Young people are committed to a better world
Mönchengladbach – Three committed young people with diverse backgrounds, but a common goal: to make a positive impact on the world. These are the award winners of the Junior Prize 2025 from the “Benediktpreis von Mönchengladbach” association: Christopher Reiners received first place for his initiative for educational equity. The two second places are shared by Elisabeth Nierle, who is involved in sustainability, and Contimi Kenfack, who promotes the education of African students through his association. The first place of the Junior Prize is endowed with 1,500 Euros, while the second places each receive 1,000 Euros. The Junior Prize is awarded alternately with the main “Benediktpreis von Mönchengladbach” and honors young people for “value-oriented action.”
In his laudatory speech, Professor Harald Vergossen, a board member of the association, described the impressive careers of the award winners and their social commitment. His conclusion: The extraordinary willingness of young people to take on responsibility fills him with great confidence.
Christopher Reiners (28) was born in Mönchengladbach and lives in Bonn. He is the founder of the “Lern-Fair e.V.” association, which has been offering free digital learning support for students from disadvantaged backgrounds since the 2020 Corona pandemic. The program includes individual tutoring, group courses, and German language courses, primarily for refugee children.
In the “BüchelGarten” in Aachen, Elisabeth Nierle (31) grows fruit and vegetables in raised beds. Her goal is to use water more efficiently – for example, through rainwater and automatic irrigation systems – to reduce drinking water consumption by up to 70 percent. The project promotes awareness of sustainable practices and demonstrates that saving water can improve the quality of life in cities.
Contimi Kenfack (29) founded the non-profit association “3 E’s 4 Africa e.V.” This association promotes the education of African students and doctoral candidates, advocates for their empowerment, and ensures the environmental compatibility (Ecofriendliness) of the supported projects. Kenfack was born in Cameroon and lives in Herzogenrath.
The Benediktpreis von Mönchengladbach aims to highlight precisely this commitment of our award winners, according to Vergossen. “It should encourage courage: courage to get involved. Courage to make a difference. Courage to do good – even if it is sometimes uncomfortable.” Mönchengladbach’s Mayor Felix Heinrichs also praised the extraordinary commitment of the three young people: “Everyone should serve according to their abilities” was a guiding principle of the order’s founder, Benedict. This community spirit unites the honored ideas, which are not self-contained projects, but initiatives in which everyone can participate in their own way.
