Starting on October 2, 2025, children and young people can apply for the German Children and Youth Award from the German Children's Fund. The award recognizes projects where young individuals actively contribute to shaping their living environment. With a total endowment of 30,000 euros, it is the most highly endowed nationwide prize for children and youth participation in Germany. Its long-term partner is Europa-Park in Rust, where the award ceremony will take place in June 2026. The application deadline is December 15, 2025.
Award Ceremony at Europa-Park
In June 2026, Miriam Mack, the ambassador for the German Children's Fund, and the organization will invite all participants to a festive award ceremony at Germany's largest theme park. In addition to announcing the winning projects, attendees can expect a varied program featuring artists from Europa-Park, as well as celebrities who appreciate the commitment of the children and young people.
Commitment of Young People
Miriam Mack emphasizes the great importance of the engagement of children and young people for social cohesion and the future. She looks forward to applications from young individuals who demonstrate how they actively and sustainably contribute to the community. It is important to her to promote and honor this exemplary dedication. Every year, she is impressed by the remarkable and forward-looking projects that are submitted. Since 2015, she has been a patron for various initiatives and advocates especially for the participation and co-determination of children and young people, as well as against child poverty in Germany.
Participation in Democracy
Holger Hofmann, federal managing director of the German Children's Fund, highlights that the participation of children is a central value in a democratic society. The award honors commitments to one's own rights or the rights of others. At the same time, it draws attention to the importance of children and youth participation. Young people who experience themselves as actively shaping their world are more likely to participate in shaping the community as adults. This strengthens a key pillar of democracy.
Promotion of Children's Rights
With the award, the German Children's Fund advocates, in the spirit of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, for the participation of children and young people in all matters that concern them. The award places children and young people at the center of societal interest so they feel valued and learn about democracy. The projects of the children and young people are publicly honored during the award ceremony.
Categories and Prizes
The award is given in the categories Solidarity and Community, Political Engagement, and Children and Youth Culture. First-place winners in each category receive prize money of 6,000 euros. Each category also includes an honorable mention, endowed with 3,000 euros. Additionally, one project will be honored with the Europa-Park Junior Club Award, which is also endowed with 3,000 euros.
Application and Selection
Applications are submitted online at
www.dkhw.de. Further information and guidance on completing the application are available there. The initiatives should have already begun or been completed within the last six months. For the final selection, six projects per category are nominated by an expert jury. Afterward, the Children and Youth Advisory Board of the German Children's Fund, acting as a children's jury, determines the winners. Children and young people from the winning projects will be invited to the award ceremony at Europa-Park in Rust and will have the opportunity during the event to present their project directly on stage. Additionally, a short film will be produced to showcase the commitment.
