About 700 guests gathered on Sunday in the Fredenberg Auditorium to send a special message of diversity, solidarity, and integration in action.
The City of Salzgitter’s Department of Integration and the Citizen Service for Migrants (BSfM) had organized a varied program of music, dance, and entertainment for the awards ceremony: Among those performing were “Let’s Dance” contestants Patricija and Alexandru Ionel, comedian Abdelkarim, singer Zeynep Avci, the Erkan Rast Orchestra, and the dancers from the Kwiatkowski Dance School in Salzgitter.
Guests at this year’s awards ceremony included Mayor Frank Klingebiel, First Deputy Mayor Stefan Klein, and Second Deputy Mayor Christian Striese. Together with the numerous visitors, they honored the commitment of the award recipients and emphasized the importance of diversity, integration, and social cohesion in Salzgitter.
Mayor Frank Klingebiel welcomed the guests and emphasized the significance of the event: “A warm welcome to this very special event, which honors people who are committed to our diverse and open urban community. They are not only committed to helping people who have fled to Salzgitter from a wide variety of countries due to war, violence, hunger, or poverty, but also to all those who call Salzgitter their home, thereby making an important contribution to social cohesion in our community.”
Host and organizer Dincer Dinc guided the audience through the afternoon with his usual entertaining and engaging style. In his laudatory speech, he praised the nominees’ dedication and then announced this year’s award winner.
“Bunte Sole 2026” for the Evangelical Youth Camp Team
The “Bunte Sole 2026” award was presented to the volunteers of the camp team at the Evangelical Youth of Salzgitter. Through its long-standing commitment, the team creates opportunities for connection, community, and respectful coexistence. Children and young people from diverse backgrounds and with different life stories come together, experience a sense of community, and share common experiences.
In this way, the camp makes a valuable contribution to social cohesion in Salzgitter.
In his laudatory speech, Dincer Dinc emphasized the special significance of this commitment:
“What makes it special is this: Community isn’t just explained there—it’s lived out—around the campfire, on hikes, while playing together, while listening, while laughing, and sometimes even when someone is homesick. There, children and young people whose families come from the most diverse parts of the world come together.”
The camp team thus stands for a society that excludes no one and offers hope.
Special Award for Elia Harmoush
This year, a special award was also presented. The award went to Elia Harmoush, a 5th-grade student at Gymnasium am Fredenberg, for his exceptional dedication and commitment to fostering a respectful and collaborative community.
Even at his young age, Elia gives speeches on topics such as respect, racism, and treating one another with respect. In doing so, he makes it clear that diversity is a strength of our society.
Organizer Dincer Dinc emphasized the significance of the award: “We want to encourage him to continue on this path.”
In Memory of Dr. Dirk Härdrich
A special and deeply moving moment at this year’s awards ceremony was dedicated to the memory of the late City Council member and Head of the Department of Education, Social Affairs, and Integration, Dr. Dirk Härdrich.
The “Bunte Sole” was particularly close to his heart. His many years of dedication and his personal connection to the event were once again honored in a special way that afternoon. In a moment of silence, those present remembered a man who had championed diversity, integration, and a spirit of community in Salzgitter with great conviction.
