Children & Youth Environmental Prize 2025 awarded
Under the motto "Instead of gray: city green!", the Children & Youth Environmental Award 2025 was presented on Saturday as part of the Environment Day // Your Day in Paradise. Dirk Lange, Head of the Department of Urban Development and Environment, and André Sack, Managing Director of Stadtwerke Energie Jena-Pößneck GmbH, presented the awards to committed daycare centers and schools whose projects show how urban greenery can be implemented in a very practical way and with a lot of passion.
"Children and young people experience their environment with keen eyes. With their creative ideas, they show us how gray corners can become lively, green places. I am particularly impressed by the initiative and team spirit with which the young people implement environmental protection in a very practical way and with a lot of heart," emphasizes Department Head Dirk Lange.
André Sack, Managing Director of Stadtwerke Energie Jena-Pößneck: "Year after year, young people from Jena show how much responsibility and creative drive they have at the Children's and Youth Environmental Award. Their creative projects impress and inspire. They make our city a better place to live and send a strong signal for a sustainable future. We are happy to support this commitment with full conviction."
A total of six kindergartens and four schools took part in the competition with a wide range of activities relating to unsealing, insect-friendly planting, urban trees and flower meadows.
The 2025 prize winners
1st prize: UniverSaale - Free Community School
The first prize of 1,000 euros went to the "Schoolyard design" working group from UniverSaale - Freie Gemeinschaftsschule. Ten schoolgirls from grades 7 to 10 took a lot of initiative to redesign their schoolyard in an ecological way. In weekly meetings, they planned and implemented insect-friendly planting and built their own seating/bed combinations. They also involved other classmates - some with special needs. The project will be continued and was particularly impressive due to its sustainability and high level of commitment.
2nd prize: Kindergarten Zum Leutratal
Kindergarten Zum Leutratal was awarded second prize and 700 euros for the "Flower bench on the Gober" project. Children, parents, teachers, the local district council and other supporters have worked together to create a nature-oriented adventure site in Maua - including a flower meadow, insect hotel and tree planting. The kindergarten has committed to maintaining the area for at least five years - an exemplary, community-based commitment.
3rd prize: Kita Sternschnuppe & Freier Kindergarten Jena e.V.
The third prize (400 euros each) is shared by two institutions:
Kita Sternschnuppe impressed with its "Every leaf counts" project - from a self-designed book about Jena's favorite trees to action days at the retirement home to planting trees and shrubs and distributing wildflower seeds.
The Freie Kindergarten Jena e.V. submitted two projects: a green "children's garden" house and a commitment to more greenery on Fichteplatz. In cooperation with the local district council, the district mayor and the district meeting point, the children and their teachers campaigned for more shade and greenery on the playground.
Recognition
Six facilities received recognition in the form of a voucher from the Talstein nursery:
- Bertolla Kindergarten
- Janusz Korczak kindergarten
- Jenzigblick daycare center
- Class 4c of the Westschule
- North School
- Heinrich Heine Primary School
These facilities have contributed to the greening of their yards with a variety of ideas, held weekly forest days or planted new trees.
The Jena Children & Youth Environmental Award
The environmental prize, endowed with a total of 2,500 euros, has been awarded by the city of Jena since 1998 and has been specifically advertised as the Children & Youth Environmental Prize since 2018 - each year with a new thematic focus. The prize is jointly financed by the city of Jena and Stadtwerke Energie Jena-Pößneck GmbH. The aim is to strengthen the environmental awareness of children and young people and to recognize their commitment to a sustainable city.