HanseMerkur Award for Child Protection goes to outstanding initiatives

This year's HanseMerkur Prize for Child Protection, which is endowed with a total of 55,000 euros, goes to five social initiatives: The main prize goes to the Helden-Verein für nachhaltige Bildung und Persönlichkeitsentwicklung (Bielefeld) with its outstanding "Heldenakademie" project, the organizers announced. HanseMerkur thus honored the advocacy of a stable framework of values and norms against threats of (cyber)bullying and violence. Three other institutions - the Saxon association "Aktion Zivilcourage" for the promotion of democracy in children, the nationwide inclusive soccer club "Bananenflankenliga" and the Hessian association "Dup15q e.V." - will receive recognition prizes and will each receive funding of 10,000 euros.

An award will also be presented to an initiative selected by HanseMerkur employees: This time, the choice fell on the "TeamUp" programme run in Hamburg and Berlin by the organization War Child Deutschland, which supports children who have fled and been traumatized by war.

Importance of solidarity-based action greater than ever

"With impressive effectiveness, the five award-winning initiatives are committed to the well-being of children and young people and make a significant contribution to strengthening our society," said Eberhard Sautter, Chairman of the Management Board of HanseMerkur, at the award ceremony in Hamburg. "Their examples show that commitment and tolerance sustain our society. In times of uncertainty and strife in many parts of the world, the importance of solidarity is greater than ever. It is the power of living community that makes it possible to stand up for each other, especially for those who need our special support."

The HanseMerkur Award for Child Protection honors individuals, private initiatives and groups in Germany that are largely voluntary, highly committed and exemplary in their commitment to the interests of children and young people. So far, 183 projects have been honored, which have received prize money amounting to over 1.4 million euros.