Award for visiting dog service and seamen's mission
On Saturday, Minister President Stephan Weil (SPD) presented ten associations and groups with the Lower Saxony Prize for Civic Engagement. The Zonta Club Leer-Ostfriesland, for example, which has been involved in a project to combat poverty among women in old age for ten years, was honored. The Seamen's Mission in Cuxhaven, which offers a home to seafarers from all over the world, and the visiting dog service of the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Hildesheim/Hameln Pyrmont were also honored. The ASB volunteers and their trained dogs visit old people's homes and palliative care units, for example. All prizes are endowed with 3000 euros each.
With the prize, which is awarded together with the Lower Saxony savings banks and VGH Versicherungen, the state government wants to inspire people to get involved in voluntary work. According to the State Chancellery, more than three million citizens in Lower Saxony are involved in voluntary work.
Prime Minister Weil praised the commitment of the citizens at the event. "This voluntary work supports people in very different life situations, it creates community and cohesion - that is an invaluable asset, especially in these challenging times."
According to the State Chancellery, the competition for the prize, which was awarded for the 20th time this year, met with a particularly large response: 500 individuals, groups and associations applied. Last year there were around 300.
The Seamen's Mission in Cuxhaven and the visiting dog service of the Arbeiter-Samariter-Bund Hildesheim/Hameln Pyrmont were recognized with Awards for their commendable work. This year, the Lower Saxony Prize for Civic Engagement, which is jointly awarded by the state government, Lower Saxony savings banks, and VGH Versicherungen, recognized a record number of 500 applicants, highlighting the growing importance of volunteer work in the region.
Source: www.dpa.com
