Honorary heroes honored: State honors seven committed citizens!

Honorary heroes honored: State honors seven committed citizens!

December 5th marks International Volunteer Day, an occasion to recognize all those who enrich life in our communities through their volunteer work. In Schleswig-Holstein, 43 percent of the population is currently involved in voluntary work. This shows how important this form of commitment is for the social structure. A remarkable honor recently took place in Kiel, where Prime Minister Daniel Gunther presented the country's badge of honor to seven deserving volunteers.

The award winners include people who have been involved in various areas for at least 12 years. At the ceremonial ceremony in the state government guest house, personalities who have distinguished themselves in the areas of nature conservation, social work and cultural initiatives were honored. The Prime Minister praised the tireless commitment of the honorees, who not only invest time but also show great personal commitment.

Prize winner for nature conservation

Particularly noteworthy are Herwart Bansemer from Ratekau and Gerhard Büge from Hartenholm, who were recognized for their outstanding work in the field of environmental protection. Bansemer, co-founder of several environmental initiatives, has campaigned strongly for the designation of protected areas, while Büge, as a speaker for the state hunting association, is actively involved in nature conservation projects. Your activities contribute to preserving the beauty of nature in Schleswig-Holstein.

Voluntary work in social areas

There is also a lot of praise for the award winners in the social sector. Anna Gertraud Countess von Schlieffen from Altenholz receives the honor for her decades of work with the German Red Cross. She helped set up local groups and campaigned for child care. Anne-Gertrud Pistol's 27 years of voluntary work in the Eutin hospice initiative aim to promote awareness of dying, death and grief in society.

In addition, Dr. Klaus Knaack was honored for his commitment to child and youth protection, as was Anne Schmaljohann, who advocates for equal rights in agriculture. She has supported the “Junge LandFrauen” in Schleswig-Holstein since 2010 and is a good example of female commitment in a traditionally male-dominated area.

The importance of volunteering

Voluntary work is the basis of an active society, and around 16.9 million people in Germany are involved in volunteer work, as various statistics show. Loud Statista The participation rate in organized volunteer work was 27.5 percent in 2024, which underlines the great importance of volunteering. It is often older adults who get involved in local institutions, while more and more young people do their social service as part of a voluntary year.

Voluntary work not only promotes a sense of community in communities, but is also an important part of institutions and clubs, such as sports clubs or charities. It is clear that volunteering is a crucial pillar of our society – and continues to make valuable contributions.