This interesting question was addressed in a discussion event of POWER2HELP on March 5, 2019. André Martinuzzi (Institute for Sustainability Management) and Christian Grünhaus (former Schober, NPO & SE Competence Center) gave an insight and overview of the topic and encouraged discussion about the current position of volunteering online. Conclusion was: "With a proper compass of values, volunteer organisations should boldly take the path of digitisation".

The focus was on the digital impact on volunteering and the social engagement of individuals. New, easier forms of participation managed to remove inhibitions. For example, digitisation can reach a larger number of users independent of time and place. Both networking and communication with target groups is often more targeted and cost-effective. For example, online platforms make it possible to quickly provide information on specific issues, to tell volunteers at the click of a mouse where and when help is needed - or simply to donate. Wikipedia is probably the best-known open source knowledge database, which is operated and continuously updated on the basis of voluntary work. But social engagement is also facilitated by online petitions, crowdsourcing or food sharing. However, we as a society are also confronted with great challenges and perhaps even dangers that new media, platforms and technologies hold. The protection of our privacy and data is coming under pressure. Social media create filter bubbles, so-called fake news and shitstorms are already part of everyday life on Facebook and Co.

These and many other questions, challenges and opportunities were discussed from the point of view of various organisations on the podium by:

•     Melanie Eberhard, Project Manager engage.ch, DSJ, Switzerland

•     Gerry Foitik, Federal Rescue Commander, Red Cross

•     Thomas Lutz, Director Communications, Microsoft Austria

•     Christian Grünhaus (ehem. Schober), Academic Director NPO Competence Center, WU Vienna

•     Klaus Schwertner, Secretary General, Caritas Vienna

André Martinuzzi (Institute for Sustainability Management, WU Vienna) took over the moderation. Afterwards Sabine Eichinger presented the new eLearning modules of the initiative POWER 2 HELP - the content of the website is only available in German: http://www.power2help.at