In the volunteer editorial team, Volunteers for Chemnitz 2025 publish reports on their experiences, assignments and adventures around the European Capital of Culture.
Andrea lives in Chemnitz. Before retiring, she worked as a teacher. As a result, she has a good feel for language and an eye for detail - all qualities that she brings to the volunteer editorial team of Chemnitz 2025.
We have a stand at the Christmas market! I'm so excited about it that I sign up straight away. I choose a Saturday, from 5 pm to 7 pm. Reinhard, who goes to the platform half an hour after me, is disappointed: all the slots are already taken. What a pity!
On 30 November, I stand in front of my wardrobe and think back and forth about what I should wear. Some people will be thinking: "Typical woman!" But it's not about looking good, it's simply about braving the cold, as experience shows that temperatures plummet in the evening. I opt for the "onion look", which has proved its worth in similar situations many times before. I know from the meeting on Thursday that we will be standing on heating mats and that there is an infrared radiator, but better safe than sorry.
I reach the stand shortly before 5 p.m. and relieve a volunteer with whom I had taken part in the pilot training the previous evening. Afterwards, there was mulled wine for everyone at the Christmas market. We are a great bunch and we know how to celebrate.
And then the first interested parties arrive. Our programme preview for 2025 is the most popular. Many of our visitors have invited relatives and friends and now want to make concrete plans. I also give them the Purple Path flyer and explain what it's all about. It is very popular.
I even manage to get some of the visitors interested in volunteering. Maybe we'll meet again!
"Why aren't the flyers actually available in Braille?" "Why are sights in other cities illuminated, but not in the future Capital of Culture?" I also have to answer questions like these.
In the end, I am honestly amazed at how many people stopped at our stand, I had a lot to do. And of course the joy of having done something for the success of the Capital of Culture outweighs everything else. I would love to work in the booth again!
