Christian Volunteer Agency - Project Model from Berlin

Our Guiding Principle
A noticeable increase in practically expressed love for our neighbours makes our city more human.

Our Vision
A growing number of Berlin's citizens – particularly from Christian churches and groups – is involved in voluntary work, offering practical help for the city's needy, independently of nationality, social status, religion, sex, age or sexual orientation. This makes a substantial
contribution to improving the quality of life and the social climate. In this way the involvement of churches and Christians in society will be supported.

Our Values
The basis is a Judeo-Christian understanding of mankind. The Apostolic Creed is our common base. As a project from Gemeinsam für Berlin wesee our ecumenical way of working as being both a challenge and a chance for Christian churches to continue to grow together. The one Lord
Jesus Christ unites us in one task: to be a witness of his love to the people of this city. We are convinced that God planned and loves every person. He accepts them before any achievement, even in failure or guilt, and in this way gives them an unchangeable dignity. In our work we would like God's kindness to people to become a personal experience for individuals and to
become effective in society. This should always take place with respect for the faith and world-view of others, according to 1 Peter 3 v 15-16: '..In your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that you
have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience..'. (New International Version)

Our Professional Principles
We believe that voluntary social involvement is an indispensable contribution to the well-being of a dynamic and united society. It is accomplished in organised structures outside the family and is unpaid. It can complement paid work but has its own quality and should not be in
competition. We consider voluntary social involvement to be committed to a principle of
subsidiary: that means holistic support towards self-help in which we focus on the resources and not the weaknesses of the individual. Help is helpful if the persons own strengths are reinforced and if dependency is avoided as much as possible. We find it important to respond to needy people as whole persons and to fulfil their needs for attention, acceptance and self-determination.

What we do
As a Christian Volunteer Agency we give information and individual adviceto Christians from different churches, as well as those who take afavourable view of our guiding principle, about areas of need andopportunities for voluntary involvement. We arrange opportunities in
Christian projects, in ideologically neutral projects as well as in churcheswho offer practical help to people in Berlin who are experiencing financially or personally difficult situations.

Furthermore we support volunteers who wish to implement their own project ideas wherever
possible in close cooperation with local churches. We place an emphasis on equipping volunteers. We also offer church services as well as meetings for discussion and prayer. With reference to the Berlin Charter for Social Involvement of Behalf of its Citizens we expect institutions, to whom we offer help, to continually develop the following criteria for quality:
- Introduction and support for volunteers
- Further training
- Atmosphere of acknowledgement
- Insurance (against accidents and liabilities)
- Reimbursement of expenses (in particular for public transport fares)
We offer advice and support for the fulfilling of these criteria. In our activities we form a network with other regional, national and international organisations involved in the support of volunteers. Together we seek to develop professionally and to increase awareness of the
significance of voluntary work in our society.