Ladies and gentlemen, dear committed people,
Welcome to the New Year's reception for associations and initiatives in Aachen!
It is a great pleasure and honour for me to welcome representatives from around 220 non-profit associations, initiatives, groups and organizations from our city here today.
I would like to express my deep gratitude for your great commitment and tireless efforts on behalf of the city of Aachen.
The diversity of clubs, associations and initiatives demonstrates the special wealth of our city.
This volunteer structure, built up over decades and centuries, remains strong and continues to support young initiatives and student projects.
The colorful landscape of commitment that we form here together fills me as Lord Mayor with great pride. It is a pride that we can all share, because next to each of us is someone who is just as committed and passionate about their cause.
That is the experience we share here, that we are on the road together and are stronger together than alone.
Last year, we were particularly impressed by the young volunteer scholarship holders.
This program, launched together with the city region, enables 20 young people who are involved in associations and initiatives to receive a small allowance. This support is particularly important at this stage of life.
We look forward to welcoming five more scholarship holders in the coming year and invite you to submit proposals for committed young people who deserve this support program.
Commitment is not just about passion, it also needs funding opportunities and support. I am therefore delighted that the "2000x100" funding program is once again being implemented. Even if it is not progressing as quickly as we would like, I can assure you that our office is actively working on it.
In recent years, we have launched various volunteering campaigns to highlight the achievements of those involved. From "Aachen blossoms" and "Aachen moves" to this year's theme "Aachen together instead of lonely".
This topic is not immediately obvious, but I am sure that we will gain clarity on it together today.
Together, we want to explore what constitutes community involvement in our associations and what questions we are confronted with on the subject of loneliness.
Loneliness affects not only older people, but all population groups in our city. With 58 percent single-family households and only 15 percent households with children, we need to be aware of how the population is distributed.
We know that older people tend to live alone in the districts and students in the city. More than half of Aachen residents live alone and therefore need public space to meet up, be it in the city, in squares, parks or clubs, in our facilities such as the VHS or the library.
The Haus der Neugier will become an important place for the community in our city, a meeting place for citizens where they can meet, learn and celebrate together.
This year, we want to explore with you what it will take to reflect the diverse interests, concerns and needs there.
The most challenging task in the context of the House of Curiosity will be to ultimately decide what is most important to us.
We are noticing more and more that society is drifting apart, that opinions are polarizing, that we are stuck in positions and that we no longer find each other when we talk to each other.
We must actively counter this development.
My resolution for this year is to strengthen dialog, to create spaces in which we can talk to each other respectfully and find solutions together.
Aachen has the strength to learn this dialog again, beyond polemics, prejudices and agitation.
People count, and together we will carry this city into the future.
I am proud that we have formed a broad alliance at the Round Table against the Right to counter the hatred and agitation of the AfD.
This Saturday, Holocaust Remembrance Day, we will take to the streets together to show that we are Aachen: We are Aachen. Nazis have no place here.
The large demonstrations in Germany show that it is important to show our face against hatred and hate speech and to stand up for our basic democratic values.
Every person is wanted and valuable for our city. Almost 40 percent of Aachen's residents have a migrant background.
Let's be strong together and make it clear to those who think differently: This has no place in our Aachen.
We will not allow ourselves to be divided. Aachen will remain a safe haven.
I encourage you to draw strength from what we have already achieved. Despite all the challenges, we will not let up in our willingness to help and our welcoming culture for people in need, whether from Ukraine or other parts of the world.
Finally, I would like to return to this year's motto: "Aachen together instead of alone".
This motto is not just symbolic; we will also put it into practice politically. In the summer, we will show that Aachen sticks together with a day of volunteering and initiatives in the city park.
Unfortunately, the Volunteer Day could not take place for two years due to Corona, but it will take place again in June with a new concept.
After the Easter vacations, we will be taking up the "Aachen Spring Cleaning" campaign again in order to take sustainable responsibility for our environment together.
I would like to thank you all for your valuable commitment and look forward to a successful year together for Aachen!
25.01.2024