Third medal for KLJB Eichstätt: rural youth celebrates their success!

Third medal for KLJB Eichstätt: rural youth celebrates their success!

The atmosphere at yesterday's award ceremony for the rural youth development award in Würzburg was electric. The diocese of Eichstätt reports that the support association “Friends and Supporters of the KLJB Diözese Eichstätt e.V.” received third place for his commitment. During the 76th state assembly of the Catholic Rural Youth Movement (KLJB) Bavaria, numerous members and visitors came together to honor the diversity and social commitment of young people in Bavaria.

One of the association's main projects is the Fiegenstall rural youth center in the Weißenburg-Gunzenhausen district. The “Fiegenstaller Feierabend” event format provides a stage for monthly film evenings, training courses and discussion groups. The aim is to bring together both former and active members of the KLJB as well as interested parties from the region and to promote exchange.

The ranking of projects

The award ceremony honored a total of five outstanding initiatives from rural youth work. The first three places are distributed as follows:

• 1. Platz: KLJB Andermannsdorf (Landkreis Landshut) – 1.250 Euro
• 2. Platz: KLJB Dietersburg (Landkreis Rottal-Inn) – 1.000 Euro
• 3. Platz: Freunde und Förderer der KLJB Diözese Eichstätt – 750 Euro

In addition, the Passau Diocesan Association received a special prize to recognize the contribution of rural youth. The award ceremony took place in a celebratory setting in which prominent guests such as the leader of the Green Party in the Bavarian State Parliament, Katharina Schulze, also had their say. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of Catholic rural youth for social cohesion and praised the commitment of young people.

A special project from Dietersburg

A highlight of the award event was the commitment of the KLJB Dietersburg, which won second place with a benefit concert for a sick young person. The event took place in a member's prepared barn and thrilled those present with a performance by the Dietersburger Landjugenchor. The members provided catering with homemade food and presented their project in detail at the award ceremony.

Choir leader Raphael Brandstetter and the young people showed how important cohesion is in the community with their performance of the song “Freindschaft”. According to the report in the Passauer Neue Presse, the laudatory speech by Ordinariate Councilor Bernhard Lutz, who spoke about the responsibility of young people and their commitment to charity, was another highlight of the evening.

A strong network

The KLJB Bavaria has around 25,000 members and has set itself the goal of inspiring young people to live in the countryside and strengthening them socially. Before the award ceremony ended with a champagne reception and musical accompaniment, elections and substantive decisions also took place. These aspects make it clear that the rural youth movement not only forms an important network in Bavaria, but also creates a place for young people to actively participate in their community.

The FILIB Rural Youth Promotion Prize, which is awarded every two years by the Promotion of Innovative Rural Youth Work in Bavaria e.V., aims to honor creative and sustainable projects by rural youth. The application deadline for the next prize ended on April 7, 2025. This leaves room for new, innovative ideas that enrich life in the countryside. Further information and details about the projects can be found on the KLJB website, where you can also find out about the next steps of the award.

Diocese of Eichstätt is a good place to go, just like that FILIB rural youth support award or even that Passauer new press for reports on the many projects and winning initiatives.