Intercultural Week Begins—Kickoff in Leipzig

Leipzig celebrated the kickoff of the nationwide Intercultural Week with a colorful festival and an ecumenical service. Through October 4—and in some cases beyond—around 6,000 events celebrating diversity, democracy, human rights, and harmonious coexistence will take place in over 750 locations as part of the week-long campaign, according to the organizers.

Nearly 100 events in Leipzig

In Leipzig, nearly 100 events are planned over the course of four weeks. It all kicked off with the “Leipzig Celebrates Diversity” festival, featuring a vibrant stage program at the Thomaskirchhof in the city center. Each of the events is a small “for,” said Skandi Jaennicke, the city’s mayor for culture, alluding to this year’s theme for the action week. “For people to come together. For us to get to know one another. For differences not to have to disappear in order for solidarity to emerge.”

Among those attending the ecumenical opening service at St. Thomas Church were Thilo Daniel, head of the Protestant Regional Church Council; Heinrich Timmerevers, Catholic bishop emeritus; and Emmanuel of Christoupolis, Greek Orthodox bishop. “A line is quickly drawn,” Timmerevers warned, according to the press release. “Here, we. There, the others. Securing our own prosperity. Erecting barriers. Categorizing people by origin, religion, or utility. Some are even denied their dignity. That, too, seems to be socially acceptable again today.” Change begins by not viewing others as competitors, as strangers, or as a problem, but as human beings whose dignity is just as inviolable as one’s own.

Intercultural Week Stands for Diversity

Since 1975, Intercultural Week has been organized annually with thousands of events in hundreds of German cities to bring together many social groups. It is an initiative of the churches. It is supported by local governments, associations, welfare organizations, labor unions, educational institutions, and migrant organizations.