The work of the Diesterweg Scholarship in Offenbach of the Bürgerstiftung Offenbach am Main has been awarded the Integration Prize of the Year 2025 for its outstanding professional and voluntary commitment over many years. "The work and the special commitment of the award winner fulfill the criteria for the award to a high degree," said Martin Wilhelm, Head of the Social and Integration Department and chairman of the jury, in his statement.
The Diesterweg Scholarship in Offenbach was selected as the winner by the jury because it has been working since 2015 to develop the potential of 4th and 5th grade students and to strengthen parents in their role as educational companions for their children. By involving parents and siblings in all activities, the concept of relationship-based learning, which promotes social and personal skills through interaction, has a lasting effect. In Offenbach in particular, the vast majority of families participating in the scholarship benefit from a multicultural and multilingual background.
"With its work and commitment, the Diesterweg Scholarship has thus rendered outstanding services to cohesion and integration in the city of Offenbach, which is characterized by diversity," said the jury in justifying the award.
The members of the jury are representatives of institutions in the city:
- Head of City Council Stephan Färber
- Head of the Integration Department and chairman of the jury Martin Wilhelm
- Chairman of the Foreigners' Advisory Council Abdelkader Rafoud
- Protestant City Deanery Frankfurt and Offenbach
- Catholic Church - Pastoral Area Offenbach
- Offenbach Chamber of Industry and Commerce
- Chairman of the Offenbach Sports Association
- Interest group of Offenbach school principals
- Jewish Community Offenbach
- German Trade Union Federation
- A representative of the mosque communities
- Municipal women's representative
- Municipal integration officer
- Journalism and press
The Integration Prize is endowed with 1,000 euros and is awarded annually. It will be presented at a ceremony this year. The date will be announced in good time.