Volunteering and community life are of central importance in the German-speaking Community. Associations and volunteers are active in many areas in the German-speaking Community: from youth work to adult education, culture, social and sports, education, development cooperation and the accompaniment of migrants.

According to a survey carried out in the German-speaking Community in 2023, "The German-speaking Community of Belgium in the perception of its people” ("Die Deutschsprachige Gemeinschaft in der Einschätzung ihrer Bürger"), around 65% of the citizens work as a volunteer or is involved in community life. This implies that the political framework for volunteering must be continuously improved, typically through direct consultation with the volunteers themselves.