” and elbMUN, which were a lot of fun. But there’s only one initiative that actively saves lives: AIAS! When I first encountered this group at the info stand, the energy of the people there and the incredible feeling of making the world just a little bit better immediately convinced me to invest my time in this project. At the end of the day, you have to ask yourself how you want to spend your free time. Do you want to do something useful and give back to society or build racecars and concrete boats?

There are many opportunities for volunteering with AIAS. What exactly is your task there?

At AIAS, there are four different areas of responsibility that take on essential tasks, from marketing to IT and personnel. I’m in charge of events. These can be for raising awareness and spreading information, or they can be registration campaigns. Together with the other members, I’m responsible for funding proposals, logistics and the planning of creative events, where anything is possible! For instance, we collaborated with the DVB transportation authority four years ago to board a tram and provide passengers information about leukemia during the ride.

I am also the treasurer on the management board. That means that I oversee and account for our expenses and revenue from donations and sponsoring.

Blood cancer can affect anyone – that’s what makes your work so critical. Can you explain briefly how the registration process works at AIAS?

That’s easy: You open your mouth, the swab goes in, and boom, you’re a donor! The saliva samples contain the information needed to identify the attributes of the blood cells. This information is stored along with personal data such as body weight and age in the DKMS (“German Bone Marrow Donor File”) so that the donor can be contacted if they are identified as a suitable match for a patient in need. So, it’s essential that donor’s keep their address and phone number on file up to date! A prompt start to treatment in the case of blood cancer is critical. The faster I can get in contact with the donor, the better the chances of survival are for the patient. 

You are also registered as a potential lifesaver. Have you ever been matched with a patient before? Would you be prepared to donate if you got the call?

Yes, I was matched with a patient once. When I got the call from DKMS, I was initially excited and filled with a feeling of responsibility toward another human being. Her health and her life were suddenly in my hands! When you find yourself in the situation of helping a person in treating their cancer, there’s no way you can say “no.” I always remind myself that my own family or friends could be affected, and then I would pull out all the stops. Because cancer can affect anyone.

And I’d do it again in a heartbeat. For me, the procedure consisted of going to the doctor to donate blood – it was easy to do and frankly, it was fun!

You’ve already been volunteering with AIAS for three years now. What drives you?

I donated stem cells to a patient about four years ago, shortly after my best friend died of cancer. I couldn’t help him, but I was able to help a stranger from Eastern Europe. It’s a weird feeling, but at the same time it’s incredibly comforting and encouraging. I think many people have lost family members to cancer, so they are familiar with this paralyzing feeling of helplessness. Many types of cancer are incurable, but blood cancer can often be treated via stem cell transplant. It’s imperative to take advantage of this and save as many people’s lives as possible, even if we don’t know them personally. Because imagine your father’s or grandmother’s life is on the line. You’d do everything you could to save them.

How can other students volunteer with your group and what prior knowledge or experience do they need?

Anyone who’s interested in public relations, enjoys photography or simply likes organizing interesting events is a good fit. There’s no need for specialized knowledge – just joy in saving lives and a positive attitude.

Why is it important to recruit young people in particular to become donors?

The younger the donor is, the more vital and adaptable their body’s stem cells are. It’s important that young people remain in the database for a longer period of time. If you register at 18, your tissue markers can be stored in the database for nearly 40 years. You never know if you’ll be matched with a patient after a year or in twenty years. If you wait until you’re 40 to do a typing, the period that you could potentially save a life is shortened. At 55, potential donors are no longer stored in the DKMS. The longer your name is in the DKMS register, the more likely it is that you could be called on to donate stem cells.

AIAS Dresden is particularly well-known for it’s large-scale typing campaigns, including the 2020 event at the Auditorium Center that brought in 2,549 new potential donors. The pandemic has hindered an event of this kind the past few years. Are there any plans in the making to repeat this on TUD’s campus?

As long as Covid-19 is a threat, we can’t swab other people’s mouths. So, there’s not currently any large registration event in the pipeline. That’s why we’re currently concentrating on education about the topic and promoting our online campaign, where people can order a donor set to their residence for home-testing.

Do you think you will continue your active involvement in the fight against blood cancer after graduating? What do you want for the future?

Of course! I want to motivate other people to register with DKMS and to dispel any reservations people might have about transplants. This doesn’t have to be tied to my studies or work. I could even see myself organizing typing events like at TUD – these don’t always have to be as big.

And getting typed is simple. I hope that general practitioners will provide more information about the topic in the future and that we’ll move in a direction where people will automatically be registered unless they actively decline. The same applies for the issuing of organ donor IDs.

If you could give a piece of advice to other students who are considering volunteer work, what would it be?

It doesn’t matter what you decide to do. Your commitment alone is what counts and shouldn't be taken for granted. Become a volunteer hero and DKMS hero!

The next AIAS Dresden info stand can be found on April 21 at the “Alte Mensa” canteen. If the weather is good, the group invites you for a round of kubb at Nürnberger Ei the following day at 5:00 pm. On Monday, May 16, the cinema at the University Hospital’s Medical Theoretical Center will be showing “My Sister’s Keeper” in keeping with the “Fighting blood cancer” theme night. The evening will feature information on the topic presented by a doctor of hematology from the University Hospital.

This interview was conducted by Lu Ann Bahmann, student assistant in the Press Office.

TU Dresden’s Student Medical Service (Studentische Sanitätsdienst) teaches staff and students how to perform first aid in emergencies. Since October 2018, Sophie Groschupf has been a volunteer member of the medical service. In addition to pursuing her Master’s degree, she takes care of organization and public relations for the university group.

You’ve already been working with the Student Medical Service for over 3 years now. What motivated you back then to start volunteering in addition to pursuing your studies? Of all the possibilities, why did you choose this university group?

I just wanted to try out something new and do something outside of Social Pedagogy – to escape my bubble, so to speak. Joining a university group at TU Dresden seemed like a good option. At the start of the semester, I saw a poster in a dorm advertising the group and I thought I’d stop by. Sometime later, I went to the winter semester welcome evening and subsequently decided to join the Student Medical Service.

Most students have probably heard of the Student Medical Service before, but they may not know exactly what you do. Can you tell us in what situations people can turn to the Student Medical Service for help?

In addition to training and professional development courses for our own members, we offer free first aid courses tailored to your needs. Plus, we provide first aid cover at university events – to the extent that we are qualified to do so. If, for instance, students want to refresh their knowledge of first aid within their institute, Faculty Student Council or a university group, or if they’re planning the next big conference or party, we are happy to give them the support they need. It’s easiest to reach us via email at .

What is important for someone to note who wants to take part in a first aid course? Who can take part and what prior knowledge is needed?

We offer free first aid courses to staff and students of TUD. How we design our courses is fairly flexible and based on prior discussion with the participating group, so we can cover a broad spectrum of topics in emergency medicine. Regardless of whether it’s about risks and accidents in a chemistry lab, first aid for children or courses in English, we offer it all! The disadvantage to the leeway we have, of course, is that we can’t issue any certificates to the participants. If a certificate is needed, for instance for a driver’s license or for First Aid Officers, we are happy to point you to the right course provider.

Surely many other students would be interested in joining the Student Medical Service. Who is eligible to join your group and what do they need to know? Is prior knowledge required?

Anyone and everyone who is interested in what we do is welcome to contact us. No prior knowledge is needed. Everything you need to know can be learned in time from the trained members at our weekly meetings. Of course, people with experience in the area are also welcome.

Within the Student Medical Service, you’re responsible for organizational tasks and public relations. What does a typical week look like for you? Or is there no such thing?

There’s really no such thing as a typical week. If there’s one task I have each week, it’s to sit down with my PR peers to prepare posts for our Instagram account: @unisan_tud. This requires coming up with thematic content and a certain amount of time – sometimes more, sometimes less. My organizational tasks depend on the inquiries we get. Unfortunately, there are hardly any events at the moment. However, during the semester, we held multiple first aid courses both in German and in English. That requires prior consultation with the groups regarding the focus of the courses, the number of participants and any necessary technical equipment. I then figure out who from our members will lead the course.

Compared to the time before you became a member, would you say that your life has changed in other areas, or has your social life evolved?

Yes, definitely! I know significantly more paramedics than before. I think that when you’re a member of a university group, your social sphere always changes. You meet a lot of new people from very different degree programs and you become familiar with very different perspectives. The Student Medical Service has afforded me a much different view of first aid. I realize now how important it is to master at least some basic first aid that can save a life if it comes to it. That may sound a bit overblown, but ultimately, any of us could end up in a situation where first aid is becomes essential. My interest in the topic grew, and I decided I wanted to learn more about it. Via the Student Medical Service, I got in touch with the Dresden branch of the German Red Cross, and two years ago I became a member.

What goals do you have for your student volunteer work in the coming months? Are there any larger projects planned?

Goals are a bit difficult to set right now due to the uncertainty of everything. Several new members joined the group at the beginning of the winter semester and I’d really love if we can finally meet again in person in the spring/summer. This would also make it a lot easier to get the new members up to speed, seeing as everything is online right now. Of course it would be nicer for the group as a whole if we could practice more again and meet regularly offline. Plus, we have to prepare for dies academicus, in which we’re taking part in May. We will most definitely be there in person. Otherwise, we’re just waiting to see what the coming months bring. There’s never a dull moment for us!

You’re currently studying Social Pedagogy at TU Dresden. Do you think you’ll continue volunteering after graduating, or even pursue a career in medical service?

I can definitely see myself continuing to volunteer. However, I wouldn’t pursue medical services as a profession because I’m much too pleased with my current subject of study. I would keep the option open if I decide that I want to switch career paths at some point, though.

If you could give a piece of advice to other students who are also interested in volunteer work, what would it be?

Just do it. At the beginning, I was somewhat skeptical, but really it’s easy to quickly find your place and it becomes more than just a leisure activity.

This interview was conducted by Lu Ann Bahmann, student assistant in the Press Office.

The initiative “Études Sans Frontières – Studieren Ohne Grenzen,” in English “Studies Without Borders,” is concerned with university education in crisis regions. By awarding scholarships to students in need, the target is to help improve educational infrastructure and raise awareness of the situation. One dedicated member of the Dresden branch is Julika Prinz. Through her volunteer work which she does in addition to her studies, the TUD student hopes to support other young people in getting social projects off the ground in their own home countries. In the following interview, Julika talks about her path to “SOG Dresden” and the scholarship program in Guatemala she’s currently working on.

The initiative “Études Sans Frontières – Studieren Ohne Grenzen Deutschland” has been around since 2003. What does your university group do?

The guiding principle of Studies Without Boarders is that the greatest change begins with the smallest actions. Many young people around the world have the energy, motivation and excellent ideas to effect change. That’s why we organize scholarships for people in war-torn and conflict-ridden regions – to enable them to become more financially independent and initiate social projects in their countries. At the same time, we would like to inform people in Germany about what’s happening in these regions and point out connections between the action we take in Germany and the situations worldwide.

How would you describe a typical week in your volunteer position? What are you responsible for doing?

There’s no such thing as a typical week, really. I’ve always been able to organize my work flexibly, and over the years I’ve been volunteering, my responsibilities have shifted multiple times. From 2018 to 2020, I was the regional coordinator of the Dresden group. This meant preparing and leading the weekly regional meetings as well as organizing team events like the get-to-know-you weekends in Saxon Switzerland and running cocktail evenings.
At Studieren Ohne Grenzen, you can also go beyond the regional group and collaborate with various members at the federal level. After my time as regional coordinator, I represented Studieren Ohne Grenzen in the Verband Deutscher Studierendeninitiativen [Association of Student Initiatives in Germany]. I meet representatives of various student initiatives and discuss current challenges and achievements with them. We talk about how we can learn from each other or support each other, and how we can bolster student engagement in volunteering at universities and raise awareness of it at the political level.

Tell us more about how you got started with “Studieren Ohne Grenzen!”

I found the group through sheer coincidence – one of my peers’ roommates told me about it. He basically said, “We organize scholarships for students in former war-torn and conflict-ridden regions. Our goal is to support them alongside their studies in organizing social projects in their city.” That got me hooked right away. For me, active civic engagement and volunteer work are key components of a lively and progressive society. I liked the idea of helping people in my age group but in their own cities. My interest was piqued and after an info night complete with pizza and beer, I was in.

What makes your involvement in your university group so special for you?

It might sound a bit cliché, but I think it’s worth repeating: The fact that we are united by the association’s vision of “a more peaceful world bound together in solidarity, in which people have the autonomy to actively shape their own living environment.”

With this shared notion, each SOG event is a place to meet new people with whom you can have a great time in various ways. You can goof off together just as well as you can take time to critically reflect in workshops on post-colonialism and racism. I think that’s what makes SOG so special for me: the friendships – in Dresden and across Germany – and the critical reflection with which the association considers its own position and work against the backdrop of social and historical structures.

Each volunteer position is different. What three words describe your student volunteer experience with SOG?

Young, dynamic, sexy!

You study Electrical Engineering at TUD. How do you manage to balance your volunteer work with your studies?

For me, my work with “Studieren Ohne Grenzen” is a supplement to my studies. We address other topics, so I can expand my knowledge in these areas. Plus, it’s nice to have a break from talking about uni business, the professors and the next test we have to take. The weekly regional group meetings often feel more like a regular evening with friends than an obligatory work meeting. There’s always a lot to do in the run-up to events. But since we are a university group and all members are in the same boat as regards our studies, we don’t typically plan many or any events during the exam period.

What stands out the most from your time volunteering? Is there any specific thing you’re particularly proud of?

What stands out the most is the “Freiflugfestival” –a festival for members and friends featuring music and workshops on sustainability, development cooperation, and much more – put together by a team of SOG members all across Germany.

However, what I’m most proud of is the “Wer hilft hier wem?” podium discussion put together by the Dresden regional group, which was a critical discussion about the impact of development cooperation. The organization was very stressful at times, but I was able to learn a lot. Ultimately, 200 people attended the event at the Hygiene Museum to hear what experts had to say on the matter, to ask questions and to join in the conversation. It was a lively evening that I am very proud to have helped organize.

In addition to membership, SOG can also provide other forms of support, for instance through project sponsorship. What does that look like?

Sponsors have the opportunity to finance a portion or all of the scholarship expenses for a scholarship recipient for the duration of their studies. Since the cost of living and studying can differ greatly by country, the scholarships are assembled differently as well. In Guatemala, for example, scholarship recipients are granted 165 euros per month, which covers tuition fees and a portion of the general cost of living. Sponsorship is possible starting at just 15 euros a month.

In past years, you have organized concerts and joint weekend activities. What do you currently have in the pipeline?

Most importantly, we have to find our groove again after the last couple years. In an effort to stay active despite any developments with the pandemic, we are currently planning a Spikeball tournament. The objective is to show our faces on campus and raise awareness among those who are new to TUD. Some group members have also finished their studies, so we have to regroup a bit. Once we get the new group on its feet, we are hoping to organize different events, from concerts to podium discussions. However, it is particularly important to highlight the work we do for the scholarship program in Guatemala. Together with the regional group in Göttingen, we maintain contact with the scholarship recipients, organize the selection process, and continually evaluate the program. This dynamic work constitutes the core of what “Studieren Ohne Grenzen” does and it's what differentiates it from many other clubs and associations. We are currently looking for new members who would like to get involved – in particular people who speak Spanish.

What piece of advice would you like to give new student volunteers or other young people who are undecided about volunteering?

Definitely give it a try. I can only recommend familiarizing yourself with different university groups. It’s important that the core of the work is close to your heart. But the group also has to have chemistry. In addition to forging new friendships, you learn things from volunteer work that you can’t anywhere else. Plus, civic involvement is an important element of our democracy in Germany. Be a part of it! ;)

This interview was conducted by Lu Ann Bahmann, student assistant in the Press Office.

The Civil Engineering Sustainability University Group addresses topics surrounding civil engineering and sustainability. The members work together to steer the focus of university teaching toward ecological topics such as the sustainable construction transition and its realization or alternative construction materials. Laura Oberender is the founder of the group. She hopes to use her position to raise awareness of topics of sustainability in her future occupation as a civil engineer. Laura sat down with us to discuss the founding of her university group, what the volunteer position amounts to and what events are planned for the coming semester.

Your university group was founded in May 2021, making it one of the newest. You are one of the founders of the initiative. How did this come about?

Over the last years, I have become more and more conscious of sustainability issues. At the end of 2020, I realized that they also affect my future career as a civil engineer. The construction sector produces 40% of carbon emissions in Germany. We also consume a great deal of energy and create lots of waste. To find out what I can do as a civil engineer to effect change in the planning phase, I looked for modules in my degree program that could teach me how. In my research, I noticed that there are barely any opportunities at all for training in this area, and those that exist are only available as an elective compulsory module. But since this topic is increasingly pertinent to all civil engineers, I wanted to change that.

My goal was to establish a group that strives to better integrate ecological topics into the curricula. All students should have to deal with this topic during their studies, ensuring greater awareness of it.

Your work is primarily concerned with construction and the environment. What exactly does this mean? What areas do you focus on?

Since we consider the construction sector to be a key player in the fight to curb the climate crisis, this is where we wanted to place our focus. To this end, we have set up various teams, one of which works closely together with the Institute of Building Construction. Together, we are revamping the undergraduate modules. Specifically, we are in the process of creating sustainability lectures, and we have organized guest presentations and modified topics for semester papers that focus on sustainable construction. Students in their 2^nd semester learn, for instance, how an environmental performance comparison between ecological and non-ecological constructions works. During the 2022 summer semester, we helped organize a lecture series for the first time. Together with the “IG Bau” university group, we set up a lecture series on topics in construction. These include a sustainable construction transition.

One other group organizes building site visits for students. We also seek to have more contact with our professors, for instance through regular, informal get-togethers where we consider together how we can include sustainability in teaching to a greater extent and how we can support the institutes in making this change.

Everything we do is shared publicly on social media – we have an internal team dedicated to this task.

What are your specific tasks within the group?

In our university group, I mainly take on public relations work.  On top of that, I’m active in a number of teams. This comprises the work with the Institute of Building Construction as well as the development and organization of the construction lecture series. I also take care of the building site visits and get-togethers with professors.

How would you describe your volunteer work in just three words?

Educational, fulfilling and social.

What makes your volunteer position so special? What do you like most about your work?

For me, our group is more than just a university club. We have grown together into quite a cohesive group over the last year. Each one of us offers the others mutual support, thinks about how we can change things and is prepared to take on different tasks. I also have the feeling that I really am making a difference. That motivates me to keep going.

What prior knowledge or experience should students bring with them if they want to join the Civil Engineering Sustainability Student Group?

There are no prerequisites to getting involved – we welcome everyone who wants to participate and is interested in the sustainable construction transition. Even students enrolled in degree programs other than Civil Engineering are welcome to join! There are now so many things to take care of that don’t even have to do with specialist knowledge of the subject. Any and all helping hands are an asset.

In the last months, you have already conducted some lectures on the topic at TUD. What are your other plans for this year? What events can people look forward to?

We hope that our construction lecture series will continue in the winter semester. Beyond that, we also have various day trips planned, for instance to Leipzig. After a short break, we will also continue to host get-togethers. In September, we’ll be joining forces with HTWK Leipzig to host a workshop on sustainable construction. And we always try to have a presence at other university events. Of course, our regular meetings also take place every two weeks in ABS 2-06. So, it’s worth it to join our groups or follow us on social media so as not to miss anything.

You’re now in your 8^th semester of Civil Engineering at TU Dresden. Has your volunteer work contributed to your studies in any way?

My volunteer work is a particular aid to me now in my later semesters. I handle topics voluntarily that then come up in my studies or that are applied in semester papers. The knowledge that I have acquired saves me time and enables me to delve deeper into the various topics.

Do you have specific targets that you would like for your university group to achieve in the coming months or years?

My target, and also that of other group members, is to found a club that would finance excursions, workshops and lectures in the future. Additionally, I’d like to enable the university group to take root to the extent that even future students take an interest in what we do and continue to fight for our goals. There are still many modules in our degree program that don’t touch upon sustainability. I would be happy if we could change this.

What piece of advice would you give to other students who would like to volunteer and maybe don’t yet know how or to what extent?

I’d say to first look at what groups exist that represent their goals and interests. I can imagine that the wealth of opportunities can be overwhelming and it could be intimidating to joint a new group. However, we more experienced volunteers are always pleased to see new faces. Each person is an asset who can take on tasks that will also have a long-term impact. The benefit that is borne from this is immense. So, it’s useful to just try different things out until you’ve found the field of activity that suits you.

This interview was conducted by Lu Ann Bahmann, student assistant in the Press Office.

Darius is 19 years old and studies International Relations at TUD. In addition to his studies, he is an active member of the Elbe Model United Nations university group. The student-run association has taken on the task of organizing a multi-day, international UN simulation at the Saxon State Parliament in Dresden. Conference participants represent the delegation of a specific country in select UN councils or committees and debate. The objective is to negotiate and adopt resolutions to global political issues.

What motivated you to get involved with volunteer work alongside your studies at TU Dresden?

After graduating from high school last year, I moved to Dresden in October 2021 to study International Relations. Fairly quickly, I got to know students from more advanced semesters who had organized past elbMUN meetings and told me about the conference. These were my first points of contact with the Model United Nations (MUN) Conference in Dresden.

In September of last year, I took part in an MUN in Heilbronn. It was a lot of fun and was enriching for me in many ways. I wanted to get involved with organizing such a great event for others.

How is your initiative structured? What teams are there? How are tasks divided up?

elbMUN is a registered association comprised of a four-person executive board. The executive board is in charge of the association’s legal and financial affairs. Beyond that, there are several teams that take care of organizing the conference. The Secretariat is primarily charged with ensuring smooth conference proceedings. The Conference Team is concerned with how the content of a conference is set up: What discussion committees should be formed and what current, politically relevant topics should be debated with the goal of adopting a resolution. Another really cool team is the Social Events Team, which is basically in charge of everything else. This year, for example, the team organized a movie night, a games night and a party at the Bärenzwinger student club.

What is your current position? Can you give us some insight into your volunteer work with elbMUN?

I’m the Team Head of the Guest Speaker Team. That means that my team is responsible for finding guest speakers for the conference. Because the elbMUN Conference is more than just debates and discussions between delegates – it also consists of intriguing research presentations from scientists, politicians and other experts or reports on their work and experiences. Three of us were able to put together a program last year that included exciting guests, including diplomat Maria Timon, who talked about the impact of climate change on her home – the island country of Kiribati. We also invited Dr. Linus Mührel, who is conducting research on ecocide at Freie Universität Berlin.

What project are you currently working on?

At the moment, we are organizing elbMUN 2023 with the goal of making it even better than the last.

What would such a conference look like from the perspective of a participant?

As a participant in Model United Nations, you are asked to slip into the role of a diplomat who is representing their country at a UN conference. The debates focus on a current topic, mimicking actual United Nations assemblies, for instance the General Assembly or the Security Council. The objective is to adopt a resolution at the end of the debate, in which the measures for solving an ongoing global, political issue are put down in writing. In my opinion, the exciting part is representing the interests of a country of your choosing. A delegate from the United States, for instance, would probably have differing opinions from a delegate from Mexico in many respects. Gaining the confidence of other delegates requires great finesse and diplomacy combined with informal discussions, whether at lunch or in the evening at a party.

Here it’s worth mentioning that the conference always officially begins with a celebratory ceremony at the Saxon State Parliament. Among other guests, the President of the Saxon State Parliament Dr. Matthias Rößler was in attendance. Normally, the entire conference also takes place at the State Parliament.

If you were asked to explain “volunteer involvement,” what would you say it means to you personally?

For me personally, it means giving back to society. Knowing that other people might take pleasure in the time, energy and motivation I invest in helping to organize elbMUN is very fulfilling for me.

Have problems arisen or have you ever had occasion for disappointment as part of your student volunteer position with elbMUN?

Of course. In the Guest Speaker Team, we wrote to about 40 people involved in policy, research and NGOs last year and asked them if they would hold a presentation at the 2021 elbMUN Conference, and only three agreed in the end. It was pretty frustrating at times to be continually turned down and have in the back of our minds that the conference was creeping closer. Ultimately, everything turned out fine thanks to good teamwork and a bit of luck.

In looking back at the past year in your volunteer position, what experiences as Team Head will you take with you? Would you say that your work also impacted your professional or personal development?

The past year has definitely had an effect on me –I now tackle my work with greater vigor. I had a great time with elbMUN. I met wonderful people through the organization and am grateful for the experiences I had.

If you were given the option of volunteering in this capacity all over again, would you still take it?

Definitely! In addition to what I do with elbMUN, I am also involved with the Refugee Law Clinic, where I recently began offering volunteer legal counsel to refugees. I feel like my work there fulfills my responsibility to society and that I can use my knowledge – in this case knowledge surrounding the right of asylum and residency – to help others.

Furthermore, I’m also on the executive board of the association for promoting the International Relations degree program. Here, too, I had a lot of fun organizing events over the past year.

The next conference is planned for next spring. What do you expect from elbMUN 2023?

I expect a great event that brings together students from Dresden, the rest of Germany and the whole world to discuss the most prominent challenges of our time and to debate over suggestions for solving them. And, of course, to spend a few wonderful days in Dresden!

What advice would you give to other students interested in getting involved with volunteering based on your own experiences?

At the start of my studies, I was overwhelmed by opportunities to volunteer and had a problem saying no. Every introductory lecture talked about exciting projects, initiatives and clubs, all of which I would have loved to get involved with. Of course, that would have been difficult to manage time-wise. So, I would tell anyone who is interested to focus on one volunteer position and to pursue it with all your strength instead of forcing yourself to get involved with five different activities that have you so exhausted you can only run on fumes.

We are always on the lookout for people who are interested in getting the conference on its feet. They are welcome to get in touch via email (), Instagram (@elbmun) or our website (www.elbmun.org) – or stop me on campus.

This interview was conducted by Lu Ann Bahmann, student assistant in the Press Office.