Proposals wanted for 19th Jena Prize for Civil Courage
Who would you honor?
From now on, people in the city are invited to think about the topic and submit suggestions for individuals or groups. The "Jena Prize for Civil Courage" is now being awarded for the 19th time. This prize is awarded annually in Jena to people who have acted with civil courage and have been nominated by the people of Jena.
The prize has been a constant in Jena since 2002, but it is about more than just an award. The prize is intended to keep the topic of civil courage in the public eye, to encourage people to think, but also to encourage them to reflect on their own actions.
Civil courage requires courage
Civil courage, as the basis of social, human rights-oriented, open societies, is an important democratic competence in the form of practiced humanity and the assumption of responsibility. Unfortunately, it is not a matter of course to intervene when people are in distress or even under threat, marginalized, discriminated against or mistreated. Empathy and basic humanistic values are crucial in overcoming the frequent impulse to turn away, to move on and to intervene.
Standing up and disagreeing, going and getting involved, creating publicity and organizing help requires courage, because it is not uncommon for one's own attitude to stand in the way of the majority tolerating or even agreeing with a discriminatory situation. This is because the expected negative social consequences and reactions for oneself sometimes override the impulse to intervene. This is precisely what constitutes civil courage and must be distinguished from classic first aid.
However, it is not only the people of the city who are called upon each year to think about the topic themselves and submit suggestions for people who, in their opinion, have acted with civil courage; the business community in Jena also takes a stand. A different company sponsors the prize each year.
Prize money endowed with 1,000 euros
This year, the prize money of 1,000 euros for the 19th Jena Prize for Civil Courage comes from the Stilbruch restaurant. "Increasing brutalization and the willingness to use violence and use it as an argument in any form of dispute are catastrophic," says Heiko Krabbes, Managing Director of the Stilbruch restaurant in Jena. "I think it is extremely important to recognize people who have tolerance and the courage to show civil courage."
Submit proposals by 27.03.2020
Heiko Krabbes, Lord Mayor Dr. Thomas Nitzsche and KoKont Jena are now jointly calling on all Jena residents to submit suggestions for individuals or groups who should be honored for their actions in the past year. This is possible until 27.03.2020.
All suggestions will be collected and reviewed by KoKont and passed on to an independent jury. Composed of representatives from the city's social, scientific, political and economic sectors, it decides on the awarding of the prize.
Sponsors and patrons
A circle of companies has come together to sponsor the annual "Jena Prize for Civil Courage", all of which have donated the prize money in the past and continue to support the cause of the prize. Godyo Enterprise Computing AG, Stadtwerke Energie Jena-Pößneck GmbH, Sparkasse Jena-Saale-Holzland, jenawohnen GmbH, ASI GmbH, ORISA Software GmbH, Allianz Lohse OHG Jena, the City of Jena and Hotel & Restaurant "Zur Noll" GmbH have long recognized the great importance of this prize and take a stand by supporting it. KoKont Jena is constantly striving to expand the circle of sponsors and "donor sponsors" in order to put the official recognition of civil courageous action in Jena on a broad basis in the long term.
Award ceremony on 12.06.2020 in the town hall
This year, the prize will once again be awarded together with the Charlotte Figulla Prize for pupils and young people. The award ceremony will take place on 12.06.2020 in Jena City Hall.
Submission of proposals
By telephone: 0049 3641236 606
By e-mail: buero@kokont-jena.de