On June 16, 2025, Europa-Park will host the award ceremony for the Deutscher Kinder- und Jugendpreis. Six projects from Berlin, Hamburg, Köln, Neukirch/Lausitz, and Weimar have been nominated. Selected by the Children and Youth Advisory Board of the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk, these initiatives showcase how young people creatively shape their environment.
Award Ceremony at Europa-Park
Europa-Park, Germany’s largest theme park, will open its gates on June 16, 2025, for this special event. Miriam Mack, ambassador of the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk, together with the organization, invites all participants. The ceremony will announce the winning projects and feature a diverse program with music acts and celebrities honoring the commitment of children and youth. Miriam Mack shares: “Congratulations to all nominees: The children and young people can already look forward to an amazing award ceremony at Europa-Park. We’re preparing a truly special program with music acts and celebrities to celebrate their unique dedication and remarkable creativity. I admire the courage and enthusiasm these young individuals bring to supporting others and fostering togetherness. Their contribution to society is invaluable and cannot be overstated.”
The Deutscher Kinder- und Jugendpreis
The Deutscher Kinder- und Jugendpreis, endowed with 30,000 euros, stands as Germany’s highest-funded national award for children and youth participation. It will be presented in the categories of Solidarisches Miteinander, Politisches Engagement, and Kinder- und Jugendkultur. Winners of the first place in each category will receive 6,000 euros, while honorable mentions come with 3,000 euros each. An additional Europa-Park JUNIOR CLUB Award, also worth 3,000 euros, will recognize another project. The award celebrates initiatives where young people play an exemplary role in shaping their surroundings. Holger Hofmann, Managing Director of the Deutsches Kinderhilfswerk, states: “It’s inspiring to see so many innovative and exciting projects applying for the Deutscher Kinder- und Jugendpreis once again. This award honors the efforts of children and youth advocating for their own rights or those of others, while highlighting the importance of their participation.”
Nominated Projects Across Germany
Six diverse projects have reached the final round. From Berlin-Neukölln, “Coole Kids Rap - Mach Mit: Umweltsong und DIY-Tutorials für den Umweltschutz” sees children and youth writing lyrics, rapping, performing street dance, creating graffiti, printing T-shirts, recording in a studio, and producing DIY tutorials and a music video to promote environmental protection. In Hamburg, young people partnered with Kultur & Technik Hamburg e.V. to design flashlights from recycled TicTac containers, which will be sent to children in Ukraine’s Sumy region to aid them during air raids in basements. The “Freiraum-Bauraum-Spielraum” project in Weimar transformed a playground into a cross-generational meeting place, with children aged six to 15 designing play equipment, light installations, and audio boxes for the blind that narrate stories about historical sites. Additional nominees hail from Köln, with two selected projects, and Neukirch/Lausitz in Saxony.
Importance of Children and Youth Participation
Holger Hofmann emphasizes: “Children and youth who actively engage in their social environment from a young age are more likely to contribute to community development as adults. Their participation strengthens a fundamental pillar of our democracy.” The variety of these projects reflects the ingenuity and innovative spirit of the younger generation. These nominated initiatives demonstrate how children and youth tackle societal challenges with courage and creativity.
