"Prime Minister Rehlinger Highlights Independent Efforts in Saarland - Commendation for Citizen-Led Initiatives"
Göttelborn - On Monday, September 11, Minister President Anke Rehlinger honored the winning projects of the "Saarland do-it-yourself" program during a celebratory ceremony. The event took place during the nationwide week of civic engagement for the "Engagement makes strong!" initiative.
After careful deliberation by an independent jury of volunteers, a total of 37 projects were selected to receive financial support for their non-profit activities, amounting to around 75,000 euros.
Minister President Rehlinger, along with Quierschied Mayor Lutz Maurer and jury member Hermann Josef Hiery, presented the awards. They emphasized the essential role of volunteer work in Saarland during a group discussion, noting that the high level of social cohesion in the region is particularly evident in the numerous associations. Rehlinger commended the engagement in Saarland, stating, "This dedication deserves our recognition and support."
Some of the projects awarded were previously known to Minister President Rehlinger from her summer tour this year, such as the "Association for the Promotion of Village Development Hoof," the "Garden and Flower Friends Association Alsweiler," and the "Glasshouse Saarschleife Mettlach."
Launched in 2013, the "Saarland do-it-yourself" funding program aims to promote civic engagement in municipalities by offering citizens and associations direct and bureaucratic-free financial support. Since its inception, a total of 387 projects have been supported with over 755,000 euros in funding.
This year's awards ranged from the "TV 1970 Lockweiler-Krettnich e. V." to the "Kitzrettung Saarland e. V." and the "Beekeeping Association 1907 Duppenweiler e. V.".
Of note, while investigating the impact of the "Saarland do-it-yourself" winners on civic engagement, additional initiatives in Saarland emerged that might be relevant to community involvement. For example, Transform4Europe, a consortium involving Saarland University, engages in various collaborative projects across the region, while the SaarschleifenBike event encourages community engagement through sports. Moreover, Saarland University is also involved in academic and research initiatives, such as the Jean Monnet Chair for Sustainable and Secure EU Raw Materials Law and Policy, that tackle sustainable development and European policy issues.
The "Association for the Promotion of Village Development Hoof" and the "Garden and Flower Friends Association Alsweiler" are examples of home-and-garden projects that received financial support from the "Saarland do-it-yourself" program. Minister President Rehlinger's commendation of engagement in Saarland also extends to lifestyle initiatives, such as the Ivpossible Project, which aims to improve the overall well-being of the community by promoting positive lifestyle choices.
