Celebrate diversity: Straubing honors new citizens and integration heroes!

Celebrate diversity: Straubing honors new citizens and integration heroes!

A warm and solemn occasion was celebrated in the city of Straubing on October 31, 2025: The Integration Prize was awarded and numerous new citizens were welcomed in a touching ceremony in the Knights' Hall of the Duke's Castle. Mayor Dr. Albert Solleder opened the event and encouraged those present to emphasize the importance of community, diversity and cohesion.

Kai Straub, the Bavarian State Government's Integration Commissioner, shared the good news that Straubing has gained over 1,100 new citizens since 2023. Colin Macpherson, Chairman of the Migration Advisory Board, visibly proudly presented the prizes and emphasized in his speech that integration should not be equated with assimilation. The term “adopted home” was particularly mentioned and underlined people’s individual connection to their new home.

Awards for exemplary commitment

At the award ceremony, several initiatives and committed personalities received recognition for their outstanding contributions to integration. The DJK Straubing football club, which offers children and young people from up to ten nations a sporting home and thus promotes diversity, was honored. Margarete Stahl and Gerda Stautner also received awards; They have initiated language courses, coffee meetings and parties for refugees and support them in everyday life.

Another award winner is the Straubing-Bogen sub-district. V., which helps people in need with donations in kind. The association is not only active locally, but has already distributed over 25,000 boxes of donations, including help in crisis areas such as Ukraine. These achievements show how extensive and complex the commitment in the region is.

Naturalization ceremony with emotional moments

The award ceremony was followed by the emotionally charged naturalization ceremony. On this day, various new citizens shared their personal experiences and stories. The contribution by Dianne Tamburro, who originally comes from Australia and has lived in Germany since 1973, was particularly touching. She spoke openly about the reasons for her decision to accept German citizenship and emphasized that she had found her true home in Straubing.

These celebrations underline the path that the city of Straubing is taking in terms of integration and the great commitment of the citizens who are actively involved in creating an inclusive society. It shows that community and support are central when it comes to further promoting and living the city's diversity.

For more information about integration policies and initiatives in Germany, visit the website of the Federal Ministry for Family, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, which provides further insights into refugee policy and integration: here.

Further details about the event can be found in the report from the city of Straubing: here.

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