Volunteering in disaster control: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is planning an award!

Volunteering in disaster control: Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is planning an award!

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania there is movement in the recognition of voluntary work in disaster protection. The state parliament has called on the state government to introduce a badge of honor for special achievements in aid organizations, similar to what already exists for the fire department. This initiative is intended to be a visible sign of public appreciation that recognizes the importance of the numerous citizens who take responsibility in crisis situations. Interior Minister Christian Pegel announced rapid implementation and sees the need to act quickly in order to properly honor the deserving helpers. A draft law could soon be available, although the exact details are still up in the air reported.

The recognition will not just be symbolic. If you have worked with the organizations for many years, the honor should be coupled with financial donations. These will play an important role in promoting volunteer engagement and responding to challenges such as demographic change and declining population numbers. An example from the fire department shows that members of voluntary fire departments will in future receive financial recognition for their commitment. There are anniversary bonuses ranging from 100 euros for 10 years, up to 250 euros for 40 years of service. These changes are part of a bill that includes the adaptation of the Fire Protection Decorations Act of 1993 reported.

Growing interest in disaster prevention

Civil protection in Germany, on which more than 1.7 million citizens depend, relies heavily on volunteers. Over 90 percent of committed citizens work on a voluntary basis, which further underlines the importance of the topic. While demographic changes and rural exodus reduce the pool of volunteers, interest in disaster protection-related topics is increasing. This was triggered in particular by media reporting on the federal government's new civil protection concept highlights.

The Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e. V. is committed to increasing the appreciation of volunteer work in civil protection with various initiatives such as the “Helping Hand” volunteer award and the volunteer card. Employers are also increasingly required to release their employees for exercises and missions, but at the same time they benefit from the skills developed by volunteers, which are also helpful in operational security tasks.

Conclusion: An important step for the recognition of volunteers

Such a sign of recognition is more than just a symbol; it is an important signal in times when volunteers are increasingly struggling with challenges. Voluntary involvement in disaster control, which includes a wide range of tasks such as support in large-scale operations such as flood events or forest fires, should be more highly valued in our society. With these measures, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania shows that it does not forget and honors the achievements of its volunteers. It now remains to be seen when this important initiative will be implemented.