To recognise the importance of this achievement, the KuWi network awards the ‘netzwerk.preis für ehrenamtliches Engagement’ to students every semester as part of the Humanities and Cultural Studies graduation ceremony. The purpose of this award is to recognise people who have contributed to cultural and social cohesion through voluntary work.
Voluntary and honorary work is an important part of our society. It gives us the opportunity to socialise, to work together on projects and goals that are close to our hearts, to try out new things and to take on responsibility and thus grow ourselves.
This semester, the KuWi network has chosen an award winner who has shown great commitment to AEGEE.
Congratulations to Emily Klement (European Studies graduate).
AEGEE (Association des États Généraux des Étudiants de l'Europe) was founded in Paris in 1985 and is now the largest politically independent student organisation in Europe with around 13,000 members. AEGEE-Passau e.V. aims to promote European understanding and student exchange, including through congresses and events on politics, culture, business and society.
In summer 2024, Emily was elected Erasmus Responsible - a responsible position in which she supports international students in making connections on campus.
Together with a motivated working group and other AEGEE members, the orientation weeks were prepared for the winter semester 2024/25. The result was a varied programme for around 300 international students: two weeks full of activities.
At the beginning of November, she spent three days with 50 international students in the Hungarian capital - accompanied by four AEGEE members.
There were also regular events during the semester, such as hikes in the Bavarian Forest, a visit to an ice hockey match, trips to regional Christmas markets and baking biscuits together.
This role was intense and challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. Emily gained a lot of self-confidence, was greeted on campus by international students with a smile and a hello - and was able to have exciting conversations with people from all over the world without ever leaving Passau. She experienced gratitude for her work - and was herself grateful for the great teamwork with the most inspiring people.
Many thanks to the AEGEE team for their great support!"
Anyone interested in the organisation can find all the information here: https://www.aegee-passau.org/wordpress/
Emily Klement can also be contacted if you have any questions!