pricelessland

Friedersdorf , a district of Markersdorf in the district of Görlitz, is the winner of the 2022 village competition . The competition highlights the achievements of village communities that shape their own future with their own ideas and a lot of commitment and took place for the 11th time. The focus is on cooperation in the villages to implement projects that strengthen the community and improve the living environment. 59 villages from all Saxon districts took part - but what is so different in Friedersdorf that it is now the winner of the popular competition?

Our graphic artist Kasia had the pleasure of accompanying the jury as a photographer on their visit to Friedersdorf. "I was really impressed by how friendly the atmosphere was and how close the cohesion of the village community affected me," she reports with a smile. In particular, Kasia remembers that the villagers plant a tree for every child born in the village. Symbolic of the fact that the new human life will be nurtured and cared for in the midst of the community and will take root and branch like the tree.

Minister of State Thomas Schmidt announced the winner at the beginning of the week, but congratulates all villages on taking part. He is pleased about the lively participation of the 59 villages in total. Because, as he explained, "every village in the competition wins by entering the competition." Ideas emerge from discussions and joint projects are tackled. "During the presentation of the whole village during the jury's visit, there was an exchange of expertise - valuable impulses were given," explained Minister of State Schmidt.

Why exactly Friedersdorf was able to convince the competition jury?

Through a very committed and dynamic community life! According to the jury's reasoning, village life benefits from the commitment and cohesion in the clubs, the youth club, the senior citizens' community, the activities of the local chroniclers and the trombone and church choir. It is also said that the commitment of the villagers to the maintenance of the rural farmsteads and the village shop should be emphasized. In addition, a parents' initiative has successfully campaigned for the improvement of school transport and public transport connections and the partnership with the youngest (through the project of a children's council) shows the high importance of citizen participation in Friedersdorf.

In addition, Reichwalde received in the municipality of Boxberg/OL for initiatives related to the consequences of the pandemic for village community life. In Reichwalde there was the "Corona Singing" of the parish at various places in the village - a total of over 100 songs were sung.

This joint initiative, coupled with the courage to tackle things, was also particularly appreciated by Minister of State Schmidt:

"The winners and participants of the competition show what people can achieve with joint initiative and the courage to tackle things. With personal interaction and direct, short distances, our villages offer an excellent space to realize your own ideas together with others.".

As this year's documentarist, our head of the service point Unpayableland , Ingo Goschütz , appreciates village life: he emphasizes that he had a lot of fun visiting so many great villages in the Unpayableland, but he was glad not to make his own final judgement must. As comprehensive, colorful and loving as each individual village presented itself!

Who knows who will win the race next year? We keep our fingers crossed for the next village "with a future" from our priceless country!

Background:

The nationwide competition "Our village has a future" is intended to motivate citizens in rural areas to help shape the future of their villages and to get involved in the economic, social, cultural and ecological development of their village. The various initiatives in the villages should be presented and appreciated.

The competition rounds at district and state level, originally planned for 2020 and 2021, were both held in 2022 due to the corona pandemic. The subsequent national competition was postponed from 2022 to 2023 for the same reason.

15 villages out of a total of 59 participants at district level qualified for the final round of the state competition. The highlight for the 15 villages in the state competition was the visit of the state jury in September 2022. The jury was made up of interdisciplinary experts for the four competition areas. Members were mayors, architects and experts in landscape management, spatial planning, rural development, accessibility and social development.

The state competition is financed from taxes based on the budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament.

The participation of villages in the federal competition “Our village has a future” is based on the total number of villages participating in the state competition. Friedersdorf and Rammenau can therefore participate in the federal competition for Saxony.