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Volunteers at the heart of Roskilde Festival

Allan Mutuku-Kortbæk
Allan Mutuku-Kortbæk - [email protected]
Volunteers at the heart of Roskilde Festival
Anne-Katrine Greenwik Jensen told us she enjoys helping out and the free festival ticket isn't bad either! Photo: Bobby Anwar

Some 30,000 people volunteer at the Roskilde Festival through their voluntary efforts, it is little wonder that it has grown to the proportions it spans today.

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Roskilde Festival's success year after year lies in much more than the music and its famed orange feeling. The event simply couldn't go on if it weren't for the small army of volunteers who handle projects big and small and ensure that the festival-goers have a fun, safe and memorable time.
 
Some 32,000 people volunteer during the week-long event, either giving their time and services directly to the Roskilde Festival or to one of the more than 200 clubs, societies and organizations that operate on the massive site.
 
 
The ardent volunteers partake in everything from toilet duties to manning VIP check-ins to cleaning up the sizable mess left behind after a week-long party with around 100,000 guests. The festival is one example of the magnitude of properly-employed voluntary manpower for a good cause.
 
Backed by an urge to support initiatives that benefit children and the youth within humanitarian and cultural work, Roskilde Festival relies on the efforts of numerous volunteers to keep it living and breathing as an organisation dedicated to churning its profits into efforts that have a positive impact on society.
 
 
On a Wednesday that marked the opening day for Roskilde's grand stages, with the likes of Pharrell Williams and Noel Gallagher making appearances at the sold-out festival, we wanted to find out more about who is making things run smoothly behind the scenes.
 
Besides the free ticket, what drives these volunteers to donate their time and energies to the Roskilde Festival? The Local caught up with some of the volunteers at this year's festival. Here is what they had to say:
 
Nadia Muhammad, first-time volunteer from Valby. 
 
“Being a volunteer is hard and demanding at times, but also a lot of fun." 


Anne-Katrine Greenwik Jensen from Glostrup is volunteering for the second year in a row.

"The ticket is free and it's nice to get a break from the festival ground."


Ole Schou from Næstved is volunteering for the fourth time. 

"We have such a good time at the Roskilde Festival and I really like it out here in Street City."
 

First-time volunteer Nadia Behzadi
 
"I am happy for the free ticket, I have great colleagues and it is really fun work."

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