The Volunteering Academy of Oberbergischer Kreis offers networking and improved exchange formats More exchange and collaborative learning starting from the second half of 2026.

Oberbergischer Kreis. In addition to professional support, many volunteers in the Oberbergischer Kreis primarily wish for more opportunities for networking, mutual exchange, and access to information beyond their own field of activity. This was revealed in a survey conducted by the Volunteer Academy of Oberbergischer Kreis (EAAK) on the occasion of its five-year anniversary. Based on the feedback received, a pilot project was developed. With a series of innovative event formats, the Volunteer Academy aims to create spaces in the upcoming program of the second half of 2026 that focus on interaction, mutual learning, and the development of new ideas.

The formats developed for this purpose target volunteers from various fields and offer diverse opportunities for participation: online impulses, in-person networking events, and peer-learning labs where volunteers collaborate in small groups to learn from each other and address questions together. New to the Volunteer Academy's offerings are a Volunteer Forum featuring keynote speakers on current topics, learning journeys to successful initiatives, and a Volunteer Experience Day.

"This reorientation will succeed if as many volunteers as possible bring the program to life. Therefore, the Volunteer Academy invites all interested individuals to try the new free formats, contribute their own ideas, and actively shape the future of volunteering locally and in the Oberbergischer Kreis," says Sylvia Asmussen, the head of the Department for Civic Engagement and Volunteering of the Oberbergischer Kreis.

The Volunteer Academy deliberately focuses on different formats: sometimes compact and informative, other times with ample time for discussions, project ideas, and collaborative learning. The common goal of all the offerings is to bring people together, foster dialogue, and create new connections.

"Volunteering thrives on people sharing their experiences, learning from each other, and developing new paths together. We aim to create suitable opportunities for exactly that," explains Thomas Dörmbach, the head of the Catholic Family Education Center in Wipperfürth, the leading educational institution.

For over five years, the Volunteer Academy of Oberbergischer Kreis has supported individuals and initiatives engaged in voluntary work in the region with training opportunities. The goal is to create favorable conditions for civic engagement, promote networking, and sustainably strengthen voluntary action. The events are offered free of charge and are open to all volunteers and civic participants in the Oberbergischer Kreis.

Further event details and information can be found at www.obk.de/ehrenamts-akademie.