Commission approves allocation of €1 million to specified initiatives:

The City of Essen has announced the establishment of a new scholarship program, the "Ehrenamtsstipendium für junge Engagierte," to support young volunteers who often find themselves needing to balance their commitment to volunteering with part-time jobs.

This initiative aims to express gratitude to these young individuals for their dedication, despite their limited free time. The scholarships will be awarded through a lottery after the application phase, which will run from May 1st, 2025, to October 31st, 2025.

Interested parties can find more information and register for the Ehrenamtsstipendium on the city portal's website at

To be eligible, candidates must be at least 18 years old and not older than 27 in 2026. They must also be enrolled in school, vocational training, university, or doing a voluntary social year in 2026. Candidates must also be actively involved in a club, association, or similar institution based in Essen.

The scholarship is worth 150 euros per month and will be awarded for one year each. Scholarship holders will remain in regular contact with the city portal's Civil Participation and Volunteer Affairs department.

One of the main objectives of the Ehrenamtsstipendium is to appreciate young volunteers who balance their volunteering with training, studies, or school. The city society also emphasises the need for new talent in volunteering, as expressed by the Ehrenamtsstipendium.

Scholarship holders will have the opportunity to exchange ideas with each other and expand their personal network. In 2025, the city portal awarded the Ehrenamtsstipendium for the first time to support young volunteers.

For media inquiries, the city portal's Press and Communications Office can be reached at presse@our website, +49 201 88-0, and

In 2026, the city portal will offer 15 scholarships under the Ehrenamtsstipendium. The foundation that awards these scholarships is the City of Essen, and the scholarships for the year 2026 will be awarded with applications possible until October 31, 2025.