The Department for Integration and the Citizens' Service for Migrants (BSfM) had organized a varied programme: With the comedian Abdelkarim, well-known from the "Heute Show", the Let's Dance stars Kathrin Menzinger and Vadim Garbuzov and the singer Sophia, there was a great entertainment program that inspired. Presenter and organizer Dincer Dinc ensured an entertaining afternoon in his usual manner before announcing this year's winners in his laudatory speech:
It is the "Tischtennis-Sportgemeinschaft Thiede-Steterburg", which was founded on February 20, 2022 and already has such a large influx one year later that two youth and two adult teams can be registered for the new season.
In 2020, the idea of offering table tennis to young people in Steterburg and Thiede arose from the involvement of the Steterburg Citizens' Association in helping schoolchildren. Steterburg elementary school immediately and actively embraced the idea of a table tennis club. The great interest shown by the pupils made it clear to those responsible that there had to be a perspective beyond the school year: The founding of the club and the offer of "table tennis for all" followed. With the help of a grant from the Konrad-Fonds, it was possible to equip the club with suitable competition and training equipment. In August 2022, the "Tischtennis-Sportgemeinschaft Thiede-Steterburg" (TTSG) started with one adult and one youth team. In May of this year, the adult team became champions in the second district league and was promoted.
In his laudatory speech, Dincer Dinc emphasized that the committed members of the table tennis sports community are committed to integration in a variety of sporting ways. The Thiede-Steterburg table tennis sports community has both sporting and socially integrative goals, which are anchored in its statutes as a guiding principle. With their great commitment, the members of the table tennis sports community help children, young people and adults in a practical and sporting way. In this way, the club makes an important contribution to helping people 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 Bunte Sole to volunteers or particularly exemplary social initiatives for the eleventh time. The prize recognizes outstanding achievements that promote integration. "I would also like to thank all the other nominees for their commitment to successful integration in Salzgitter," concluded city councillor Dr. Dirk Härdrich.
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The Integration Award was first presented to the couple 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. In 2018, the initiators of the "Kicken für-KidSZ" project received this award. In 2019, Emani Ben Romdhane received the special award. For 2020, the Steterburg Citizens' Association received the "Bunte Sole". In 2021, the "Bunte Sole" went to KSV "Siegfried" Salzgitter. Last year, the "Golden Four" from the Mütterzentrum were delighted to receive this award.
It recognizes outstanding achievements, but also small everyday things that promote integration in Salzgitter and are of key importance to the city. The prize can be awarded to individuals, groups of people or associations who are committed to the integration of people with a history of immigration or who have distinguished themselves through their special commitment to intercultural projects.
There were a total of seven proposals for the Bunte Sole 2023, from which a jury chose the two associations.