Whether it is helping the homeless or helping with homework, for environmental protection or human rights, with older people or with children – there are many opportunities to get involved in volunteer work. By volunteering, you not only help others, you also gain experience that will help you grow. The European university alliance YUFE (Young Universities for the Future of Europe) has created a framework for such social engagement: It supports students' volunteer work and awards its own certificate, the YUFE Civic Star, for it.
How Volunteering with YUFE Works
To volunteer with YUFE, you must first register for participation in the YUFE Virtual Campus. From the course catalog, you can choose a volunteering activity that you would like to participate in – for at least 50 hours. Once you have registered, you can arrange your personal volunteer time on an individual and flexible basis together with the institution in question. Moreover, you will take part in a two-hour online event in English at the beginning of your voluntary work. This is where you will meet like-minded people from all over Europe. At the end of your time volunteering, you fill out a questionnaire about your experiences – and then you will receive the YUFE Civic Star certificate.
By the way, the next online event will take place at 2 p.m. on May 23 – so it's not too late to start your volunteering journey. Registration for the event is open until May 21 via the YUFE Virtual Campus (Please register first to the Virtual Campus in order to get access to this offer).
The following YUFE Civic Star volunteering opportunities are currently available in Bremen:
- Bremer Suppenengel (The Bremen Soup Angels): preparing and distributing hot meals for the needy
- Waller Environmental Education Project of WUPP e.V.: helping with the supervision of children's and youth groups in outdoor activities at the WUPP discovery site in Bremen Walle
- Social Clothing Store of Innere Mission Bremen e.V.: helping with sorting and presentation of clothing donations, helping in the store
- Bremer Tafel e.V.: helping with distributing and serving food to the needy
- Bremer Umwelt Beratung e.V. (Bremen Environmental Advice Association): assisting the team with information events, supporting with counseling services related to environmentally friendly construction and renovation
- Fluchttraum e.V.: assisting in counseling activities for young refugees in Bremen, helping at the girls' club, with visits to the authorities, at the counseling café, and with homework sessions
- Bremer H?nde e.V.: spending time with guests in day and elderly care, doing handicrafts, going for walks, playing or making music. Making music or baking cakes in the hospices at the regular joint breakfast or other activities
- NaturKultur e. V.: Helping with the organization of volunteer work in many different fields of activity in Bremen
- Balu and Du e.V.: supporting a primary school child for a year as a mentor on the journey through life
- Puls Camp: Supporting and participating in an orientation week for volunteering in Bremen for young people
What Is YUFE and Why Does YUFE Support Volunteering?
YUFE stands for “Young Universities for the Future of Europe.” It is an alliance of ten European universities and two non-university partners. The University of Bremen is one of its founding members. Together, all partner institutions are pursuing the goal of building an open and inclusive European University. This offers students and university staff Europe-wide opportunities for further development in education, research, and their careers. “One of YUFE's main aims is to ensure that teaching and research do not take place in an ivory tower. We want students, staff, and researchers to make a positive change not only at their universities, but also in society,” states Magdalena Stremplewska from the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Poland, who heads the Community and Civic Engagement department at YUFE. ”That's another reason why we are committed to supporting volunteering.”
You can find more information about the YUFE Civic Star here: Link
An explanatory video can be found here: Link
If you have any questions, you can also contact Ursel Hauschildt: Mail; phone: +49 (0)421 218-60379
