Doris Janssen Reschke Award of the Diakonie Foundation Osnabrück City and Country

The Doris Janssen-Reschke Prize of the DiakonieStiftung Osnabrück Stadt und Land honors visionary small diaconal projects and initiatives from the church districts of Osnabrück Stadt und Land, Bramsche, and Melle-Georgsmarienhütte every two years. Open to non-profit organizations, the prize supports projects predominantly carried out by volunteers and situated in the thematic areas of social affairs, commitment to social cohesion, as well as work & social issues. The selection process is based on the innovativeness, practical feasibility within volunteer work, and the pronounced diaconal focus of the applications. With prize amounts of €2,000, €1,000, and €500, the top three concepts are awarded and receive financial resources to further develop and sustainably strengthen local aid services.

The award is a tribute to Doris Janssen-Reschke (1944–2008), the first regional superintendent of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover in the Osnabrück district, and aims to promote volunteer initiatives that foster vibrant community life in local congregations and diaconal institutions. Applications can be submitted until April 15, 2026. The award ceremony takes place within the framework of a public event that encourages networking among volunteers, experts, and funders. The Doris Janssen-Reschke Prize sets impulses for new diaconal fields of action and contributes to the sustainable realization of pioneering projects supporting disadvantaged people.