2026 is the UN Year of Volunteers. To mark the occasion, Christoph Merian Verlag is publishing the book *Freiwillig engagiert*. Twelve profiles feature people from northwestern Switzerland who volunteer in various fields.
They donate their time and expertise to support culture, their neighborhoods, social programs, the environment, or the fight against food waste. “Freiwillig engagiert” gives a voice to the people behind these efforts and shows just how diverse volunteer work can be. A foreword by Basel-based top chef and restaurateur Tanja Grandits, who herself volunteers with “Tischlein deck dich,” complements the profiles.
Commitment That Brings People Together
The stories take us to very different places. Andreas Keller volunteers at the 1,000-square-meter logistics warehouse of “Tischlein deck dich.” Now retired, the former grocery store clerk is dedicated to ensuring that food isn’t thrown away but instead benefits people affected by poverty. He also finds it particularly important to interact with younger people and to have the opportunity to share his knowledge about food.
Koshika Yadava meets once a week at the home of an elderly woman who suffers from osteoporosis. The “zämmehAlt” project run by GGG Benevol Basel brought the two of them together. What began as a arranged companionship has since blossomed into a friendship. Koshika Yadava helps the woman run errands, but most of the time they simply chat over tea and croissants. Yadava says her volunteer work makes her feel human. Other profiles highlight volunteer work at the Repair Café, with the Liestal Guide Dog Program, at KIFF Aarau, and with HEKS’s “Neue Gärten” initiative.
Inspiring People to Get Involved
It’s not just about what volunteers do for others. The profiles also show what volunteering gives the volunteers themselves: meaningful encounters, new perspectives, a sense of community, and the feeling that they can make a difference. “Volunteering” aims to highlight the diverse forms of volunteer work and inspire others to perhaps get involved themselves.
The book will be published in October 2026 to coincide with the Frankfurt Book Fair and will also be available as an e-book. Pre-order it here.
