Dedicated school camp director receives Siemerling Prize 2025 in MV!

Dedicated school camp director receives Siemerling Prize 2025 in MV!

The school camp director Stefan Baerens will be rewarded for his outstanding commitment with the Siemerling Social Prize 2025. At the award ceremony on Monday, June 30, 2025, in Neubrandenburg, Baerens was recognized for his tireless work, which goes far beyond the typical tasks of a school camp director. The prize, which is endowed with 10,000 euros, is awarded by the Dreikönigsstiftung, which has been awarding the oldest social prize in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania since 1994. The award commemorates the Siemerling family, who made a name for themselves through their commitment to social and cultural projects in Neubrandenburg, as ndr.de reports.

Under Baerens’ leadership, the 280-year-old castle in Dreilützow has developed into a lively place that is more than a museum. At the award ceremony, Hamburg Archbishop Stefan Heße described Baerens as a “door opener” for young people and innovative ideas. This shows how important Baerens' work is for the community, as he has turned the school camp into a center for social learning processes and creative events. Matthias Crone, chairman of the board of trustees of the Dreikönigsstiftung, praised Baerens' inventiveness and his contribution to creating a cultural hub in West Mecklenburg, as can be read on evangelische-zeitung.de.

Living space instead of a museum

At the award ceremony, Heße emphasized that the educational work in the school camp is carried out with heart and attitude. The Caritas meeting place in the school camp offers 180 overnight places in individually designed rooms that serve as a contact point not only for guests but also for the community. Baerens' commitment extends far beyond everyday tasks and not only promotes education, but also social cohesion.

In recent years, education spending in Germany has risen continuously. Spending on education in 2019 totaled 229 billion euros, an increase of 60 percent since 2005. The elementary sector in particular has experienced massive growth, which underlines the importance of education for individual and social development. These trends are in line with the valuable work that is being done in the Dreilützow school camp, since education and social support are equal pillars, as bpb.de emphasizes.

Stefan Baerens' awarding of the Siemerling Social Prize is therefore not only a personal honor, but also an appreciation for all those who dedicate their time and energy every day to promote education and social responsibility in their communities. His work in Dreilützow impressively shows how important such committed people are for a vibrant society.