Many wish for more solidarity, cohesion, togetherness, and generosity. And it is best if everyone starts by giving what they wish to receive from others themselves. In the second part of our solidarity special, you will find a few suggestions for community-promoting behavior.
Get active – even politically
Anyone can get upset and complain about politicians. This is evident in the many, often aggressive comments on the internet. However, it is much better if you become active yourself. Form an informed opinion through constructive exchange with others. You, too, can get involved politically, perhaps on a small scale at first. For example, you could attend a meeting in your municipality or a party event in your city. You can find information in regional daily newspapers or from the respective parties. You might soon get fired up for the community interests of your surroundings.
Be a role model: show solidarity
It may sound old-fashioned, but role models are more important today than ever. We, too, have learned positive things from others, be it from our brave and strong grandparents or from public figures who stand up for others. You, too, can lead by example and act responsibly towards yourself and others. If you show yourself to be firmly in solidarity with others, you take on a role model function.
Educate yourself, form your own opinion
Especially in times when one is flooded with information by the media, it is important to keep an overview. Form your own opinion of the world by staying well-informed and continuing your education. This makes cultural and political debates much easier to understand. Because as we know, knowledge is power. The Federal Agency for Civic Education (Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung) works at the intersection of science, state, and education and is a good point of contact for nuanced information
and educational material (www.bpb.de).
Promote solidarity in the neighborhood
In times of special challenges, social contacts are more important than ever. Especially the people with whom we live door-to-door often miss out. Make contact and ask, for example, your elderly neighbor if you can run errands for them. Or offer the single mother to look after her children for a few hours. You will very likely experience how even small gestures create a sense of community and how much gratitude you receive in return. There are also online neighborhood platforms that ensure more contact in the neighborhood, for example at: www.nebenan.de
Volunteer work
Helping others actively is easier than you think. Why not ask charitable associations or your church congregation how you can get involved? In many cities, there are organized food distributions such as soup kitchens or so-called "Tafeln" (food banks) for the homeless. Here, surplus food that would otherwise end up in the trash is distributed to those in need. Whether charity bazaars, fundraising campaigns, or food distributions: there are many ways to do good. At the umbrella organization of volunteer agencies (www.bagfa.de), you will find a nationwide directory of individual regional placement centers.
Show solidarity through donations in kind
Especially in times of great challenges, we are all called upon to show solidarity and provide support wherever possible. Doing good with donations in kind is a simple way to provide people with something meaningful. You can find support for this, for example, on the website www.wohindamit.org. There, you can first select what you would like to donate. Then simply enter your zip code and all suitable facilities that accept donations in kind and distribute them to those in need will be displayed on a map. Through Oxfam, donations in kind and money also flow to developing countries, which the international network accepts in its shops (https://shops.oxfam.de/sachen-spenden/spenden).
Donate clothing
If you want to pass on your used clothing to those in need, used clothing containers are rather the wrong address, as they are often used purely commercially. However, there are alternative ways to donate your clothing meaningfully. For example, charitable organizations pass on used clothing to welfare recipients, the homeless, refugees, and other people in need. Often you can help with small things. These can be items of clothing such as jackets, sweaters, or scarves that provide warmth. You can find a directory of nationwide clothing banks, for example, at: www.caritas.de
• If you want to learn more about happiness, which interacts with an enriching togetherness, then you will find what you are looking for here.
