Voluntary Service

Ready. Set. Grow.

Volunteer services are a place to experiment, make mistakes, gain experience, and grow beyond yourself.

Just in time for the relaunch of the Junge Diakonie website, we had the opportunity to showcase the diversity of volunteer services at Diakonie through five portraits and two overarching spots. The concept and voice-over were developed in collaboration with the volunteers through several group and individual discussions. The danger with projects like this is always that they become too promotional or forced. We asked: How are you doing? What was difficult? What changed you? The process was almost a form of guided reflection on their gap year. The portraits show highs and lows, and sometimes truly difficult moments. That is exactly what makes them powerful.

We filmed with a wide variety of people: those in need of care, toddlers in daycare, teenagers, people with disabilities at the Theo Lorch workshops – and, of course, the volunteers themselves, including international participants. The goal was to stay as close as possible to the volunteers' everyday lives while incorporating stylistic breaks and punchlines. The cross-media design, featuring emojis, mobile phone footage, animations, and photos, also tapped into the viewing habits of Generations Z and Alpha.

What moved us most: authenticity transcends generations. The portraits were intended for a young target audience – yet they ended up touching parents and grandparents, too. Feedback from a nursing home sums it up: "I actually got goosebumps watching it. Mrs. Claus even cried with emotion. You really created a warm and genuine film."

Thanks to the five people who committed to this process. And to Diakonie Württemberg for their trust and courage in taking this path with us.

CREDITS

DIRECTING
Samuel Ramm

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Josua Graf

CONCEPT
Samuel Ramm & Josua Graf

EDITING
Samuel Ramm & Josua Graf

PRODUCTION
Purpose Stories