volunteer position
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volunteer position
An activity carried out voluntarily and without pay for the common good or for an organization.
Viele Menschen engagieren sich in ihrer Freizeit in einem Ehrenamt bei der freiwilligen Feuerwehr.
Many people volunteer in their free time in a volunteer position with the volunteer fire department.
The word is made up of 'Ehre' (honor) and 'Amt' (office/position). So it literally describes an 'office that one performs for honor' and not for money. This explains why the activity is unpaid.
Sie übt ihr Ehrenamt mit großem Engagement aus.
She carries out her volunteer position with great commitment.
Important related words are derived from 'Ehrenamt' (volunteer position). The activity itself is described with the adjective 'ehrenamtlich' (voluntary/volunteer), and a person who performs it is called 'ein Ehrenamtlicher' or 'eine Ehrenamtliche' (a volunteer).
Er arbeitet als ehrenamtlicher Helfer im Tierheim.
He works as a volunteer helper at the animal shelter.
To talk about this activity, people often use fixed verb combinations. Typical ones are 'ein Ehrenamt ausüben' (to carry out a volunteer position), 'ein Ehrenamt übernehmen' (to take on a volunteer position), or the more general phrase 'sich ehrenamtlich engagieren' (to volunteer / to do volunteer work).
Nächstes Jahr möchte ich ein Ehrenamt im Sportverein übernehmen.
Next year I would like to take on a volunteer position at the sports club.
office / agency
'das Amt' and 'das Ehrenamt' sound similar and both have to do with tasks and responsibility. However, 'das Amt' usually means a public office or an official position, for example with the city or in politics. 'das Ehrenamt' is a voluntary and unpaid activity, often in a club or for other people. Learners may confuse the words because both contain 'Amt'. The important point is: you often go to an 'Amt' for administrative matters; you do an 'Ehrenamt' voluntarily.
Sie hat ein Ehrenamt im Sportverein und trainiert dort Kinder.
She has a volunteer position at the sports club and trains children there.
Morgen muss ich zum Amt, weil ich meinen neuen Ausweis beantragen will.
Tomorrow I have to go to the office because I want to apply for my new ID card.