The European Association “Danube-Networkers for Europe(DANET) e.V., the University of Ruse and the Union of Pensioners‘2004-Ruse organized a Danube-Networkers Day on 15 May 2015, Friday. A number of events took place both in Ruse and in the villages of Borisovo and Ryahovo, The DANET delegation included Chairperson of DANET, Mrs. Carmen Stadelhofer, and three representatives of organizations, very involved by voluntary work in the project “The wanted Danube”, Bertram Wegemer, ILEU e.V., Stefani Meyer, a teacher in a high school in Illertissen (near Ulm)and Inga Engels from the “Donaubüro/Danube Office” of the towns Ulm/Neu-Ulm.
A number of events both in Ruse and in the villages of Borisovo and Ryahovo, where there have been active participants in the projects of the Association, specially “The wanted Danube” were organized: meeting with the Rector of the University of Ruse, COR MEM Prof. Hristo Beloev, DTSc; planting a tree as a symbol of Danube-Networkers cooperation in front of the University; meeting with the Vice Governor of Ruse region, Mr. Yavor Yanchev; opening an exhibition “The Wanted Danube” at the Regional Information Centre for presenting one of the most successful projects of the Association DANET; greeting the participants by the Vice Mayor of Ruse Municipality, Mr. Dimitar Nakov; presenting the initiatives of the Association DANET, the specific ideas for future work, building a bridge between generations and actively engaged civil society by Mrs. Stadelhofer; visiting the villages Borisovo and Ryahovo; meetings with the local authorities and the local people which welcomed the guests in different traditional forms, visiting three traditional Bulgarian houses; presenting folklore programmes and participating in joint activities such as setting sail of paper boats in the River Danube with symbolic wishes for peace and prosperity; informal conversations; meeting with Soroptimist International; greeting the best students from Deutsche Schule, Ruse by Mrs. Stadelhofer and start of cooperation with this school.
On the next day, 16th May, the German delegation and their partners from Ruse travelled to Silistra, where another bright Danube-Networkers Day was organized by the District Library of Silistra, a valued partner in the “Wanted Danube” project. The list of the activities for German delegation included: greeting the German guests and the participants by the Chairperson of the Municipal Council, meeting with three members of the local parliament and the Dean of the University of Ruse, Branch Silistra; building a long Danube river in front of the Gallery Center, with poems, songs and little ships, giving certificates to the most prominent participating organizations and individuals presenting the Association DANET in Silista and for the participants of the local festival “Srebarna sings and laughs”; meeting with the Mayor of the village Srebarna; visiting the Natural Bird Reserve Museum of Srebarna, Orthodox Church “Saint Peter and Paul”, Danube park, and old ruins in Silistra;
Mrs. Stadelhofer announced the news received during their trip that the project “the Wanted Danube” has been awarded the “European Prize of Citizenship 2015” of the European Parliament for a socially significant project, which will be handed at official ceremonies in Berlin and Brussels in Autumn 2015.
More than 250 participants took part in the activities in Ruse and 150 Silistra together with German delegation. They were impressed by the Chairperson of DANET, Mrs. Carmen Stadelhofer and the activities and ideas for future work of the European Association Danube- Networkers for Europe (DANET) e.V.