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Welcome to the club!

Diverse voluntary work in South Tyrol 

We are a region of associations — we have around 4,600 - and our voluntary organisations are very important to us. Volunteering is highly regarded and an institutional lynchpin of our organisation. Our associations and organisations are integrated into a complex legal and institutional system and receive extensive support. For example, there is a separate state law on volunteering, an office for volunteering and solidarity and a service centre for volunteering. Find out more about this important pillar of our identity here.

A melodious performance

A chapel in every village — and its traditional costume. We South Tyroleans are musical and tradition-conscious. In 2023, we had around 209 bands with over 10,000 musicians. Chapels play a central role in our village communities. Over 21% of active members are under 20 years old, and over 26% are between 20 and 30 years old. Young and old come together in the bands, which promotes social cohesion and preserves our culture. Pepi Ploner, Chairman of the Association of South Tyrolean Music Bands, says: "We wear traditional costume in the band. This is our festive garb and a sign of our identity and appreciation of our culture. The people of South Tyrol are proud of this."  

IDM Südtirol-Alto Adige/Franziska Unterholzner
For the love of the mountains

Our voluntary work takes us high up. Founded in 1948, the Alpenverein Südtirol (AVS) is the strongest association in South Tyrol with 3,300 volunteers. 35 mountain rescue centres throughout the province and around 1,000 active mountain rescue men and women as well as 40 avalanche dog handlers and their dogs help quickly and efficiently when someone is in distress in the mountains. In addition to those involved in nature conservation, hiking guides and people who take care of marking our hiking trails, mountaineering also plays an important role for the members of the Alpine Club. AVS President Georg Simeoni says: "We want to live history and pass it on to young people and, above all, preserve and pass on the culture and history of mountaineering." This is done, for example, in books published by the AVS or at joint celebrations. "We cultivate the community and are open to everyone who lives with us," says Simeoni.

Help on the mountain farm

Helping with the hay harvest on the steep meadows, with the animals in the barn, in the farm household, looking after children or spending time with elderly or sick people as well as people with disabilities — the Association for Voluntary Labour in South Tyrol provides helpers to mountain farming families who have found themselves in an emergency situation or need support in other ways. The volunteers live and work together with the mountain farming family and are insured against accidents during their unpaid work assignment. Mountain Farm Aid was founded in 1996. While people used to help each other out on the farm, there were fewer and fewer people in the mountain villages, but the work remained. Today, the association makes an important contribution to the preservation of our mountain agriculture. 

IDM Süditirol-Alto Adige/Alex Filz
Fine arts, committed associations

Numerous volunteers are also dedicated to promoting music, theatre and art in the cultural sector. South Tyrol's cultural associations make our cultural landscape diverse and offer cultural contributions and events in various fields. The South Tyrolean Cultural Institute,  for example, is an association that regularly brings renowned theatres to South Tyrol for guest performances, thereby promoting cultural exchange. The Filmtreff Kaltern, a group set up by film lovers in 1992 to save the country cinema tradition in their community. Or the Verein Venusta Musica, which violinist and music professor Sabina Mair from Schlanders founded in 2021. She wants to introduce people to string instrument culture and chamber music and is primarily concerned with early musical education. 

Vereinigte Bühnen Bozen/Nikolaus Ostermann
Sustainable Südtirol

Voluntary commitment

One in every three of us is active as a volunteer - some in a traditional band, others in the volunteer fire department or in one of the other 4,600 associations that exist throughout South Tyrol. They are all pillars of our society - because they bring people from all walks of life together and promote our historical traditions.

Enjoy the culture with all the senses 

Come closer and immerse yourself in the South Tyrolean cultural landscape. Behind historic walls, at traditional festivals, in the vibrant ambience of concert halls and theatres, you will experience thrilling moments.

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Taking sustainable paths

A car-free and climate-friendly holiday can be spent in Ritten. The holiday destination was awarded GSTC certification as a sustainable destination in 2023. Volunteers are also out and about there — for example on the picturesque hiking trails, where they regularly renew the markings and maintain the paths.

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