Augsburg receives coveted award for outstanding youth work!

Augsburg receives coveted award for outstanding youth work!

In Augsburg, commitment to the younger generations is very important. The city has now been honored with the “The Highest Good” award from the state associations for child and youth work in Bavaria. This special recognition not only recognizes the achievements in youth participation, but also the commitment to the participation and co-determination of young people, as Augsburg.de reports.

Mayor Eva Weber is proud of this award. She emphasizes that this is a sign that the city council and city leadership are taking the concerns of young people seriously and incorporating them into local politics. The city's social officer, Martin Schenkelberg, emphasizes that child and youth work is a central component of social policy and that it is supported in Augsburg through various initiatives such as the youth forum and an online platform for digital participation.

Background and motivation

The “Dem Höchsten Gut” award, which is being presented for the third time, was created in collaboration with youth work specialist associations in Bavaria, as agjb.de explains. In 2022 it was officially recognized by the Bavarian State Parliament. In this way, the Bavarian state government shows that it honors the special services for children and young people, especially in times when the corona pandemic has affected many everyday structures and security.

The award is intended not only to recognize the work that has already been done, but also to provide an incentive for politics and society to overcome future challenges. In a recent conversation with President Ilse Aigner and the chairman of the Social Committee, the concerns of children and young people were discussed again. It is becoming increasingly clear: supporting future generations is crucial for society.

The seriousness of the work

Jörg Thiergärtner, first chairman of the award ceremony, puts it in a nutshell: The award is intended to recognize innovative commitment and encourage the city council to focus even more intensively on the perspectives of young people. This happens not only through direct citizen participation, but also through the creative potential available to young people. The ink drawing by artist Ella Priesnitz, which is presented with the award, represents an allegory of youth and symbolizes the creative power that lies dormant within them.

It is therefore very important to us to recognize the needs of children and young people and to continue to fight for their rights and participation in the future. Augsburg shows what a good path can look like and inspires other cities to follow its example.