At the 2026 youth awards ceremony in the Orangery, eleven individuals and three groups were honored
Volunteering knows no age limits. The fact that numerous young people in Darmstadt are also committed to helping others, taking on social responsibility, and actively shaping community life was demonstrated at the 2026 Youth Awards ceremony of the City of Darmstadt. In the Orangerie's ballroom on Friday, October 30, Mayor Barbara Akdeniz honored a total of 31 young people and young adults for their exceptional commitment.
The awards were presented in eleven individual and three group categories. Recognized was commitment in various areas of society – from church youth work and the youth fire brigade to sports clubs, political participation projects, and initiatives against harassment in public spaces.
Mayor Akdeniz praises commitment to the community
During the ceremony, Mayor Barbara Akdeniz emphasized the importance of young people's voluntary commitment to social cohesion.
“It gives me great pleasure every year to honor dedicated young people and young adults. Their commitment impressively demonstrates how much energy, dedication and sense of responsibility exists in the young generation of our city,” Akdeniz explained.
Through their actions, the young people and young adults make a significant contribution to the cohesion of the city's society.
"As role models, they stand for a future that is based on solidarity and justice," the mayor emphasized.
Eleven young people individually honored
The eleven individual awards went to young people and young adults who are involved in various Darmstadt institutions, clubs and organizations.
The following were awarded prizes:
- Lias Kullmann – Ecumenical Community Center Kranichstein
- Hendrik Euler – BDKJ Darmstadt
- Enie Ewald – BDKJ Darmstadt
- Paul Graf – BDKJ Darmstadt
- Tom Lippok – BDKJ Darmstadt
- Anna Prettl – BDKJ Darmstadt
- Mathis Keil – BDKJ KjG Eberstadt
- Ariane Dernbach – CPA Marienhöhe Adventist Youth
- Sarah Büttner – Darmstadt-Innenstadt Youth Fire Brigade
- Mustafa Hussein – Werkhof Mobile Youth Work
- Jacqueline Treusch – Darmstädter TSG 1846 eV
Three groups honored for special projects
In addition to the individuals, three groups were honored for their diverse projects supporting young people and social cohesion.
Hemo eV – Kiste on Tour 2025
The 15-member group, aged between 15 and 22, was awarded for the independent and collaborative development of the project “Kiste on Tour 2025 – Act 3: Where community grows and borders disappear. Youth moves Europe”.
The young people and young adults took on tasks in project management and design, developing the project in a participatory process.
The distinguished group includes:
Tuka Hamsho, Mustafa Hussein, Noemi-Vanessa Wendt, Tamer Abbas, Mohammed Musa, Rumman Abdishakur, Nurullah Afzali, Haron Rezgar Haji, Nikola Brija, Sima Hussein, Anjali Chanel Lehmann, Khaleb Yakob, Hassan Hussein, Ruhullah Afzali and Ismail Günes.
Catcallsofdarmstadt
The initiative Catcallsofdarmstadt raises awareness of sexual harassment in public spaces and is committed to giving a voice to those affected.
Through their charitable work, the group aims to raise awareness of boundary violations and harassment in everyday life.
Ece Gülbag, Lotta Hassel and Dorka Elisabeth Anton were honored.
Peers Forest Colony
The Peers Waldkolonie are committed to the interests and concerns of young people in their district.
They bring the wishes, challenges and suggestions for improvement of young people to various committees and advocate for these perspectives to be taken into account in political decisions.
Chezel Wiggs and Brian Peschel were honored for this commitment.
Jury comprised of representatives from youth services, politics, and sports
The awards were decided by a jury representing various areas of Darmstadt's children's and youth work.
Its members included Mayor and Head of Social and Youth Affairs Barbara Akdeniz, Head of Youth Welfare Office Imke Jung-Kroh, Michael Lindner as Chairman of the Specialist Committee for Children and Youth Work, Aaron Mark Becker from the City Youth Council and Uwe Knecht from the Darmstadt-Dieburg Sports District Youth Association.
With the Youth Award, the science city of Darmstadt honors young people who take on responsibility beyond their personal obligations and dedicate themselves to helping others.
The award-winning projects demonstrate how diverse voluntary engagement can be – and what contribution young people and young adults are already making to shaping social life in Darmstadt.
The most important information
Event: Youth Award 2026 of the City of Science Darmstadt
Date: Friday, October 30, 2026
Location: Ballroom of the Orangerie, Darmstadt
Award winners: 31 teenagers and young adults
Awards: Eleven individual and three group awards
Presented by: Mayor Barbara Akdeniz
Award-winning groups: Hemo eV – Kiste on Tour 2025, Catcallsofdarmstadt and Peers Waldkolonie
Occasion: Recognition of the exceptional voluntary commitment of young people
(DARMSTADT – RED/PSD/stip)
Featured image: Youth Awards 2026. Mayor Barbara Akdeniz (bottom row, center), Head of the Youth Welfare Office Imke Jung-Kroh (top, second from left), and Michael Lindner, Chairman of the Committee for Children and Youth Work (top left), with the honored young people. Photo: City of Darmstadt – Tamara Bäsener
