Child Protection Award: ‘Gondula Award for True Child Heroes’

Launch of the Lusatian Child Protection Award, the ‘Gondula Award for True Child Heroes’ – Working together for greater visibility, protection and support

The Gondula Award for True Child Heroes is entering a new round and once again sends a strong signal for child protection in Lusatia. We are looking for dedicated associations, organisations and initiatives that are passionately committed to helping children and young people – whether in protecting them from violence, combating child poverty, promoting health, or supporting children with disabilities and special circumstances.

“This funding isn’t just for us – it belongs to child protection in our region. We want to pool our energies, connect projects and grow stronger together. Because every commitment to children deserves visibility and support,” says Martin Schüler of Kinderschutz Lausitz e.V., with whom the Department of Social Services for Structurally Weak Regions has already worked closely in the past.

The Gondula Award is endowed with a grant of 11,000 euros from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of the State of Brandenburg; and the “Großes Waisenhaus zu Potsdam” Foundation also supports the award with 6,000 euros annually to ensure the award ceremony takes place.

The Gondula Award is far more than just an accolade: it raises awareness, strengthens important projects and brings together people who take responsibility. All five nominated projects receive financial support from an open fundraising campaign, the proceeds of which are passed on in full to the selected initiatives. The public then decides via an online vote how the funds are to be distributed.

Since its inception, the award has developed into a powerful movement for child protection and has already supported numerous projects in the region. This is made possible by committed partners, regional supporters and people who do not look away, but take action.

This year, too, charitable associations, organisations and initiatives from the Lusatia region are invited to submit an application or be nominated. An independent expert jury will select five finalist projects before the people of the region vote on how the donations are to be distributed.

The Gondula Award stands for solidarity, visibility and genuine help. Because child protection affects us all – and every act of commitment deserves recognition.

The awards ceremony will take place in November 2026 as part of the FilmFestival Cottbus.

Get involved now, suggest projects and empower children together – because true child heroes deserve a platform.

Eligible to participate are charitable associations, organisations and initiatives that operate in Lusatia or implement projects in the region – in particular in the following areas:

• Protection from violence
• Combating child poverty
• Promoting the health of children and young people
• Support for children with disabilities or in special circumstances

How does the application process work?
Applications must be submitted exclusively via the online form on the website:
www.gondula.com

When is the application deadline?
3 July 2026

How does the selection process work?
After the deadline, a panel of experts will select five final nominees. The panel includes:

• Dr Sebastian Merbold (Kinderschutz Lausitz e.V.)
• Stefan Labahn (Kinderschutz Lausitz e.V.)
• Fabienne Türk (Kinderschutz Lausitz e.V.)
• Prof. Dr Alexandra Retkowski (B-TU Cottbus-Senftenberg)
• Representative of the Großes Waisenhaus zu Potsdam Foundation
• Katrin Krumrey (Brandenburg State Commissioner for Children and Young People)
• Patricia Heydrich (2025 award winner, Drachenherz Spremberg)

Following this, the public will decide on the allocation of the donations via an online vote.