Honoring two prize recipients by VHS Düsseldorf
In a remarkable ceremony held on Friday evening, the VHS school-based further education in Düsseldorf awarded its first joint honorary prize to two deserving recipients: the crew of the film "Just Like You and Me" and VHS chemistry teacher Dietger Rohwerder. The prize, which recognises commitment, team spirit, quality, and future potential, was split between the two winners, each receiving €250.
The film crew, consisting of Andreas Dahmen, Bastian Leon Denzel, Connor Przibylla, Jessica Lietjens, Laura-Marie Peters, Nicole Lopez Tatis, Omar Al-Hilal, Pascal Höönig, Ramon Divino, and Yassin Zennati, have been commended for their exceptional work on a documentary that delves into the harrowing experiences of the Jewish family Altmann during the Reichskristallnacht on 9 November 1938. The students met the Altmann daughter, Jacques, who lives in Toronto under the name Oldman, online, and their film serves as a poignant testament to the importance of respect and tolerance in daily interactions.
Tobias Fehring, head of the VHS department for school-based further education, emphasised the potential of the project participants to demonstrate societal unity in the future. He also highlighted that some of these students have faced difficult circumstances, including violence, exclusion, and humiliation. Despite these challenges, they have shown resilience and dedication, qualities that are highly valued by the VHS.
Meanwhile, Dietger Rohwerder, a retired VHS chemistry teacher, was honoured for his work in "green hydrogen" technology. Despite retiring 15 years ago, Rohwerder continues to give courses with the aim of encouraging children and young adults to act sustainably through education. He has previously convinced the VHS to purchase experimental materials for hydrogen technology and actively participated in the VHS sustainability day. Rohwerder expressed a desire to make VHS Düsseldorf a centre of competence for hydrogen technology.
The VHS school-based further education, which currently has students from 40 nations preparing for their school leaving certificate, is reportedly a place where respect and tolerance are lived very naturally. The next VHS honorary prize will be awarded in 2025.
Unfortunately, the reasons behind the selection of the winners for the first joint honorary prize from the two VHS support associations in 2023 could not be ascertained from the available information. For more details, it might be necessary to contact the associations directly.
The award ceremony was a testament to the spirit of innovation and commitment within the VHS school-based further education, and it serves as an inspiration for all those who strive to make a difference.
- The students, following their remarkable work on the documentary "Just Like You and Me", have demonstrated their dedication towards sustainable living by promoting respect and tolerance as part of their home-and-garden lifestyle and personal growth.
- Dietger Rohwerder, even in his retirement, has shown a commitment to education-and-self-development, advocating for sustainable-living through green hydrogen technology and contributing towards making VHS Düsseldorf a hub for sustainable initiatives.
- The VHS school-based further education, with its diverse student body from 40 nations, embodies a lifestyle that emphasizes learning as a means for personal growth and social unity, fostering an environment where values like respect, tolerance, and team spirit are upheld.
