Steinmeier sings the praises of volunteering

In the opinion of Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the role of volunteers is still underestimated in the debate within Germany. If we didn't have people who cared more, the country would look poorer, he said during a visit to Hoyerswerda. "And that is why we need to ensure that this backbone of democracy, the millions of volunteers who take responsibility for others in our society, remains and that we maintain the high number of volunteers and honorary positions and expand them if possible."

Steinmeier visits Gundermann exhibition

Steinmeier came to Hoyerswerda as part of his "Places of Encounter" series of visits and was welcomed here at the Kulturfabrik. After making an entry in the town's book of honor, he first took a look at an exhibition about the singer-songwriter Gerhard "Gundi" Gundermann (1955-1998), who enjoyed cult status in the GDR as a singing digger driver.

Afterwards, Steinmeier met six young people who are involved in the Hoyerswerda Youth Town Council - "a school of democracy" according to the Federal President. In such a body, you can experience the ability to make a difference. Many communities are desperately looking for young people to take on responsibility.

Steinmeier visits the "Brigade Instandsetzung"

Another item on the agenda was a visit to the "Brigade Instandsetzung". Here, residents' defective electrical appliances are regularly repaired free of charge, mainly by pensioners. Steinmeier tried his hand at repairing a table lamp himself.

Steinmeier: Hairline cracks in society have widened

In conversation with people from the region, Steinmeier recalled the purpose of "Places of Encounter". The project was launched at the time because there were hairline cracks in society that had then widened. It was about fighting for cohesion in society. That's why we need places where people from different generations and different walks of life can meet and talk to each other.

"The difference between East and West is sometimes smaller than you think. The difference between town and country is sometimes greater than you think. And that's why I use these formats to go very specifically and frequently into rural areas, where services have become scarcer, the distances to the doctor longer, the distances to school further, where petrol stations and pubs may no longer be available, in order to get into conversation with people there, to counter the impression that 'nobody is interested in us'," said Steinmeier.

Hoyerswerda is a prime example of change since reunification like almost no other East German town. The population has fallen from around 70,000 to around 30,000, and around 40 percent of the housing stock in the new town of Hoyerswerda has been demolished. Instead of 55,000 people, only 15,000 now live here in the same area as before.