Competing for the title "History of My Family" Contest
In the heart of Neuss, Germany, the Town Hall played host to an inspiring event last June 23rd, 2025 - the "Stories of My Family" competition. The event, which attracted 55 students aged 8 to 18, focused on tracing the paths of families, particularly those whose parents or grandparents came to Neuss as guest workers or immigrants.
The competition, organised by the City of Neuss, saw contributions from 20 different countries of origin, painting a vivid tapestry of diverse stories. The best works were awarded by an expert jury, which included Deniz Elbir, the Commissioner for Diversity, Integration, and Anti-racism of the City of Neuss, Edona Tahiri, the head of the office of the Commissioner, Dr. Annekatrin Schaller from the Neuss City Archives, and other esteemed figures.
In the 8 to 12 years age group, Amin Mnasri from Leoschule took home the first prize, while Nil-Su Tamam, also from Marie-Curie-Gymnasium, was awarded the second prize. The 13 to 18 years age group saw a series of awards. Özge Akar from Gesamtschule Nordstadt won the third prize, and the first prize (group contribution) was shared by Orman Azlan and Krzystof Romanczuk, both from Marie-Curie-Gymnasium. Another group from Gesamtschule Nordstadt, comprising Alexandru-Cristian Antohie, Alisha Maria Mule, Jomana Hassan, Sebastian Grudzinski, Isik Mehmet, Myriam Sealiti, Patrick Brozovic, Ronaldo Bixheku, Seba Alhaj, and Laura Bugiel, also won a first prize (group contribution).
The awards ceremony was graced by the presence of Ursula Platen, the Deputy Mayor for Youth, Education, and Culture, Dr. Jens Metzdorf, the Director of the City Archives of Neuss, and other dignitaries. The musical accompaniment was provided by Neuss rapper Haben "Habesha" Tesfai, adding a touch of local flavour to the event.
The submitted contributions told stories of arrival, courage, pride, challenges, loss, and new beginnings, offering a glimpse into the rich and diverse history of Neuss. The competition aims to foster a sense of unity and appreciation for the city's multicultural roots, and it certainly seems to have achieved its goal.
The inspiring "Stories of My Family" competition, held at the Town Hall in Neuss, Germany, extended beyond national borders, attracting contributions from 20 different countries of origin. In this event, the 13 to 18-year-old participants, such as Özge Akar from Gesamtschule Nordstadt and the group from Marie-Curie-Gymnasium, demonstrated their talents in education-and-self-development categories, focusing on the diverse lifestyle narratives of their families.
