FSJ celebrates State Prize: An evening full of appreciation and commitment!

FSJ celebrates State Prize: An evening full of appreciation and commitment!

On April 11, 2025, a special honor was given at Badeschiff Vienna: The Voluntary Social Year (FSJ) received the State Prize for Volunteer Coordination. The importance of this award was in the foreground at a festive event celebrated by the team and board of the association for the promotion of voluntary social services. The State Prize is one of the highest honors for voluntary work in Austria and was awarded from more than 200 submissions. Managing director Elisabeth Marcus emphasized how important this honor is for the mission of the FSJ.

The evening was not only characterized by worthy conversations, but also offered a space for inspiring exchanges and good food. Veronika Prüller-Jagenteufel, the volunteer chairwoman of the association, emphasized the appreciation for all employees and volunteers who contribute to the success of the FSJ. The event offered an opportunity to properly honor the achievements of the FSJ since its founding in 1968 with supporting organizations such as the Catholic Youth Group and the Girl Scouts of Austria.

Volunteering in Austria

Volunteering in Austria is booming - over 49 percent of the population aged 15 and over do volunteer work. An important part of this work is the voluntary social year, which can only be completed with recognized providers that are subject to strict approval procedures. This ensures that the quality and conditions for the volunteers remain high. The Ministry of Social Affairs promotes this commitment through attractive framework conditions and has implemented the Volunteer Act (FreiwG) since 2012, which sets out precise requirements for the promotion of volunteer work.

According to the fourth Austrian volunteer report, around 3.7 million people in Austria volunteer. Of these, around 25.8 percent participate in organizations and clubs, while 36.7 percent are actively involved in the informal sector or in neighborhood help. The results of the report, which is produced every five years, provide valuable insights into the roles, objectives and motivations of volunteers.

Awards and recognition

It was not until December 2023 that the State Prize for voluntary and honorary commitment was awarded at a gala in the MuseumsQuartier in Vienna. A total of 26 clubs, initiatives, projects and organizations were honored in five categories. Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer, Social Affairs Minister Johannes Rauch and Youth State Secretary Claudia Plakolm presented the awards, which also included prize money of up to EUR 5,000. The winners were selected by an expert jury and documented in a streaming event, which offered those interested the opportunity to understand the award results.
OTS, Volunteered, Ministry of Social Affairs.