The presentation of the Diversity Award 2024

For the first time this year there was a change of name: the former "Integration Award" became the "Diversity Award".

The 2024 award winners

The Board of Trustees unanimously selected four prizewinners for the thirteenth Integration Award and the newly renamed first "Diversity Award":

• Verein Kinder- und Jugendhilfe Driescher Hof e.V.
• Inclusive Living Aachen e.V. (IWA).
• Sprach-Treff Aachen.
• "Honorary award": posthumously to Paola Blume.

The categories and prize money were divided as follows:

• In the "Clubs" category:

Verein Kinder- und Jugendhilfe Driescher Hof e.V.

à Proposer: Sandra Jansen (Director, Verein Kinder- und Jugendhilfe Driescher Hof e.V.)

Information: The D-Hof in Aachen's Driescher Hof district has been providing a diverse environment for over 300 children and young people every day since 1981. The facility promotes social participation and resilience with educational, leisure and support services. The D-Hof deals intensively with topics such as criticism of racism and discrimination and organizes projects such as the "Diversity Week". Its work is supported by the Ministry for Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Refugees and Migration of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia.

• In the "Clubs" category

Inclusive Living Aachen e.V. (IWA)

à Proposer: Petra Schreiber (Active in the association, Inklusiv Wohnen Aachen e.V. (IWA)

Information: Inklusiv Wohnen Aachen e.V. is the first inclusive housing project in Aachen that brings together people with and without disabilities as well as international students and backgrounds. The project promotes integration and inclusion through shared housing and living, supported by cultural exchange and joint leisure activities. IWA shows that diversity promotes safety and participation by breaking down barriers and building trust, and therefore deserves recognition for its commitment in these areas.

• In the category "Volunteering":

Language meeting Aachen

à Proposer: Ulrike Hartmann (Municipal Integration Center, City of Aachen)

Information: The Sprach-Treff is an offer to learn German, which Anna Koßmann initiated in a very short time in 2022, shortly after the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Over 30 volunteers, including students, professionals and retirees, formed teams and led a total of eight groups with two sessions per week, initially in the Talstr. 2 depot and later in the Jakobushaus of the St. Jakob parish. Despite Ms. Koßmann's reduced involvement, the language meetings continue to exist, firmly established in the city, and offer specialized services for different target groups and levels, supported by cooperation with several institutions in Aachen.

• In the "Honorary Award" category

Posthumously to Paola Blume

à Proposer: Board of Trustees of the Integration Council of the City of Aachen.

Information: It is with great respect and deep appreciation that the Board of Trustees of the Integration Council has decided to posthumously award the late Paola Blume with an honorary prize as part of the awarding of the "Diversity Prize" of the City of Aachen. With this award, the Board of Trustees of the Integration Council would like to honor her strong and tireless commitment to integration work in Aachen. As a long-standing member of the Integration Council and as Chairwoman of the Integration Council, Ms. Blume has been able to achieve many positive things for immigrants in the city of Aachen. Her work has touched and had a lasting impact on many people. (Ms. Blume was Chairwoman from 2014 - 2020 and Deputy Chairwoman from 2011 - 2013 of the Integration Council of the City of Aachen).

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