Auma Obama Launches Youth Prize in Berlin

Die Jury-Mitglieder Dr. Berndt Schmidt, Henriette Schwabe (Moderatorin der PK), Dr. Auma Obama, Tafara Plauschinat, Sibylle Bassler, Janina Otto (v. l.)
Auma Obama posing with members of the jury at the launch in Berlin. (l. to r.) Dr. Berndt Schmidt, Henriette Schwabe, Tafara Plauschinat, Sibylle Bassler and Janina Otto

Auma Obama is in town and this time to celebrate young people who are giving back to their community through voluntary engagement.

‘Children and young people in particular need to be aware of their own potential. That is what our foundation hopes to achieve. The Palast unambiguously advocates freedom and tolerance. This makes it an ideal partner in this extraordinary alliance,’ says Dr. Auma Obama, describing the partnership with Friedrichstadt-Palast.

The event is to be held at the Friedrichstadt-Palast in Berlin, graced by young people from around Germany, German celebrities and a few invited young people from Kenya.

“The awards encourage young people to have the confidence to stand up to negative treatment. Because of the refugee debate, the call to speak out has become even more relevant recently, to make sure that the majority don’t just stay silent and instead take a moral stand against hate speech,’ the theatre director Dr. Berndt Schmidt said about the partnership.

‘We are also speaking out for humanity and integration, and above all against hatred and hostility towards foreigners,’ Auma Obama told the press during the launch last week at the Friedrichstadt Palace in Berlin.

Submissions will be considered by a jury comprising aid worker Janina Otto, television journalist Sibylle Bassler, German MP Wolfgang Bosbach, businesswoman Renata Jacobs, Dr. Auma Obama, and Dr. Berndt Schmidt (theatre director) and Tafara Plauschinat (member of the Young Ensemble) from the Friedrichstadt-Palast. In each category, three nominees plus accompanying guests will be invited to the award ceremony in Berlin. Designer Jette Joop has created a trophy especially for the awards.

She is the founder and chairwoman of the Sauti Kuu Foundation. The charitable organisation aims to provide a voice for disadvantaged children and young people all over the world, while fostering and engaging their potential. Sauti Kuu is Swahili for ‘strong voices’.

Do you know someone below 25 years of age who would be right for this award? You can still nominate candidates until 30th of September at Act Now website here.

To attend the event, here are the details:

Act Now Youth Awards
Date: Monday 2 November 2015
Venue: Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin,
Address: Friedrichstrasse 107, 10117 Berlin-Mitte
Time: Admission / red carpet: 5.30 p.m.
Start: 7 p.m.

Among those who have confirmed their attendance on 2 November are rock legend Udo Lindenberg (presenter of the Innovation award), football icon Jens Lehmann (presenter of the Hero award), YouTube stars Y-Titty (presenters of the Inspiration award) and the singer Nena (presenter of the Sustainability award), who is one of the most successful female artists in German music history. Familiar TV faces Christine Henning and Alexander Mazza will be hosting the awards ceremony, with some 1,900 guests from media, sport, culture, politics, business and social organisations.

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