A report on the workshop "Engagement of the rural? Research, challenges, ideas" by Maria Stein.
Report: Maria Stein (Zittau/Görlitz University of Applied Sciences)
The introductory question as to what engagement actually is already indicated that the definition of the Bundestag's Enquete Commission[1] no longer seems to adequately reflect the range from traditional to more modern, often informal and/or short-term forms of engagement. Prof. Claudia Neu and Prof. Raj Kollmorgen engaged in a lively discussion with the participants about current processes of change in engagement constellations in rural areas. The audience began by discussing the involvement of women, who often tend to work in family-related, less public contexts. One participant expressed the wish for more appreciation. But what could this look like? Should women who are more involved in support associations, schools, daycare centres and also in non-institutionalized forms be honoured with medals or other awards, which are usually awarded in male-dominated organizations such as fire departments and sports clubs?
The further discussion made it clear that there can be no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of visibility and appreciation in view of the great diversity of volunteering. Not all voluntary work requires monetary recognition, but compensation for expenses can certainly be a motivating factor for some people due to their different economic situations. There was broad agreement on the structures that should be created to facilitate volunteering. In line with the motto "Volunteering needs full-time work", it is important to relieve volunteers of coordinative and bureaucratic administrative tasks so that they can focus on substantive activities.
One visitor reported on his efforts to make a difference in his home town as a newcomer. The question of strategies for integrating innovative ideas into the local, established engagement landscape led to a lively exchange among the participants.
At the end of the workshop, Ljubica Nikolic led the visitors to their personal social places in a thought experiment. Various places, including some unusual ones, were mentioned in the participants' reports. In addition to the traditional clubhouse, the former bus stop, the playground and the church, the cemetery and the swimming lake were also named as places for social exchange.
In summary, the workshop was a great benefit for the researchers with regard to the question of what currently characterizes engagement in rural areas. It became clear that the analysis must be based on the assumption of great diversity and different needs for support and visibility.
In order to research local engagement, a small-scale and citizen-oriented approach is required. At the end of the workshop, Prof. Kollmorgen pointed out that anyone with ideas on research-relevant aspects was welcome to contact the ENKOR project team.
Literature:
German Bundestag: Report of the Enquete Commission "Future of Civic Engagement", printed matter 14/8900, Berlin: 03.06.2002
[1] German Bundestag (2002), p. 24 f.
