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Commitment

Only when we act we make a difference – how our personal commitment drives change in our society

Whether it’s social inequality or climate change, there are numerous tasks that challenge us as a society. To make a difference, we need to take responsibility. Every step, no matter how small, counts. In this blog post, we’ll show you the importance of personal engagement for change in our society and how you can get active, too.

What exactly is personal engagement?

Every little change in everyday life counts. If you don’t separate waste and use the argument that others are still flying to go vacation or driving an SUV, you have the wrong attitude. Everyone must start with themselves. Even if you only sign a petition, support an association or a campaign or integrate our MoreDiversity.de principles into your everyday life, you are already making a positive contribution to your environment. Most likely, you will also feel a positive change in yourself. Each and every one of us can and should contribute to a more open and just society. It is not about taking responsibility away from the state. It always takes both sides. But someone who has never separated waste themselves will probably be less accepting of government measures to reduce the carbon footprint, than someone who is well aware of the scope of the climate catastrophe and who does something themselves – even if it’s only in small ways.

Which commitment suits me?

Not everyone has the time to volunteer. But if you are able to spare a few hours of your daily life, you should consider which topics are particularly close to your heart or concern you the most. These can be social, environmental, or political issues. If you know what you believe in and what you want to change, it’s easier to find the right commitment and motivate yourself.

There are countless ways to get involved for a better society – from active participation in protest events and petitions to volunteering in social or environmental projects. Each type of involvement is valuable and can make a difference. Just test yourself out and see what you feel comfortable with. In any case, the most important prerequisite is the willingness to work for others and to take on responsibility. You can find out more about this topic on Take Action.

Open your eyes to your own talents and get active

Don’t worry if you’re not active anywhere now and don’t quite know where and how exactly you can get involved. Remember that any kind of involvement, no matter how small, can make a difference. And if you get involved on a regular basis, you may find how much you and those around you enjoy it, and that your involvement becomes more meaningful day by day. Below we’ve rounded up a few ideas for you, maybe there’s something here for you?

Share your talent! Ask yourself, what are you good at? Project management? Visualization? Writing? Accounting? Cooking? Organizing? Or maybe you can teach a language or tutor? Are you a social butterfly with people skills? For every skill and talent, there is most likely an organization that could use your exact talent to help.

For people in need

Help those in need by volunteering at shelters, soup kitchens or food banks. These organizations need people with a wide variety of skills, ranging from manual labor to office work to public relations.

For sick people

From hospices to hospitals to organizations like the Red Cross, there are many ways to care for the sick and disabled who need help with everyday life. This doesn't always necessarily require medical experience. You can also drive people to appointments, deliver medications or run errands to make life easier for many, or help the elderly with shopping and household chores while listening to their stories. This can make them feel safe and less alone, and you're sure to take away many experiences for your own life.

In sports

In many places, you can become actively involved in a sports club by coaching children and teaching them teamwork, good sportsmanship and the joy of movement. Some also need help planning and organizing events. Just ask where help is needed.

For environmental protection

As a volunteer in a protected area, you will help preserve ecologies and create new ones.

For children and teenagers

Work with children or teenagers from all walks of life. You can help them with everything from homework to making important life decisions like applying for an apprenticeship or going to college. Whether you work in a kindergarten, a school, a children's home or a youth organization, helping children and young people is a personal mission for social change.

In companies

Do you work in human resources? Hiring employees from different backgrounds and building diverse teams in a company are crucial steps toward an integrated corporate culture. That's why it's important, for example, to network with professional associations that represent very different groups. Likewise, the introduction of an internship in some companies is useful, so that the focus here can be on the promotion and inclusion of candidates with different backgrounds.

How to find the right organization?

There are several ways to find out which organization suits you. One of them is to ask friends and acquaintances about volunteer platforms they know. You can also find many organizations and contacts on the internet and social media. Alternatively, you can contact people directly who are active in an organization for a particular issue. On portals like helpteers, you can specify subject areas and find suitable volunteer positions. Corporate networks such as Xing or LinkedIn are also a good way to get in touch with other interested parties.

There are also many local initiatives for various causes, such as refugee aid, environmental or youth work, which you can find out about at the town hall, in church communities, adult education centers or in local daily newspapers. Again, personal interviews are an effective and efficient way to find out more about an organization.

Our conclusion

Talk the talk and walk the walk! They say a good plan is only as good as its implementation. Because we can only make a difference if we turn our words into actions. In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to take things for granted. But when we realize what privileges we have, it quickly becomes clear that only by taking action can we make a difference. By working for a better society, we help drive change in a positive and sustainable way. And maybe it’s not always easy to get involved – but it’s worth it!