Many "good deals" at the first marketplace in the Oberberg district Companies and nonprofit organizations have entered into cooperation agreements and exchanged ideas on-site

Oberbergischer Kreis. 13 cooperation agreements between companies and non-profit initiatives were made at the first marketplace for good deals in Oberbergischer Kreis. The value of these cooperations amounts to approximately 12,000 euros and about 700 hours of voluntary work. Two additional cooperation agreements were made following the event. At the invitation of Oberbergischer Kreis, around 50 participants from clubs, non-profit institutions, and companies, along with 20 guests from administrations and politics, came together to expand their networks and accomplish tasks in an unbureaucratic manner. The participants could present their know-how, working time, or materials and negotiate with potential partners what they would receive in return. Since money was off-limits at the marketplace for good deals, services, time, and expertise were used as bargaining tools.

Die Akteure des ersten Marktplatz für gute Geschäfte im Oberbergischen Kreis; in der ersten Reihe v.l.n.r.: Corinna Kawczyk, Ehrenamtskoordinatorin der Stadt Wiehl, Sylvia Asmussen, Leiterin Fachstelle für bürgerschaftliches Engagement und Ehrenamt, Ulrich Stücker, Bürgermeister Stadt Wiehl, Klaus Grootens, Landrat Oberbergischer Kreis, Tanja Siebert, Amaidi international gGmbH und Vorstand der Rembold Stiftung, Christian Gollmer, Geschäftsführer der Paritätische Oberbergischer Kreis. (Foto: OBK) — The participants of the first marketplace for good deeds in the Oberbergischer Kreis; in the first row from left to right: Corinna Kawczyk, Volunteer Coordinator of the City of Wiehl, Sylvia Asmussen, Head of the Department for Civic Engagement and Volunteer Work, Ulrich Stücker, Mayor of the City of Wiehl, Klaus Grootens, District Administrator of the Oberbergischer Kreis, Tanja Siebert, Amaidi international gGmbH and Board Member of the Rembold Foundation, Christian Gollmer, Managing Director of Paritätische Oberbergischer Kreis. (Photo: OBK)

The marketplace for good deeds brings together people who are interested in cooperation

Especially in times when there is much talk about social cohesion, this is a very concrete approach, says District Administrator Klaus Grootens: “It shows that collaboration does not necessarily fail due to money but begins where people are willing to accept something from each other and share with one another. Volunteering plays a central role here. Many things that define our living together in the Oberbergisch district would be unthinkable without the commitment of many volunteers. It is all the more important to support this commitment and bring together people who want to contribute. That is exactly what this marketplace is for: It makes visible what is available – ideas, skills, possibilities – and connects them."

Win-win situation through bartering - agreements were "notarially" sealed

For instance, the SGV Homburger Land is planning a customer event called "Hiking and Reading" in collaboration with the Hansen and Kröger Bookstore in Wiehl. Additionally, Carolin Stute from Hippe Hue Social will expand and optimize the social media presence of SGV Homburger Land. The Kitzretterinnen (Werde KitzretterIn e.V.) will receive support for their media presence from Welp Media Service.
The OASe (Open Work for Seniors) will in the future inform employees of AggerEnergie about questions regarding care and living wills. A comprehensive two-part workshop by OASe is planned for an AWO senior center.

Nachdem der Gong ertönt, starten die Gespräche über mögliche Vereinbarungen. Hier: Stefan Wolfslast, BPW Bergische Achsen KG und Elke Bergmann, OASe Stadt Wiehl. (Foto: OBK) — After the gong sounds, discussions about possible agreements begin. Here: Stefan Wolfslast, BPW Bergische Achsen KG, and Elke Bergmann, OASe Stadt Wiehl. (Photo: OBK)

In addition to the great interest of the participants in this first marketplace for good deeds, the thorough preparation for potential negotiations was also fundamental to this success, says Sylvia Asmussen, the head of the department for civic engagement and volunteer work: “After registration and preparation, the participants had one hour on the event day to establish collaborations and make agreements. To prepare well for the negotiation talks and to find potential partners, the participants attended a free workshop a few days before the event. This has created a very dynamic platform for matchmaking with the marketplace for good deeds, leading to many win-win effects among the active participants.”

The marketplace for good deeds quickly demonstrated: There are many resources and skills available in the region that can be shared with each other, provided that resources and needs are known. During the barter transactions, “brokers” were available to bring suitable conversation partners together or to initiate promising agreements. A “notary” formalized the agreements in writing. This role was gladly assumed by Wiehl's Mayor Ulrich Stücker and Andreas Neumann, Chairman of the Board of the Volksbank Oberberg. “When volunteering and businesses come together, something happens!”, says Mayor Ulrich Stücker.

Voices from participants:

“I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you once again for the excellent organization. I really liked the platform, and I was already able to make wonderful contacts on site. The concept with the standing tables, the support from the “brokers,” and the formalization by the “notaries” is truly ideal for bringing together nonprofit organizations and companies in an uncomplicated manner,” says Erich Wester, 1st Chairman of the Dorfgemeinschaft Schmitzhöhe e.V.

“I am now even more enthusiastic about the concept of the ‘marketplace for good deeds.’ Everything, the guests, the catering—overall the entire organization. I hope this concept will inspire others in Oberberg as well,” says Melanie Frackenpohl, Head of Department at Lebenspfade Oberberg e.V..

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The engagement agreements are "notarially" recorded by (from left to right) Ulrich Stücker, Mayor of the City of Wiehl; Maren Berges, Protestant Church District An der Agger; Thomas Dörmbach, Head of the Catholic Family Education Center; Andreas Neumann, Chairman of the Volksbank Oberberg eG. An engagement agreement has been concluded between Michael Welp, Welp Media Service, and Kirsten Brand, Werde KitzretterIn e.V. (Photo: OBK)

Successful cooperation also between the district, municipality, Amaidi, and Der Paritätische Oberbergischer Kreis

The "Marketplace for Good Deals" is organized and implemented with the support of the globally active organization Amaidi international gGmbH, headquartered in Overath, which already brings experience from several markets conducted in the Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis.

The event was financially supported by the Rembold Foundation and the Social Foundation of Kreissparkasse Köln.

The city of Wiehl, with its volunteer coordinator Corinna Kawczyk, significantly supported the preparation and provided rooms free of charge to conduct the "Marketplace for Good Deals" in this form.

The managing director of Der Paritätische Oberbergischer Kreis, Christian Gollmer, led the preparatory workshops (on June 22 and 23, 2026) and moderated the event.

Further information is available for those interested at www.obk.de/ehrenamt in the "Marketplace for Good Deals" section and at www.gute-geschaefte-obk.de.

If photos for download are provided exclusively for media representatives/press, all usage rights (cf. §§ 31 ff. UrhG) according to § 43 UrhG lie with the Oberbergischer Kreis. For reporting purposes, the media are granted a simple usage right according to § 31 Abs. 2 UrhG. When publishing, the image rights specified in the press release must be cited (corresponds to IPTC field no. 110). The additional mention of a natural person as the author according to § 13 sentence 2 UrhG is waived, as this regulation is overridden by the application of § 43 UrhG.