You can apply for the 2025 scholarships here
25 young people received the joint volunteer scholarship from StädteRegion Aachen and the City of Aachen at a ceremony in Aachen Town Hall on Wednesday, February 28. They will now receive 100 euros per month for one year. "This is not just intended as financial support. The city and the StädteRegion would like to honor your extraordinary commitment and encourage you to continue to achieve great things and inspire others to follow suit," emphasized Dr. Tim Grüttemeier, City Councillor of the StädteRegion. Aachen's Lord Mayor Sibylle Keupen began by dispelling prejudices against the young "Generation Z": "Every second person from this generation is involved in voluntary work, be it in sport, for social or political goals, in the field of climate and environmental protection or in the world of culture and music."
The scholarship holders are between 16 and 27 years old and come from all over the StädteRegion Aachen. They all volunteer in many different ways. For example, the young people were active as referees, firefighters, altar boy leaders, scouts, paramedics or youth conductors. However, there are also areas that you don't immediately think of when you think of volunteering: organizing city management, leading the ADFC, helping out in day care, or volunteering as project managers for the Aviation Science Association are also among them.
"Volunteering should not be a luxury. Young people in particular often have to have a part-time job alongside their schooling and studies - there simply isn't enough time for voluntary work," says Mayor Keupen. This is exactly what the bonus of 1,200 euros per scholarship holder for 2024 is intended to alleviate a little. Dr. Grüttemeier continues: "The StädteRegion Aachen is diverse and colorful. We can be proud of the great voluntary work that is done in associations and other groups. This is exactly what we want to promote among young people with the scholarship."
The city and StädteRegion Aachen had already launched the pilot project "Volunteering scholarship for young adults" in September 2022. For 2023, 20 scholarships were awarded for the first time. The number of scholarships to be awarded was increased from 20 to 25 due to the great success (more than 100 young people applied). In addition, uniform conditions for awarding the scholarships were created to ensure equal opportunities for all young people in the StädteRegion Aachen. A continuation of the funding program is also planned for the coming year. All 25 scholarship holders were warmly thanked and given a big round of applause in the council chamber at the individual presentation and award ceremony that evening, which clearly signaled: "Thank you for everything and keep up your fantastic commitment to other people!"
Background:
The City and StädteRegion Aachen are providing a total of 30,000 euros in funding. Applications are open to people from the age of 16 up to the age of 27 who are in further education or vocational training and who hold a key voluntary position or are involved in comparable voluntary work to a significant extent. All information is available at: https://www.staedteregion-aachen.de/stipendium
The 2024 Volunteer Scholarship Holders
(A cooperation project between StädteRegion and the City of Aachen)
Jennifer Bach, Mats Becker, Jannis Bergmann, Miguel Angel Borsten, Jonas Boßhammer, David Bonk, Fabian Bugs, Martin Clever, Chayenne Fertacz, Moritz Förster, David Gassen, Matthis Heidemanns, Janns Heidecker, Nina Holtmanns, Ben Jansen, Lars Krause, Finn Marten Kumpe, Nils Oidtmann, Hannes Ortmann, Jan Niclas Peters, Vanessa Rubin, Klara Marie Schmitt, Valentin Storre, Denis Ukehaxhaj and Julian Winterscheid.