Day of Honor 2026: For a strong honorary office in Jena

The Federal President has proclaimed May 23, 2026 for the first time as a Germany-wide day of participation on the birthday of the Basic Law. The city of Jena is taking part in the "Day of Honour" and is paying tribute to the many facets of volunteering locally on the occasion of the day of action. Project ideas for strengthening young volunteers can be submitted until May 29.

Volunteering strengthens cohesion in Jena - from music clubs to fire departments to district councils

Volunteering makes a significant contribution to social cohesion in Jena. The majority of voluntary work is carried out in sport. Whether coaches, trainers, board members, referees or organizational talents - they all support our city's sporting activities with their commitment. The commitment of cultural workers and the independent scene is just as indispensable. This is where encounters, creativity and participation are lived. Volunteers need reliable structures and support to ensure that sports and cultural activities continue to make Jena a great place to live in the future.

The volunteer firefighters in Jena are also there when people need help - often in the middle of the night, at weekends and alongside work and family. This commitment is an indispensable part of our urban society and deserves reliable support. This is why the promotion of voluntary work for the fire departments is of great importance in order to strengthen this commitment in the long term and to secure the important structures of fire and disaster protection.

Support for voluntary work

The city of Jena supports volunteer work in various ways. Among other things, special commitment is recognized with the Thuringian Volunteer Card, which is awarded every year by the Lord Mayor at a ceremony in the old town hall. The city's Volunteer Advisory Board determines the strategic direction of the promotion of volunteering. It works as an independent and non-partisan interest group. Further information can be found at: jena.de/ehrenamt

Support and information on volunteering is also provided by the Volunteer Agency of the Jena-Saale-Holzland Community Foundation and the "Engagiert in Jena" platform: engagiert-in-jena.de

In addition, associations, organizations and initiatives can apply for funding from the Thuringian Volunteer Foundation to support volunteer work, recruit new volunteers or finance further training.

Call for projects: Young volunteers deserve support

The city of Jena is currently calling on clubs, associations and initiatives to submit project ideas to promote young volunteering. The aim is to get young people more enthusiastic about volunteering and to support the generational change in clubs and organizations. Many organizations are faced with the challenge of recruiting young people for long-term commitment. At the same time, young people's requirements and expectations of voluntary work are changing.

Kathleen Lützkendorf, Head of the Department for Social Affairs, Health, Immigration and Climate, emphasizes: "Encouraging young people to get involved is important because it is an opportunity to play an active role in shaping society. At the same time, it secures the future of volunteering in our city."

Funding is available for innovative projects that test new forms of volunteering and involve young people in the long term. A total of up to 5,000 euros in funding is available. The application deadline is May 29, 2026. Further information can be found at: rathaus.jena.de/en/junges-ehrenamt-verdient-unterstuetzung

Day of Honor 2026

The Federal President's Day of Honor under the motto "For you. For us. For all." honors the voluntary and honorary commitment of citizens in Germany. The focus is on people who are committed to the common good in a special way - for example in associations, social institutions, culture or civil protection. The aim of the Day of Honour is to highlight the importance of volunteering for social cohesion and to publicly recognize this commitment. Jena is taking part in the Day of Honor with various activities. These are available at: ehrentag.de/