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European Solidarity Corps – Field Report

Volunteering

An insight 

From time to time, we introduce our volunteers here and let them speak for themselves. 

Meet Anna Hönig

Anna Hönig has decided to take the plunge and explore a new country. She is now gaining practical experience through voluntary work. 

Her account shows how international volunteering can turn curiosity into real skills – from working with children in the classroom to running her own language clubs and integrating into a local community.

Through her account of her journey to Nachod, she brings to life what the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) is really all about: learning by doing, sharing cultures, and stepping outside one’s comfort zone. 

“Hello, I’m Anna from Germany and I’m volunteering in Nachod for five months, from February to June. Before coming here, I finished my A-levels last summer and worked for four months in a manufacturing company to earn some money. I’m here because I want to combine travelling with gaining teaching experience before I start my degree.   

At school, I assist the teachers during lessons and prepare activities such as games or presentations for English and German lessons. Through this work, I’m learning more about how best to foster creativity and how to explain things in different ways so that the pupils can understand them better. At Déčko, our organisation, I run several English and German language clubs independently. This means I prepare games and topics for the pupils to play with and discuss, to help them learn the language more effectively. We also prepare materials for the organisation’s events and take part in events aimed mainly at children, but also at our peers. I came here to gain new experiences and to learn about other people’s ways of life and other cultures.”


International volunteering – a European programme

Working with international volunteers is an exciting part of pewobe g GmbH’s work in Frankfurt (Oder) as a supporting organisation within the European Solidarity Corps. This European programme offers young people aged 18 to 30 the opportunity to volunteer abroad, discover new cultures and develop new skills through meaningful community service. At the same time, a strong network of organisations is being built across Europe. The volunteers are supported, guided, mentored, and empowered by the diverse range of organisations throughout their placement.

The role of a supporting organisation 

As a supporting organisation, it is pewobe g GmbH’s role to prepare the volunteers in its care before their departure, to stay in touch with them during their project and to help them reflect on their learning experiences. We work closely with the host organisations to ensure that every volunteer feels safe, supported, valued, and motivated.  

Personal and professional development – we support and guide you 

Sending volunteers abroad is not just about travel, but about personal and professional development, intercultural exchange, and making a real impact in local communities.   

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Volunteering with GreenLink – pewobe gets involved

Project launch

The EU project “GreenLink: Youth Empowerment for Sustainable European Cities” launched on 1 January 2026. Running for 18 months, the initiative brings together 11 cities from 10 EU countries to strengthen young people’s civic participation and promote cross-border cooperation.

What is the aim of the project?

The focus is on strengthening long-term local volunteer management that actively involves young people – particularly those with fewer opportunities (NEETs, members of ethnic or linguistic minorities, and the LGBTQ+ community) – in democratic life.

Practice rather than theory

Rather than addressing environmental or human rights issues purely in theory, the GreenLink project focuses on participatory engagement. Across Europe, over 100 young volunteers will be involved in community service activities for at least six months to organise major local events with a total of around 3,000 participants.

Cooperation

In the twin city on the River Oder, GreenLink is focused on bridging the historical and linguistic divide through joint commitment. The city of Frankfurt (Oder) acts as a project partner, whilst the municipality of Słubice is closely involved in the implementation as an associated partner.

As a project partner, pewobe gGmbH will play an active role. Our volunteers and members of the Kompetenzteam will provide targeted support for the planned activities.


Activities in the region are organised into two key work packages:
  1. “Life by the River – Ecology and Inclusion Across Borders – 5th Frankfurt-Słubice Citizens’ Picnic on Europe Day, 9 May 2026”:

Volunteers from Germany and Poland will jointly organise river clean-up campaigns, eco-workshops on biodiversity and sustainability, as well as public debates on youth participation in urban life. The aim is to view the Oder not as a border, but as a shared European space.


2. A project activity is also planned for 2027, which will be planned and carried out together with volunteers and young people.