Rügen New Year's Resolutions: Committed to family and community!

Rügen New Year's Resolutions: Committed to family and community!

A new year, a new opportunity! Many people in Rügen have made good resolutions for 2026. In addition to classic goals such as more exercise and healthy eating, the focus is also on innovative ideas. Many Rügen residents plan to spend more time with family and friends and to do volunteer work. For example, Karin Giesel from Bergen would like to get more exercise on the island's beautiful beaches. Eike Bülle from Lauterbach, on the other hand, has set herself the goal of being more conscious when eating and discovering jogging as a new hobby.

In the middle of all these planning steps there are also those who want to get involved in the community. Maren Hirsch from Ummanz is planning to take over the surf hostel “Ummaii” and the “Tiki Bar” through a cooperative. Over 100 citizens have already come together in the “Uns Eigen” cooperative to preserve the facility and thus keep their region alive. This collaboration reflects the latest trends in the field of cooperatives, which represent a promising form of organization to strengthen rural areas. According to the findings of geno-chances.de Cooperatives are not only necessary to ensure public services, but also contribute to promoting social cohesion.

Commitment to the community

Another example of active commitment is Andrea Kähler from Sellin, who is planning to set up a reading circle for women. The boy Ruben Bartholomäus from Putbus also wants to direct his focus back to personal contacts and spend less time on digital media. This hits the nerve of the times, given the increasing desire of many people to build more real interpersonal relationships again.

Promoting social cohesion on Rügen is a key task. Kerstin Kassner from Bergen has decided to reduce her involvement in volunteer work in order to have more time for her family and friends. Angela Koch from Garz also contributes her part to the community by advancing her late husband's legacy and supporting the “Geschwister Joachim and Gabriele Berg Foundation”. This foundation is instrumental in supporting regional clubs and initiatives in art, culture and sport.

The role of cooperatives

The establishment of new cooperatives and involvement in cooperatives are not only a regional trend, but also fit into a larger context. In a research project at the Humboldt University of Berlin The benefits and necessity of cooperatives in rural areas are examined. It analyzes how civic engagement in the form of cooperatives can represent a viable alternative to meeting social and economic challenges.

Overall, it shows that the people of Rügen not only keep an eye on their individual resolutions, but also how they can achieve positive results together. They clearly have a knack for using the strengths of the community and the potential of cooperatives to sustainably improve life on the island and in rural areas. So let's use the energy that the new year brings with it to lay the foundations for an even better neighborhood and a strong coexistence!