brings people together. We facilitate connections through one-on-one tandems and qualified volunteers
Start with a Friend e.V.
- Migrants & Refugees
- Arts, Music & Culture
- Education & Language Support
- Equal Opportunities
- Festivals
- Sports & Leisure Activities
About the volunteering opportunity
Start with a Friend e.V. brings people together. We facilitate connections through one-on-one tandems and the work of trained volunteers at our 26 locations.
People from diverse backgrounds, identities, and age groups find a place here where they belong. In this way, we strengthen social cohesion in an active, immigrant-welcoming society.
For a vibrant democracy.
Your Tasks
Tandem Matchmaking: Conducting Interviews, Matching Participants
Organizing Events: Reaching out to participants and informing them about the events
Organizing Events: Reaching out to participants and informing them about the events
What's needed
For this volunteering opportunity, basic German skills are required.
To volunteer with Start with a Friend, openness, empathy, and an interest in intercultural exchange are particularly important. Strong communication skills, reliability, and respect when interacting with people from diverse backgrounds are essential requirements. Specific prior professional knowledge is generally not required.
Time required
Regularly
Discussed individually
The commitment can be structured flexibly and agreed upon on an individual basis. Ideally, volunteers should be willing to contribute regularly and over an extended period of time in order to build lasting relationships and trust.
Important notice
Volunteers should maintain the confidentiality of personal information, treat all participants with respect and consideration, and communicate in a reliable and trustworthy manner. Openness to different perspectives and cultures, as well as a willingness to engage with new people, are particularly important for a successful volunteer experience.
Location
Start with a Friend e.V.
Start with a Friend pairs immigrants and locals into tandems based on their interests and needs. Ideally, this leads to a friendship; in any case, it creates a social network that makes it easier for immigrants to get started in Germany. Start with a Friend supports and advises the pairs after they’ve been matched and organizes events to help the pairs connect with one another. It’s also important to us to create structures that allow people with busy professional and family lives to get involved. The schedule is therefore flexible, and training opportunities are available but optional. So far, Start with a Friend is active in 26 cities across Germany.