A role model for sustainability

The student association Cafete receives the award "Zukunftshilde" from the network öko, fair & mehr. Every month, the initiative honours an outstanding sustainable project in the district of Hildesheim. With this honour, the network emphasises the activities of the cafes as inspiration for sustainable ideas and projects in the region.

The network's steering group has selected the cafeteria because of its holistic approach to sustainability. The non-profit association Cafete, which is run by students of the Faculty of Design of the HAWK in Hildesheim, offers organically grown and fair trade products at donation prices and relies on regional and sustainable procurement. Projects such as the extension of the outdoor terrace, the specially designed herb and vegetable garden as well as insect-friendly flowers underline the association's commitment to ecological diversity and sustainability.

“For us, this award is a clear signal for the effectiveness of our commitment. The Cafete has been a meeting place on the Weinberg campus for over 10 years, which enables students to live a sustainable lifestyle on campus. It is a small lived utopia, which is promoted by the university and continued by the commitment of the students. Perhaps this award is also a clear sign for the future of the association and for further voluntary participation in this project," say Merle Maack and Jean-Michel Tapp, who are accepting the award for the cafe.

Laudator Prof. Martin Sauerwein from the University of Hildesheim Foundation emphasised the responsibility of colleges and universities for sustainable development and how much they can benefit from the ideas of the students. The Cafete achieves this with sustainable products at fair prices and thus promotes sustainable thinking and acting. The event was moderated by Karoline Wolfram, the prize was presented by Kurt Weidt from the network öko, fair & mehr.