Photo exhibition on the subject of volunteering in Jena Town Hall

More than 1.7 million people in Germany volunteer in civil protection and disaster control. Their commitment is indispensable for society, our safety and welfare. A photo exhibition by the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) pays tribute to the important work of local emergency services.

Under the title "Heroes from next door - portraits of volunteers", the city of Jena is presenting portraits of some of its volunteer emergency services in the town hall. As part of the volunteering campaign "With you for all of us", the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance is curating several photo exhibitions in 2023.

Exhibitions show the diversity of volunteering

Following the launch in Jena, further exhibitions with portraits of volunteers are planned in Chemnitz, Kiel and Koblenz in October and November. The photographs show people as you meet them on the street, while shopping or at a street party. They are people "from next door" - who take responsibility for themselves and their community in times of need and long before. With the exhibitions, the BBK wants to give volunteering many faces. They are intended to sensitize citizens to civil protection and disaster control and highlight the numerous activities, the motivation for and the added value of volunteer work.

In addition to photos of volunteers from Jena and the surrounding area, the winning photos from the BBK photo competition "With your photo for all of us - Focus on volunteering" will also be exhibited in the city hall. The BBK called for entries in May 2023.

Volunteers from various organizations portray their everyday lives

The portraits show helpers from various organizations with tasks in civil protection and disaster control. These include the German Federal Agency for Technical Relief, the German Red Cross, the German Life Saving Society, Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe, Malteser Hilfsdienst, the Association of Working Groups of Helpers in Civil Protection Units and Facilities in the Federal Republic of Germany, the Workers' Samaritan Federation and the fire departments.

True to the campaign motto "No matter what you can do, you can help", the pictures show very different people in the most diverse fields of activity. The aim of the campaign is to show that diversity is the strength of volunteering - because everyone has talents and skills that can be put to good use in civil protection and disaster relief.

"Heroes from next door - portraits of volunteers"

When: September 13 to 30, 2023, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Where? Jena town hall, Markt 1, 07743 Jena - plenary hall

Further information on the BBK campaign "Mit Dir Für Uns Alle" at: http://mit-dir-fuer-uns-alle.de/ehrenamt/

Porträt einer ehrenamtlichen Helferin