- The Dresden Journalists' Club Honors Natalija Bock with the Kästner Award
The Dresden Press Club handed out its Erich Kästner Prize, worth 10,000 euros, to Natalija Bock. This Ukrainian woman, residing in Dresden with her family for 26 years, has taken on a significant role in aiding war refugees from her homeland since the Russian invasion. She has facilitated housing in private apartments, organized kindergarten and job placements, and acted as a liaison to local and state politics. Additionally, she's a co-founder of the Ukrainian Coordination Center and Ukrainian House Dresden.
Press Club chairman Tobias Wolf highlighted Bock's influence by stating, "Natalija Bock has become a role model for many, especially due to her unwavering values and forthrightness, a quality often lacking in Saxony's public discourse." Bock regarded the award as not only a personal achievement but also a tribute to the kindness of thousands of people in Saxony. "This is a prize for an empathetic, open-minded, and helping Saxony that needs to be preserved," she expressed her gratitude.
The speech was delivered by former Saxon Minister President Georg Milbradt (CDU). Bock was hailed as "the face of Ukraine in Dresden, representing a European nation subjected to a breach of international law and a brutal war" due to her long-standing initiatives. Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany, Oleksii Makeiev, was also present at the ceremony. He applauded Bock for being a significant figure for the Ukrainian community in Saxony, a "true ambassador of heart."
The prize is linked to a sculpture, a tradition initiated by the Dresden Press Club in 1994. Recipients are chosen every two years during the association's general meeting, awarded for their advocacy of humanitarian values, tolerance, and international understanding. The prize sculpture is the work of artist Vinzenz Wanitschke. Winners traditionally donate the money to artistic, cultural, or charitable projects. Bock has pledged to contribute to Diakonie and the platform Dresden to aid Ukrainians.
The late writer Erich Kästner (1899-1974), a native of Dresden, gained fame by penning "When I was a little boy." The Erich Kästner Prize's inception was in 1994, awarded to Ignatz Bubis for the first time. Other recipients include Dr. Marion Countess Dönhoff, Richard von Weizsäcker, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, and Dieter Hildebrandt. In 2022, Teresa Enke, chairwoman of the Robert Enke Foundation, received the honor.
The Community praised Natalija Bock for her significant contributions to aiding war refugees from Ukraine, recognizing her as a vital figure within their midst. Bock's acceptance speech at the ceremony acknowledged the award as a testament to the kindness and open-mindedness of the entire Saxon Community.
