25th Jena Prize for Civil Courage

This year’s 25th Jena Prize for Civil Courage is being awarded to Laurence Michel and Paul Jakobeit. They demonstrated civil courage by intervening when a group of teenagers was subjected to racist insults and harassment. By intervening, they helped the teenagers on the one hand, but on the other hand became victims themselves, with Laurence in particular sustaining significant physical injuries. Both Laurence and Paul also demonstrated courage once again by actively supporting the subsequent trial as witnesses. The award ceremony took place today at the Historic City Hall in Jena.

Preisträger Laurence Michel und Paul Jakobeit

Special Award in Celebration of the 25th Anniversary of the Jena Prize for Civil Courage

In honor of the 25th anniversary of the Jena Prize for Civil Courage, a special prize is being awarded this year for extraordinary and long-term civic engagement. Rea Mauersberger was honored with this prize. Ms. Mauersberger was born and raised in Brazil. She moved to Jena in 1992. She was shaped, among other things, by her experiences during the so-called “baseball bat years” and the racism of the 1990s: She took a stand against far-right structures, for example by blocking far-right groups’ access to an exhibition on the university campus, and fought for the closure of the inhumane initial reception center for refugees in Jena-Forst. She has been an active member of the Jena Advisory Board for Migration and Integration since its founding in 1995. Until 2025, she led the council as its chair and represented it in state and federal committees. She promoted networking among civil society organizations and was a co-founder of various associations and organizations.

Preisträgerin Frau Mauersberger (2. von links)

She has been involved in the Jena Roundtable for Democracy for many years, participated in the revision of the city’s program, and was one of the authors of the 10-point action plan against racism, which enabled Jena 2022 to join the European Coalition of Cities Against Racism (ECCAR). In recognition of her more than 34 years of steadfast commitment to humanity, solidarity, and the fight against racism—characterized by a willingness to engage in dialogue and perseverance—Rea Mauersberger is receiving the Special Award.

The Jena Prize for Civil Courage is sponsored each year by a Jena-based company, which also provides the prize money of 1,000 euros. This year, jenawohnen GmbH is sponsoring the prize and has agreed to support the Special Prize with prize money of 1,000 euros as well.

Charlotte Figulla Prize

Along with the Jena Prize for Civil Courage, the Thuringia-wide student and youth competition, the Charlotte Figulla Prize, is awarded. The prize’s rotating themes are intended to encourage engagement with the topics of democracy, society, openness to the world, tolerance, and the fight against group-based hostility. This year’s theme was: erWACHSEN.

Schülerinnen und Schüler bei der Preisverleihung

The winners are:
• Upper/Vocational Level 1 at the Jettina School in Gorndorf for their entry: “Welcome to the Realm of Adults”

• Lina-Marie Lehmann for her entry: “A Matter of the Mind”

• Class 8/1 of the Karl-Theodor-Liebe Gymnasium in Gera for their entry: “Our Journey to Adulthood”

• Ayat Al Hamadi for her entry: “Gratitude”

• Class 7 at the Friedrich-Schiller-Gymnasium in Erfurt for their entries: “Three Stages as Spaces,” “The Two Sides,” “Changes in the Brain,” “Growing Up Is Hard,” “The Transition to Adulthood”

The Charlotte Figulla Prize has been awarded since 2004 and is aimed at young people. Individual entries or group projects may be submitted on a theme that changes annually. The Charlotte Figulla Prize is sponsored by the parents of the late Charlotte Figulla (Prof. Hans-Reiner Figulla and Jutta Söhnle-Jünemann). A total of 4,000 euros in prize money is awarded to young people.