District has once again awarded social driving licenses in three municipalities as part of the Weitblick project Students were honored for their voluntary commitment in Engelskirchen, Radevormwald, and Hückeswagen

Oberbergischer Kreis. In three municipalities, the Volunteering Initiative of Oberbergischer Kreis has presented its Social Passports to students engaged in voluntary work. The young people contributed their time and efforts over four afternoons in senior and disability care facilities as well as kindergartens. This included a preliminary theoretical introduction, practical supervision, and a follow-up discussion. "A big thank you goes to all the facilities that support the Weitblick project of Oberbergischer Kreis and provide students with the opportunity to gain their first experiences in professional life. At the same time, the facilities benefit from the voluntary efforts of the young people, as they convey the diverse areas of responsibility on-site to potential future professionals," said District Administrator Klaus Grootens.

Die stellvertr. Landrätin Heidrun Schmeis-Noack (3.v.l.); der Bürgermeister der Gemeinde Engelskirche Lukas Miebach (l-) und Weitblicklotse Hans-Willi Rudloff gratulieren den Schülerinnen und Schülern zum Erwerb des Sozialführerscheins. (Foto: OBK) — Deputy district administrator Heidrun Schmeis-Noack (3rd from left); the mayor of Engelskirchen, Lukas Miebach (left), and Weitblick coordinator Hans-Willi Rudloff congratulate the students on earning the social driving license. (Photo: OBK)

In Engelskirchen, 12 students from the 9th grades of Walbach Secondary School have obtained social licenses. The young people spent 12 hours each of their free time in the Lepperhammer and AWO Ründeroth senior facilities, providing entertainment and companionship to the residents. During a discussion session moderated by Weitblick guide Hans-Wili Rudloff, the students shared their activities in the facilities. Through conversations, games, crafts, singing, and walks, the participants quickly connected with the residents, who greatly appreciated the break from their daily routines. For the students, it was a new and profound experience, allowing them to learn about professions and fields of work in these facilities.

Bei der feierlichen Übergabe der Sozialführerscheine der Ehrenamtsinitiative Weitblick des Oberbergischen Kreises, betonte der Bürgermeister der Stadt Radevormwald Dejan Vujinovic die Bedeutung des Ehrenamtes für die Gesellschaft. (Foto: OBK) — At the ceremonial presentation of the social licenses from the Weitblick volunteer initiative of the Oberberg District, the Mayor of Radevormwald, Dejan Vujinovic, emphasized the importance of volunteer work for society. (Photo: OBK)

In Radevormwald, nine students from Theodor-Heuss-Gymnasium and Armin-Maiwald-Schule have earned the social license from the Weitblick volunteer initiative. The young people from the eighth and tenth grades were voluntarily active in senior facilities, the Sana Hospital, and kindergartens. At the ceremonial presentation of the social licenses with Deputy District Administrator Jürgen Fischer, Mayor Dejan Vujinovic once again emphasized the great importance of contributing to the common good: „Volunteering is the glue that holds society together!". Since the project's inception in 2014, 120 students in Radevormwald have already obtained the social license, reported Christine Bray, head of the office for civic engagement and volunteering at the Weitblick initiative. As significantly more girls than boys have participated in the voluntary service, the Weitblick coordinator appealed to the female students to encourage their male classmates to experience the positive aspects of earning the social license. Kerstin Scheibler, Weitblick guide in Radevormwald, is available as a contact person.

Die Absolventinnen und Absolventen in Radevormwald erhielten ihre Sozialführerscheine vom stellvertretenden Landrat Jürgen Fischer (l.) und der stellvertr. Bürgermeisterin Cornelia Päper (hinten l.). Weitblicklotsin Margareta Coenen (hinten M.) engagiert sich unter anderem für das Projekt Sozialführerschein, auch um Jugendliche für ehrenamtliches Engagement zu gewinnen. (Foto: OBK) — The graduates in Radevormwald received their social licenses from Deputy District Administrator Jürgen Fischer (left) and Deputy Mayor Cornelia Päper (back left). Weitblick guide Margareta Coenen (back center) is actively involved in the social license project, aiming to encourage young people to engage in voluntary work. (Photo: OBK)

In Hückeswagen, the Oberbergischer Kreis awarded a total of 33 social driving licenses to students from the Realschule and Montanus-Hauptschule through the deputy district administrator Jürgen Fischer and the deputy mayor Cornelia Päper. The youth volunteered at the Ev. Altenzentrum Johannesstift, AWO Familienzentrum Johanna-Heymann and AWO Familienzentrum Margarete-Starrmann; also at the Ökum. KiGa St. Katharina, Newcare Home Rade, Kreuzkirche daycare center, THW, and the youth fire brigade. For this, deputy district administrator Jürgen Fischer expressed great praise and recognition: “I am also pleased here about the strong participation in acquiring the social driving license and hope that these experiences have motivated the youth to remain actively engaged in volunteer work. The social driving license can also be an inspiration and help the graduates personally as well as in their career choices. For all involved, including the students, the seniors, the social institutions, and the public sector, this is a WIN-WIN situation. A special thanks go to our location coordinator in Hückeswagen, Ms. Margareta Coenen, who once again ensured the successful implementation of the social driving license project."

Further information is available at www.obk.de/weitblick.

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.