On Mei 7th, 2008, Anne Sturm was decorated with an award from the mayor of the City of Herne (Germany), in honour of her voluntary work. During this dignified ceremony, she was surrounded by her family, her husband, children and grandchildren, as well as by some voluntary colleagues who came to give witness to her great commitment.

In his laudatory speech, the mayor listed the numerous social activities that Anne has been involved with, in Germany, but also on an international level – among others as the head of AIC. She began as a CKD volunteer in the Hospital of Herne, then in her parish, where she also showed her awareness of the needs of others.

Since the beginning, her leadership qualities were noticed, and she was elected as regional president of the CKD of her city; then member of the diocesan presidency of Paderborn. It is there that she met Elisabeth von Luenninck, the past president of the CKD, who encouraged her from the very beginning. The mayor emphasized that Anne has always been aware of the volunteer’s needs, as well as of the quality and efficiency of their work. She committed herself to improving the working conditions of the social volunteers in several organisations of the German Catholic Church and she was a member of the team for a new statute of the CKD, as well as the establishment of the CKD general guidelines. Then, as CKD Vice-President, and with others, she influenced the development of her association.

It is in Antigua, that she met for the first time AIC International. She was proposed as a candidate for the Executive Board, and was elected with a high number of votes. As she has a gift for languages, she immediately integrated into the team and committed herself to the needs of the most poor of Europe. The mayor went on describing her work within AIC until now, and he emphasized that it is a great honour for the city of Herne to have such a committed woman among its citizens!

At the end of his speech, he read the text of the official deed of the President of the German Republic, Mr. Koehler, and presented the decoration to Anne. He also explained to her that wearing such a decoration is subjected to very strict rules, and offered her a small rule book.

Then, in turn, Anne made a speech of thanks in which she emphasized that her commitment had only been made possible thanks to the support of her family, above all her husband’s, as well as the present volunteer’s.

After a congratulations speech from her association and AIC, a photo session immortalized this event for the Visitor’s Book of the city, and of course, for Anne and her family.

After this exceptional morning, everybody meet in a restaurant for a convivial and well- deserved lunch, that the grant-children appreciated with eagerness after having remained seated so quietly for such a long time.

New deadline for AIC 2008 call for projects
Take part in the new call for AIC 2008 projects!

Together let us make new projects of cooperatives, micro-credits, and Community Health care program alive.

In the framework of the publication of its December 2007 Training Booklet, AIC launches a new call for projects aiming at supporting the AIC teams in their struggle against poverties:
-500 EUR to the best Community Health Care Program AIC project
-500 EUR to the best Cooperative AIC project
-500 EUR to the best micro-credit AIC project

Conditions of participation:
- Method: the projects must be presented according to the method « Work under project form »
- New deadline for AIC 2008 call for projects
- Selection: a jury made up of the AIC presidency and AIC Solidarité will examine the applications.
- Financing: As soon as the jury has accepted the project, a first part of the financing will be paid, and the second part will be paid when the project is implemented.

Send your projects to: service.projet@aic-international.org
Or fax +32 010 45 80 63
23 Rampe des Ardennais, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium