12. Lausitz Café - "With Heart and Hand - The Power of Commitment"

The Lausitz Café is an entertaining and regularly recurring event series, this time being held in cooperation with the LEADER region "Kottmar" . Together, we would like to discuss specific questions with you regarding civic engagement and associations .

In 2025, we want to extend the event series to the entire district of Görlitz and invite you to the village community center "Mohr" in Ruppersdorf, Herrnhut on Thursday, February 6th .

Questions:

Topic: New recruits on board

Leonie and Marc have moved back to the region after completing their apprenticeships and are looking to connect with their villagers. They both want to make new friends and are wondering if they can settle back in after living in the big city. They discovered the local clubs and associations through social media. However, they're unsure whether they, as "newcomers," will be able to integrate into the clubs and whether the structures are appealing enough for young people.

• attract and recruit young people like Leonie ?
• Which offers and communication channels are attractive to the younger target group?
• How can the onboarding process be made easier for new members?

Financial injections and creative cash fillers

The music club "Harmonie" wants to purchase new instruments to launch youth programs. However, the club's finances are tight, and previous fundraising efforts have not yielded the desired results. Club members are wondering whether they should apply for grants or if there are creative new ways to generate funds.

• What options are there to replenish club funds (grants, fundraising campaigns, crowdfunding)?
• How can clubs achieve long-term financial stability ?
• What support do clubs need to overcome bureaucratic hurdles when applying for funding ?

Topic: “Where does the shoe pinch?”

The local heritage association has faced the same problem for years: many tasks fall to the same few members. Some are already overloaded, and there are disagreements about how the work could be better distributed. There's also a lack of a platform for exchanging ideas and learning from other associations.

• How can tasks distributed within the club ? Which platforms or networks can help support clubs?
• How can resources be shared and synergies created ?
• What role can external support (e.g., from municipalities) play in relieving the burden on clubs?

This offer is open to all residents of the Görlitz district and is free of charge. Food and drinks will also be provided, so no one has to discuss the event on an empty stomach.

Anyone who is curious and wants to know what has already been discussed in past Lausitz Cafés can get an overview on our Miroboard .

Accessibility information:
The building is accessible via a staircase.