Presentation of the Chemnitz Peace Prize
For the 15th time, the FUER CHEMNITZ e. V. citizens' association and the City of Chemnitz's migration officer, Etelka Kobuß, will be awarding the Chemnitz Peace Prize at a ceremony in the city council chamber of the town hall. The award ceremony will take place today, Friday, 3 March, at 5 pm.
Three prizes of 500 euros, 300 euros and 200 euros will be awarded. Mayor Miko Runkel will convey the city's greetings and pupils from the municipal music school will provide musical accompaniment to the event. Following the award ceremony, there will be a small reception with the support of the association Vietnamesen in Chemnitz und Umgebung e. V., which itself was honoured with the second prize in 2012.
The 15-member jury selected the winners from around 30 proposed projects, individuals and institutions after numerous project visits and personal discussions.
This year's first prize was awarded to Different People e. V. - a counselling and communication centre for homosexual, a-, bisexual, trans or intersex people, their relatives and all interested parties. The foundation stone for the organisation was laid in 2002. For their tireless work in favour of acceptance of LGBTTIAQ* love and life realities, for breaking down prejudices and their commitment against discrimination of any kind, the association receives 500 euros as well as a sculpture by the sculptor Erik Neukirchner.
The second prize and 300 euros go to the Chemnitzer City e. V. citizens' initiative, which was founded in 2006. The association works in the interests of the residents of the city centre and promotes
urbanity and attractiveness of Chemnitz city centre. It offers low-threshold German courses for women, organises exhibitions and festivals, promotes all efforts to extend help and support for the elderly and disabled, supports work with children and young people and the integration of foreign citizens living in the residential area.
The third prize, worth 200 euros, was awarded to the Aufatmen meeting centre. With their programmes, which are largely financed by private donations, they appeal to people of different world views, origins and backgrounds and create spaces for exchange and encounters.
This year's Chemnitz Peace Prize is awarded in honour of Liane Günther. This honours her decades of commitment to promoting peaceful coexistence in Chemnitz through art, discussion and integration. She is the honorary managing director and artistic director of V.E.B. VereinsEigeneBühne e.V., director and performer. With a variety of concepts, she introduces people of all ages, regardless of gender or nationality, to the possibilities of theatre and creates new ways of interacting with them.
The prize of honour is awarded every two years. Previous winners were: Pastor Hans-Jochen Vogel (2004), Siegmund Rotstein (2006), Justin Sonder (2008), Dr Sadik Al-Biladi (2009), Stephan Brenner (2012), Pedro Martin Montero Pérez (2013), Christina and Wolfgang Lehmann (2014), the Kästel-Sasse family (2016).
The Chemnitz Peace Prize is intended to encourage reflection and action and support non-violent coexistence.
eins energie in sachsen GmbH & Co KG and the Rotary Club Chemnitz are supporting the project this year.