Discover local volunteering opportunities at JKU Linz
On March 11, 2026, the Volunteering Fair will take place at Johannes Kepler University Linz. From 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., everything will revolve around volunteering and community involvement. Students, pupils, JKU staff, alumni, and interested guests are invited to meet organizations that offer a wide range of opportunities to get involved.
What is volunteering? (Freiwilliges Engagement)
Volunteering (freiwilliges Engagement) means giving your time and energy freely – not for money, but for meaning. It’s about helping others, supporting your community, or contributing to something positive.
In Austria, this can mean many things: helping at a local event, planting trees, visiting elderly people, supporting children with homework, or joining a creative or digital project.
It’s not about doing a job – it’s about participation, connection, and shared values.
Every small step counts.
👉 Visit the fair to explore how you can get involved and make a difference.
What is Club life in Austria? (Vereinsleben)
Clubs and associations – called Vereine – are at the heart of Austrian community life.
There’s a Verein for almost everything: music, sports, culture, animal welfare, nature, photography, and much more.
Joining a Verein is a great way to:
- meet new people
- share your interests and talents
- learn how things work locally
- feel part of the community
Many clubs welcome new members at any age or background. Whether you want to help occasionally or become an active member – there’s a place for you.
👉 Ask at the fair which clubs or initiatives are active near you.
Was is the difference between volunteering vs. Ehrenamt (Freiwilliges Engagement vs. Ehrenamt)
In Austria, volunteering includes all unpaid activities that benefit others or society.
It can be short or long term, formal or informal – for example, helping out at events, joining a local initiative, or supporting a community project.
The Ehrenamt is a more defined, official role within an organisation – for example, being a treasurer, board member, trainer, or coordinator.
It often involves responsibility and regular involvemen
So:
- Volunteering = all forms of unpaid, active participation
- Ehrenamt = an official position within an organisation
Both are valuable parts of Austrian society and show how people help shape their communities together.
👉 Start small, explore your interests, and see where your journey takes you.
What is the civil society in Austria? (Zivilgesellschaft)
Civil society means people coming together to take action – between the government, the market, and private life.
It’s about citizens who care and make a difference, not because they have to, but because they want to.
In Austria, civil society is strong and diverse.
Volunteers organise festivals, run social cafés, mentor young people, clean rivers, create cultural spaces, or work with new technologies for good causes.
When you take part, you help shape the place you live in – and you become part of a community that believes in cooperation, respect, and shared responsibility.
👉 Be part of it – visit the Fair for Young Engagement and see what’s possible.
Why volunteering matters?
Volunteering is not about doing more work – it’s about connection, belonging, and growth.
It gives you the chance to meet people, learn new things, and make your surroundings a bit better every day.
Whether you’re new in Austria or have lived here for years, the Fair for Young Engagement invites you to discover how rewarding it can be to take part.
Get inspired. Get involved. Be part of something bigger.