In the volunteer editorial team, volunteers for Chemnitz 2025 publish reports on their experiences, assignments and adventures around the European Capital of Culture.
After leaving school, Cathleen left her home in Saxony for an apprenticeship in the beautiful Rhineland. After more than 20 years, during Corona, she returned to Chemnitz - where she had to arrive anew, now feels very much at home here and is looking forward to 2025 with great anticipation.
Being a volunteer in the Capital of Culture means signing up for interesting assignments, providing organisational support or accompanying events. And making new friends in the process. But in addition to the "work", we volunteers are also offered a lot. For example, I have already completed de-escalation training with the Chemnitz police and was able to "refresh" my knowledge of first aid.
The atmosphere in the Schmidtbank Passage at the end of November was very special: Kristina and Roxanna, volunteers from Timişoara/Romania, the Capital of Culture 2023, visited us for a week. We exchanged ideas, learnt a lot, laughed and painted. Under the guidance of Cristina (an art teacher) and using paints from their home country, volunteers created various pictures and cards in watercolour. On another evening, our two guests reported on their experiences during their Capital of Culture year and used them to "train" selected volunteers in Chemnitz for upcoming tasks and responsibilities; in a relaxed atmosphere, with lots of fun and great warmth. At the end of the short visit, we were invited to a film evening with popcorn, nachos and drinks: 3 volunteers from Chemnitz had travelled to Romania last year to take part in events and activities of the Capital of Culture Timişoara & Region. They captured their impressions and experiences in photos and videos. The overall result, an approx. 30-minute film, compiled and narrated by the Senior Film Club Chemnitz, made a huge impression on us.
Now we are all hoping for a similarly exciting, eventful and successful Capital of Culture year in Chemnitz, which will kick off with a grand opening ceremony on 18 January 2025.