DRC President Hasselfeldt slams insufficient allowance for volunteer work
In a recent development, the German Red Cross President, Gerda Hasselfeldt, has called for the strengthening of voluntary services in the country. One of her key proposals is to align the pocket money rates for voluntary services such as the Federal Voluntary Service (BFD) and the Voluntary Social Year (FSJ) with the BAföG rate.
BAföG, the Federal Training Assistance Act, provides educational support for students. Starting from the winter semester 2024/2025, the maximum support for students living independently will be up to €992 per month [1]. This rate is divided, with half given as a subsidy and the other half as a non-interest-bearing loan that must be repaid later.
Hasselfeldt believes that aligning the pocket money rates for voluntary services with BAföG would ensure equitable and adequate financial support for volunteers, reflecting comparable living cost coverage as students receive under educational support schemes. This alignment would recognise the voluntary services' contribution and promote financial fairness, enabling participants to cover living costs more effectively while serving [1].
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is planning to submit a bill for a "new military service" to the cabinet at the end of August. The bill includes a questionnaire to be sent to all 18-year-olds, with men required to fill it out and women having the option to do so. The aim is to gauge interest in military service in the Bundeswehr.
However, Hasselfeldt has expressed concern that voluntary services are not currently particularly attractive and are often only an option for children of financially well-off parents. She has suggested orienting the pocket money towards the BAföG rate and including a mention of the voluntary service in the context of the reform of the voluntary military service planned by Pistorius.
Currently, there are only about 182,000 soldiers in the Bundeswehr and about 49,000 active reservists. Pistorius aims to meet the requirements of NATO for the conflict case, which requires about 460,000 German soldiers. Suitable candidates will be invited to the draft, and the goal is to create a "situation picture" of the health suitability.
In summary, Hasselfeldt's proposals aim to make voluntary services more attractive and equitable, aligning the pocket money rates with BAföG. This move would help ensure that young people from all financial backgrounds can participate in these services, contributing to their personal development and the social sector.
[1] Source: BAföG rate information from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) website.
- The alignment of pocket money rates for voluntary services such as the Federal Voluntary Service (BFD) and the Voluntary Social Year (FSJ) with the BAföG rate, as proposed by Gerda Hasselfeldt, falls under the category of policy-and-legislation, given it involves changes to financial support laws for students.
- As part of her efforts to make voluntary services more attractive, Gerda Hasselfeldt has suggested mentioning voluntary services in the context of the reform of the voluntary military service, connecting the two sectors of society – the social sector and the politics of policy-and-legislation – in her community policy proposal.
