Around 250 guests attended the festive event in the Kulturscheune. The Department for Integration and the Citizens' Service for Migrants (BSfM) had organized a varied programme: Robert Beitsch and Anastasia Bodnar provided entertaining entertainment with their dance show, as did the performances by DeeOoh with his band 4pulsiv and comedy rebel Benaissa Lamroubal.
Marcel Bürger, second mayor of the city of Salzgitter, welcomed the guests on behalf of the council and administration.
Nine nominations were received this year for the "Bunte Sole", from which a jury chose Emani Ben Romdhane. The owner of the Sonnen-Apotheke pharmacy in Lebenstedt is an important contact person for customers and provides a lot of help: She takes the time to translate letters from the job center or applications for health insurance or to fill them out together. She makes phone calls to insurance companies, helps with finding accommodation, makes appointments with doctors and often accompanies people personally to important medical appointments.
The 33-year-old from Braunschweig with Tunisian roots has been a volunteer for the city of Salzgitter for several years and is very active in helping refugees. She also regularly gives lectures at the Oskar Kämmer School on the subject of health and illnesses, as well as lectures in Arabic for all new immigrants to educate them about our healthcare system and help them with everyday topics such as "What is a prescription?".
The laudatory speech for Emani Ben Romdhane was held by Dincer Dinc, integration guide at the city of Salzgitter, who moderated the evening with Kevin Anton from the Integration Department of the city of Salzgitter. Dincer Dinc emphasized that Emani Ben Romdhane is committed to integration in many different ways every day. With her great commitment, she helps many people in a very practical way. In this way, she also makes an important contribution to helping newcomers feel at home in Salzgitter.
The Citizens' Service for Migrants, which initiated the awarding of the Integration Prize together with the city of Salzgitter, has awarded the Colorful Brine/Integration Prize to volunteers or particularly exemplary social initiatives for the seventh time. The award recognizes outstanding achievements that promote integration.
The integration prize was first awarded to Edith and Christel Otto Tietge in 2013. In 2014, the Mütterzentrum was honored. In 2015, the BC Tigers e.V. received this award. In 2016, the married couple Anne-Rose and Hans-Jürgen Kothe received the prize, endowed with 1,000 euros, for their commitment to helping refugees. In 2017, "Jumpers" was honored with this award. Last year, the initiators of the "Kicken für-KidSZ" project received this award.