Greens want to strengthen voluntary services

The Greens in the Saxon state parliament want to improve the conditions for voluntary services. "The demand for voluntary services in Saxony remains high. Thousands of applications for the Voluntary Social Year (FSJ) and the Voluntary Ecological Year (FÖJ) show that many young people want to take on responsibility and get actively involved in our society," explained MP Christin Melcher. All too often, however, this commitment in Bavaria comes to nothing.

Too few places available and funded in Saxony

The high level of interest is offset by too few available and funded places, the MP emphasized. In the FSJ in particular, there is a clear gap between applications and the places actually filled. "Every year, thousands of volunteering requests remain unfulfilled, although there is a great need in daycare centers, care facilities, in the social sector or in cultural or environmental projects. The state government must react here: Those who want commitment must also make it possible."

Volunteer service important for transition to training and studies

According to Melcher, volunteers in the services take on responsibility throughout Saxony week after week. "They make an indispensable contribution to social cohesion, support institutions and bring in new perspectives. For many young people, voluntary service is also an important learning and orientation space in the transition from school to training or university."

Greens table motion to improve the situation

The Green parliamentary group has therefore tabled a motion to significantly improve the framework conditions for voluntary services in Saxony. Among other things, the parliamentary group calls for pocket money to be structured in such a way that all young people can afford the service. It should not be a question of pocket money. They need a discounted Germany ticket for their work.

Funding should keep pace with cost development.

"Voluntary service must be more strongly recognized in terms of education policy: The skills acquired during voluntary service should help people to obtain a higher education entrance qualification or social training professions, for example," is another demand. Funding must also keep pace with cost developments. Funding lump sums need to be regularly adjusted so that providers and volunteer placements can offer sufficient places for volunteers. The Greens want to discuss their proposal at a public hearing at the end of April.

According to the Saxon Ministry of Social Affairs, 4,126 places were registered for the FSJ and 541 for the FÖJ as of December 2025, and 348 for the Voluntary Service of All Generations (FdaG). Precise data on filled places was only available for December 2024. At that time, 2,361 places had been filled in the FSJ, 375 in the FÖJ and 274 in the FdaG. 6,555 applications had been registered for the Voluntary Social Year 2024/2025 and 1,325 for the Voluntary Ecological Year. The FdaG is filled on an ongoing basis according to supply and demand, it was said.

According to the ministry's figures, a total of around 5.1 million euros was applied for 2,000 places for the FSJ 2025/2026 and 3.7 million euros was approved for around 1,500 places. For the FÖJ, it was a good 2.2 million for 372 places with 2.1 million and 356 places approved. For the FdaG, all the funds and places applied for were approved: 491,400 euros for a good 200.