Doing Something Important: The Impact of Volunteering in Europe

Volunteering offers a unique opportunity to make a significant impact on society. Recently, during a trip to Warsaw, we visited the Foundation for Polish-German Reconciliation, established in 1992 to commemorate the victims of World War II and promote reconciliation through dialogue.

Since 2001, the Foundation has run various volunteering programs and achieved accreditation as a European Voluntary Service project in 2009. Meeting the young volunteers involved in these programs was enlightening.

Discovering Motivations

Volunteers had various reasons for joining, including a desire to travel, improve language skills, and gain experience in the voluntary sector. Many were drawn by a personal interest in Polish history, particularly the events of World War II. One volunteer, Oleksiy from Ukraine, simply wanted to “do something important.” This sentiment captures the essence of volunteering: sharing skills, changing lives, and striving for a better future.

Making a Real Impact

The volunteers at the Foundation make a tangible difference. They provide intergenerational support to war victims and their families, and engage in educational activities to foster understanding and reconciliation. Over 500,000 people have benefited from their efforts, including former concentration camp prisoners, slave laborers, and other victims of Nazi persecution.

By volunteering, these young individuals are not only learning from the past but also shaping a better future. They’re “doing something important” by helping us learn from history and act for future generations.

For more insights on European volunteering, explore our article on European volunteering - the new inter-railing? or read about how student volunteering changed lives.