IV news:
On November 10-11, IV participated in the Barbara Schadeberg Lectures in Rostock, held at a German university every three years. In the impressively well-restored main building of one of the oldest universities in Germany, located in the centre of Rostock, about 80 people gathered to listen to four lectures on the topic “Religion and Digitality – Protestant Schools in Digital Change”. The first day’s evening also saw the traditional presentation of the Barbara Schadeberg School Award (€10,000) during a musical ceremony in the auditorium. Three schools were honoured. The first prize was awarded to two schools: the Matthias-Claudius-Gesamtschule in Bochum and the Evangelische Grundschule Erfurt. The Laurentius-Gymnasium Neuendettelsau near Nuremberg won the 3rd prize. Congratulations!
In addition to the joy of the award-winning schools present, there was a delightful surprise for the 87-year-old benefactress Barbara Lambrecht-Schadeberg. Former German President Joachim Gauck attended the ceremony as a surprise guest and gave a moving eulogy on the person and life’s work of the benefactress. He emphasized her exemplary civic commitment and generous willingness to use private assets for social and cultural purposes for the common good. For more than 25 years, the Barbara Schadeberg Foundation has supported Protestant schools and played a significant role in re-establishing many schools after German reunification in the eastern states of Germany.