On 28 May 2024, IU International University of Applied Sciences (IU) proudly hosted the awards ceremony for the World Water Day creative competition, in collaboration with Bad Honnef AG (BHAG), a local utilities provider. The event, held at the IU Campus in Bad Honnef (State of North Rhine-Westphalia, western Germany), celebrated the remarkable contributions of children from the BHAG service region. IU, BHAG and several other local companies and organisations are part of “Bad Honnef Lernt Nachhaltigkeit” (“Bad Honnef Learns Sustainability”), an award-winning network dedicated to promoting sustainability in the local community.
This year’s World Water Day, observed on 22nd March, carried the theme "Leveraging Water for Peace," emphasising the vital role of water in fostering peaceful and sustainable communities. In alignment with this theme, BHAG launched a creative competition, encouraging families, kindergartens, and schools to explore and promote the importance of water.
The ceremony commenced with welcoming remarks from Alex Čaičics, Head of Sustainability and ESG Communications at IU Group. The event featured delightful musical performances by the school children. 23 individual and group prizes were awarded, including special accolades for peace and environmental efforts. Due to the overwhelming number of participants, the ceremony was conducted in two sessions.
Over 300 children participated in the competition, submitting an impressive array of artworks, including paintings, collages, and sculptures. The submissions were evaluated by a jury based on artistic criteria such as execution, detail, technique, and composition. Additionally, 20 children from the "Hand in Hand for a better life" project in Kasambya, Uganda, participated with their artworks, though their entries were not part of the competition.
Alex Čaičics, Head of Sustainability and ESG Communications at IU Group, commented:
“IU is honoured to support initiatives that engage the community and raise awareness on global issues. We commend all the young participants for their creativity and dedication to highlighting the crucial role of water in achieving peace and sustainability”.
Local media about the event:
