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[00:00-00:20] Louis: Hello Felix. Thank you for taking the time for me today. So, I'm conducting this interview as a part of my Solicity International project to understand civic engagement among young people in Germany. So, could you briefly introduce yourself? [00:20-00:37] Felix: Of course. So, I'm Felix. I'm from Heilbronn. Not originally, but I moved here. And I study at HHN University, and I'm studying International Business. And I'm here in my second year, fourth semester. [00:37-00:50] Louis: So, let's start with the first question about your personal volunteering story. I know you're part of the buddies program. What made you want to join and help international students? [00:50-01:40] Felix: I think it's just part of hospitality, you know. So, I'm going abroad next semester to the UK, and I would like it very much if they had something similar to just have the opportunity to connect to... like the foreign students. And I think we as Germans are not very popular for being hospitable. And I see that on the campus as well. So, some of the students don't like to work together with international students and stuff like this. And I thought the buddy program would be a nice thing to do, and especially as it's not very time-consuming or something. I just thought it would be a nice program. [01:40-01:52] Louis: How do you fit your volunteering into your student schedule? Is it like a few hours a week or specific events or projects? [01:52-02:26] Felix: So, in my studies, I would say it's more on the side because like the buddy program, I like talking to international students. And I also try to do group work with them if I see that they are kind of lost. Um, but as I'm not part of any organization, I don't have a real schedule relating to those type of voluntary activities. [02:26-02:34] Louis: What kind of skills, maybe professional or personal, do you feel you have developed through of your volunteering work? [02:34-03:44] Felix: I feel like for the buddy program, international communication is trained because you have people from different cultural backgrounds. I worked together with people from South Korea, for example, in an earlier semester, and a guy from Finland, and also a girl from Kazakhstan. And now I know you from France. And I really learned that it's different to communicate with people from different cultures and countries. So, for example, the guys from South Korea were very polite and were afraid to do something wrong. The guy from Finland was a little bit quieter, but also very different to a German person, I would say. And I think this is a skill to know how people are actually different from other countries, and you maybe need to adjust your style of communicating to them a little bit. That's something I enjoyed to learn. [03:44-03:52] Louis: What about your friends or other students at the university? Is volunteering a common thing to do? [03:52-04:22] Felix: So, in Germany, in general, I think they are... the church, which has a lot of voluntary work, then sports clubs, especially football clubs. And also stuff related to refugees, I would say. And, as I mentioned before, firefighters and Deutsches Rotes Kreuz... [04:22-04:35] Louis: From what you see, what are the main reasons young people here get involved? Is it to meet people or for specific causes they care about, or something else? [04:35-05:09] Felix: So, it depends on the activity. For the buddy program, it's definitely to meet people and to connect to them, to get some sort of network, I guess, for some people. And also for the sports clubs and stuff, it's also the same thing to get social contacts. But for other activities like refugee help, it's certainly because the people want to do good and the idea of helping those people. [05:09-05:24] Louis: In your opinion, is it easy for students to start volunteering in Germany? And for example, is the city or the university helping to start and to find opportunities? [05:24-06:13] Felix: So, I think it's relatively easy because there are always spots or certainly opportunities to help people all the time. But as far as that the city helps you to get engaged, I don't feel like that is the case very much. But for the university, they have certainly some programs like the buddy program, or even the democratic institutions of the university, like the students' council and stuff, that helps you to get engaged. So, I would say for the university, yes. For the city, I don't know of it, but maybe they have some measures to get people to work. [06:13-06:20] Louis: If you want to convince a friend to start volunteering, what would you tell them? [06:20-06:56] Felix: So, I guess the only way to get somebody to do something is by showing them what's in for them. And that's the same for volunteering. And then you need to point out, so maybe it gets you a feeling that is worth doing some work because you're helping somebody, which for most people is something rewarding. And maybe it's a cause that they support, like in my case, international relationships. And then you can motivate them by showing them what's in for them. [06:56-07:05] Louis: Are there some causes that are super popular among students, like environments or helping people? [07:05-08:01] Felix: So, I think those two things that you mentioned are very popular among students. I feel like the environmental thing is still very relevant, but it was more relevant a couple of years ago. I don't know why, but it's that way I feel. And social causes, I think, are always popular, and I guess that's the voluntary field that most people can relate to, because everybody can imagine that it would be very helpful to have somebody to help you in a difficult situation. And the environmental topic is important to a lot of people for obvious reasons because we want to save the planet. But as I said, I feel like it's getting somehow less important, but maybe that will change again. [08:01-08:05] Louis: So, how did you get involved in your buddy program? [08:05-09:24] Felix: So, we had to fill an application where we had to write about ourselves, so our hobbies and interests, and I guess they try to match that. Also, which languages you're speaking, for obvious reasons. And then we had to write a little text about how we want to participate. And I wrote that I think it's a good idea, the program. I think it's some sort of hospitality to welcome international students at your university and to offer them the opportunity to help them in, like, organizational issues or if they have social questions or something like this. And that's why I thought it would be a nice idea. Yes, so I think there are more people that want to join than people that can join. So that's why we have an application. And I also heard about people that did it two times, so maybe if you do it one time, your chances are better if you did it in a good way. But I certainly think that a lot of people like the idea as well. So that's why we have the application.
My volunteering journey : From a shelter in France to a university in Germany
Volunteering seems the same everywhere, but my experiences in France and Germany showed me two very different worlds. Before coming to Heilbronn, I spent two months helping at a shelter in France. Comparing that with what I learned here, I see two unique ways of thinking about civic engagement.
My time in France : A human connection at "Le Foyer"
For two months, I volunteered at "Le Phare," a day shelter for the homeless run by "Le Foyer Notre-Dame des Sans-Abris". There, I saw real poverty up close for the first time. The association called the people who came "passengers," because they were just passing through a difficult time in their lives.
My role was very hands-on. I helped the staff prepare food, assisted families with their laundry, and spent a lot of time with the children. We didn't have a strict schedule; sometimes we just did simple things. I remember doing a puzzle with two kids, Aïden and Aïcha, or drawing a giant castle on the pavement with another boy, Nassim. We also had special activities, like a hip-hop class or a music workshop with drums. It was a very human experience. I learned that even in tough situations, people can show so much kindness and share beautiful smiles.
My discovery in Germany : A structured approach
In Germany, I met Felix, a student who volunteers for Heilbronn University's "Buddy Program." His experience is very different. His goal is to be hospitable and help new international students feel welcome, especially since he will be studying abroad soon too.
His volunteering is very organized and supported by the university. It was easy for him to sign up through an official application process. He explained that this work isn't too time-consuming and fits well with his studies. In fact, he mentioned that students in Germany can even earn school credits (ECTS) for volunteering. For Felix, it's a great way to improve his intercultural skills by learning to communicate with people from all over the world.
Two countries, two ways to help
My experience in France and my talk with Felix in Germany show two different paths to the same goal.
| France (My experience) | Germany (Felix's experience) |
|---|---|
| Focus Direct help for people in poverty. |
Focus Help for students to integrate. |
| Motivation Responding to a social need, making a human connection. |
Motivation Cultural exchange, hospitality, and developing skills. |
| Organization Run by an independent charity, with a mix of planned and spontaneous activities. |
Organization Organized by the university, with a clear structure and process. |
This reflects a bigger difference between the two countries.
A bigger look : How France and Germany see social help
In France, we often expect the government to solve social problems. The state spends a lot of money and has big national programs, like the Service Civique, to get young people involved. We have a strong tradition of the state being responsible for its citizens' welfare.
In Germany, the approach is different. The government supports local groups, but it's the people and civil society organizations that do most of the work. They call this "subsidiarity," which means problems should be solved at the most local level possible. Organizations like the church, sports clubs, and the Red Cross are very important. The university, by running programs like the Buddy Program, is a perfect example of this local action.
My final thoughts
This journey taught me so much. My time in France was about deep, human connection in the face of hardship. My discoveries in Germany showed me a very organized and effective system that encourages everyone to participate.
Neither way is better than the other. Both have their strengths. But what I learned is that no matter how it's organized, the goal of volunteering is the same. Whether you're drawing a castle with a child in a shelter or helping a new student find their way on campus, you are making a connection and making a difference. Both countries have found their own powerful ways to do just that.