Volunteer heroes in Barnim: Awards for outstanding achievements!

Volunteer heroes in Barnim: Awards for outstanding achievements!

On Friday, June 27, 2025, the district administrator's annual reception in the Barnim district took place, a festive highlight that honors the numerous volunteer citizens. People who significantly promote the common good with their long-standing commitment and special merits were honored here. A particularly emotional moment was the awarding of the State of Brandenburg's Medal of Merit by Interior Minister René Wilke.

The guests included District Administrator Daniel Kurth and the chairman of the district council, Othmar Nickel. Nickel praised the constructive cooperation in the district council and thanked the many actors who make Barnim a place worth living in. Kurth emphasized how important the commitment of these volunteers to the community is.

Excellent personalities

The awards were presented to various deserving ones. Jochen Wunsch from Ahrensfelde was honored for his commitment to Lenné Park, as was Jörg Erdmann from Bernau, who heads the fire department in his city. Ilona Trometer from Panketal also received an honor as a representative for the disabled, although she could not be there. Other award winners included:

• Andreas Beier (Melchow) für die Nachwuchsgewinnung in der Feuerwehr
• Lothar Ast (Werneuchen) für Landschaftspflege und Jugendarbeit
• Gabriele Lange (Joachimsthal) für ihr kulturelles Engagement
• Uwe Kleber (Eberswalde) für sein Engagement für den Finowkanal
• Wilfried Riemer (Schorfheide) für seine Arbeit im Fußballverband
• Martina Hähnel (Oderberg) für ihr Engagement als Bürgermeisterin
• Norbert Thron (Bernau) für Bildungsarbeit in den Naturwissenschaften

A special guest of honor was Martin Horst from Chorin, who was honored for over 50 years of commitment in various functions. The evening ended in a cheerful atmosphere with music, food and drinks. During the event, Wilke spoke about the challenges that both the state and municipalities are aware of.

Volunteering in Brandenburg: Support for the helpers

Such events to honor volunteers are also very important in other parts of Brandenburg. Woidke, the Prime Minister, and Ulrike Liedtke, the President of the State Parliament, recently thanked around 100 deserving volunteers for their work in the Potsdam State Chancellery. They emphasized how important this commitment is for a vibrant society and warned that local politicians must not be threatened for their commitment. In addition, measures were announced to increase the attractiveness of volunteer work.

The Medal of Merit of the State of Brandenburg stands for special recognition, and its awarding takes place in different regions to honor the diverse commitments. It is the people who provide concrete help locally and actively support their community who form the basis for a strong society. It's worth looking beyond the region, because volunteering is flourishing throughout Brandenburg, in many cities and communities.

The events to honor these great achievements are a valuable tradition that not only strengthens social coexistence, but also the awareness of how much commitment there is in people's hearts. A big thank you to everyone who volunteers and enriches the life of the community.

For more information you can read the reports from Barnim Current, Volunteering in Brandenburg and Brandenburg State Parliament visit.