Volunteer work plays an important role in the canton Zug. Benevol is a non-profit organization that trains, advises and assigns volunteers throughout the region. On average, residents donate approximately three hours of their time each month to volunteer for clubs or other institutions. Some volunteers work up to 13 hours per month, or a half-day per week. In total, that is nearly 700 million hours a year, according to the federal department of statistics.

 

However, the willingness to do work without pay is decreasing yet the need remains constant, according to Andreas Feyer- Kreiger, the director of Zug-based volunteer organization Benevol. The organization advises volunteers who are looking to lend a hand and volunteer their labour and helps pair them with organizations that are looking for help. In addition, Benevol organizes and coordinates training workshops for volunteers. “Volunteering has clearly become more professional”, says Feyer-Kreiger. More and more retirees are coming to him with the energy and initiative to continue working, but on a volunteer basis. Feyer-Kreiger says, “They are motivated to give back a bit of what they have received over the years.”

 

The demand for voluntary helpers is reflected in the ads compiled three times annually in the Benevol Journal, for example with drivers needed for the TIXI Handicapped Athletes program, to name just one example. 5,000 copies of the Journal are distributed to approximately 200 firms and organizations in and around Zug. Other ads are placed in the Zuger Amtsblatt every two to three weeks and also there is an Internet site www.benevol-zug.ch. The municipal web site has also begun showing entries for organizations seeking volunteers www.stadtzug.ch/freiwilligenarbeit.

 

Due to the fact the need for volunteers has remained constant while the number of volunteers is decreasing, Benevol President Theres Arnet is especially pleased that more people are seeing the value in volunteering and promoting the open positions. Every year Benevol Zug organizes an event to honour volunteers in Zug. In 2008, 400 people took part in the event, clearly showing the engagement and initiative of local volunteer workers.

 

For more information contact:

Benevol Zug, Special Department for Volunteer Work

Andreas Feyer-Kreiger

Tirolerweg 8

6300 Zug

Opening hours Mo 8.30 am to 5.00 pm, Wed and Thu 8.30am to 12.00 pm

tel. 041 720 45 17

info@benevol-zug.ch

www.benvol-zug.ch

www.stadtzug.ch/freiwilligenarbeit