Kenyan community worker, awarded this year’s “Everyday Hero” („Helden des Alltags“ ) for her project “Skill up!”.
For the fifth time since inception, the “Everyday Heroes” evening gala was held in Hamburg to celebrate young people doing amazing things in their communities. The event that is organised by the German paper, “auf einen Blick”, produced by the Bauer Publishers was graced by the who is who in Germany at the Hamburg Kehrwieder Theater.
The prize winners are people who have selflessly committed to doing what is needed in their environment without necessarily trying to get into the limelight. They are quietly ensuring their communities are better and the next generation gets more and better opportunities. The five winners were each awarded with 12,000 euros in cash to further their projects.
Among this year’s winners were Kenya’s Justina Mwangangi, with her project “Skill up!”. Skill up is a project financed by the Welthunger Hilfe and headed by Justina in Kenya. The programme trains young people and equips them with technical skills to be able to start a business or get employed. The programme in Kenya currently trains young people to become mechanics, electricians or go into catering or agriculture. The project is also offered in Uganda, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan and India.
The other winners this year were:
Serif Dönmez (12) from Wildeshausen near Bremen, who supports mothers suffering from breast cancer.
Jasmin Ehrich (18) from Gleidingen near Hanover, who was born with a heart condition and had to wait five years to get a donor-heart. Today she encourages and gives hope to others currently in the same situation.
Rebecca Lunderup (22) from Hamburg, who got 10,000 people to join her and clean the city of Hamburg after the destruction from the G20 Meeting held in the city earlier this year.
Andrea Dahm (38) from Kaufering in Bavaria, who never lost hope even after she had to endure several amputations.