Two projects from the Southern Wine Route in the running for the engagement award!

Two projects from the Southern Wine Route in the running for the engagement award!

There is reason to be happy in the Southern Wine Route region: two outstanding projects have been nominated for the renowned German Engagement Prize. This award is considered the highest honor for voluntary work in Germany. District Administrator Dietmar Seefeldt sees the nomination not only as a great honor, but also as a report on the exemplary commitment in the region. The audience has until October 26th to vote online for the projects and win a contribution of 10,000 euros.

The nominated projects are the music project “Youth Europe Music”, which is supported by the Südliche Weinstraße district music school and the University of Landau, as well as the “German-French liaison officers” initiative of the SÜW disaster protection. Those responsible for the project, including Jens Thiele and Adrian Rinck, emphasize the important role that voluntary commitment plays in society.

Commitment with an international focus

“Youth Europe Music” is all about international understanding and cultural exchange and brings together young people from Germany, France and Poland. This project is not only musically but also historically charged. Participants visit important sites of remembrance such as Auschwitz and the Maginot Line to reflect on the history of violence and shape a common future. Musical elements, such as playing national anthems together, emphasize the message: “People’s freedom cannot be suppressed.”

As part of this project, the young people have developed a new medley of six freedom songs from the three countries, which will be performed during trinational concerts. These events are not only intended to inspire musically, but also to promote a sense of community and peace. Further celebrations of friendship and the presentation of creative texts for the European anthem are also planned.

Helping hands in disaster relief

The “German-French Liaison Officers” project plays an extremely important role in cross-border civil protection. Volunteers work here to strengthen cooperation between German and French emergency services during fire brigade operations. This commitment has already been recognized with the Insurance Chamber Foundation's volunteer award. This award was presented by Barbara Schick, a sign of appreciation for the emergency services.

Volunteering is a central part of social life in Germany. According to Statista, around 16.9 million people in Germany are actively involved in volunteer work, which corresponds to a participation rate of 27.5%. This shows the great importance that volunteer work has in society. The diverse opportunities for committed work, be it in sports clubs, with the volunteer fire department or in social institutions, not only strengthen the local community, but also promote personal development and social responsibility.

The award ceremony for the German Commitment Award will take place on December 5, 2025 in Berlin and will be another highlight in recognition of the tireless efforts of volunteers throughout the country. Until then it's time to participate and vote!