Ravensburg – Civic engagement is worthwhile – for society, for the individual, for the environment. Civic engagement should also be rewarded. That is why the Ravensburg district community foundation, together with the district youth council, organizes the “Prize-winning” competition every year. This year the focus was on the young generation and their commitment to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations (UN). A number of initiatives from the distribution area of the screen newspaper were awarded.
Many young people in the Ravensburg district are involved in clubs, at school, in youth groups or in loose associations for society, for social interaction, for a more just, environmentally friendly or climate-neutral world. In this way, they are committed to the sustainable development goals that the UN has formulated for the social, economic and ecological areas right on their doorstep or classroom door. Five main prizes and 16 recognition prizes were awarded at the award ceremony on November 24th in the Spohnmensa in Ravensburg.
SUN helper heroes at the Johanniter Sonnentreff in Leutkirch
The first main prize was presented by Eva-Maria Meschenmoser, deputy chairwoman of the community foundation, to the representatives of the Leutkircher project “SUN-Helferhelden” at the Johanniter-Sonnentreff. The sun meeting of the Johanniter-Unfallhilfe in Leutkirch is an open meeting place with many opportunities for encounters. Here, young people from the Don Bosco School in Leutkirch (special educational counseling and training center with a focus on learning) are involved in the “SUN Helper Heroes” project as part of “learning through commitment”. Among other things, they save food from the rubbish bin and bring it by cargo bike to the food distribution station in the meeting point. This cooperation makes it possible to inspire young people to volunteer, to experience sustainability in practice and to get to know and live solidarity. “I was particularly impressed that the project supports several sustainability goals at the same time,” said Eva-Maria Meschenmoser. “Through social commitment, young people at the Don Bosco School are made familiar with the challenges of real life, they learn in a practical and action-oriented way. The various voluntary activities are closely linked to the lessons and I really liked that.”
Recognition awards went to Bad Waldsee and Leutkirch
In addition to the five main prizes (they went to Ravensburg, Wangen, Isny and Weingarten in addition to the SUN helper heroes), 16 recognition prizes were awarded, each with prize money worth 300 euros, including to
the 7th grades of the Döchtbühlschule GWRS Bad Waldsee for the project: Our Earth – Our Future
to the youth council of the large district town of Leutkirch for the project: Chill & Grill: outdoor meeting place and oasis of well-being for children and young people
to the Nabu local group in Bad Waldsee and the Prisma youth center in Bad Waldsee for the project: We are building a life tower
to the elementary school in Reichenhofen for the project: Save the yellow-bellied toad!
and to the UNESCO-AG at the Hans-Multscher-Gymnasium Leutkirch for the project: Transformation concrete!
Praise from district head Iris Steger
Iris Steger, head of district development, economy and rural areas, underlined in her welcoming speech that the new ideas and initiatives of the young generation are what count and encouraged the award winners to continue their commitment.
“Think globally, act locally”
After the award ceremony, almost 100 guests were invited to a snack and used the evening for exchange and networking with like-minded people. On the evening of the award ceremony, it became clear that if everyone follows the principle of “think globally, act locally”, a concrete contribution to the sustainability goals can be made on site and small solutions for the big challenges can be developed. A shared vision can become reality and lead to real change.
grand prizes
The following five projects were able to look forward to a main prize:
1st Johanniter Sun Meeting the Johanniter-Unfall-Hilfe e. V. – prize money €2,000,
Project: SUN Helpers (see above)
2. Helen Huchel und Teresa Maas – Prize money: €1,500. Project: Production of sustainable sweaters from waste materials/foundation of a label
Helen and Teresa are students at the Free Waldorf School in Wangen im Allgäu and make sweaters from scraps of fabric and old clothes. The aim is to produce fair and resource-saving clothing at a realistic and at the same time affordable price. The implementation takes place within the framework of an annual work. The two 17-year-olds would like to expand and continue their concept outside of school in the long term. The establishment of a “fair fashion label” is planned.
3. TSB Ravensburg, Judo – €1,000. Project: Judo – the gentle way for all people
The judo department of the Turn- und Sportbund (TSB) Ravensburg integrates children and young people from Ukrainian refugee families through joint judo training with local athletes. Guided by the Russian-speaking trainer Christian Ließ, 25 young athletes from the Ukraine have so far been able to benefit from the free and regular offer. The aim is a peaceful and respectful coexistence beyond sport.
4. Inanna Rollinger and Mareike Heiner – €500. Project: Imparting species knowledge through the wild plant quartet “Florett”
Inanna Rollinger and Mareike Heiner study environmental education at the PH Weingarten and have developed the wild plant quartet “Florett”. This card game explains the systematics of plants in a playful way. It can be played without prior knowledge, but can also be used for learning. In perspective, the two students are aiming for an interactive workshop to impart knowledge about native wild plant species.
5. Solar Club Gymnasium Isny e. V. – €500. Project: EnergieHaus Gymnasium Isny, sub-project “Insulation”
The solar association Gymnasium Isny eV has been planning an energy house in the school garden since 2016. Since 2019, schoolchildren have been gradually building it themselves – sustainably and energy-efficiently in passive house construction with regional partners. In 2022, the construction phase “climate-friendly and ecological insulation” with renewable raw materials took place. Even after completion, the house remains a learning object and a special place is created for both internal and external use.
Press release from the District Citizens’ Foundation (Anja Beicht)
