VIENNA, 4 December 2024 – Together with 20 children from the VIC kindergarten, the Christmas tree illumination ceremony took place at the Rotunda of the VIC where parents and staff gathered for a festive get-together. The Christmas tree decoration was crafted by children from the educational district "Bildungsgrätzl" Kaisermühlen which includes suns, stars, and Christmas baubles. The messages were sent by children from many educational districts all over the city. This year’s tree was kindly donated by the City of Vienna, represented by Brigitta Schwarz, Deputy Department Head MA 10. Ernst Woller, First President of the Viennese Provincial Parliament, Martin Nesirky, Director of the United Nations Information Service (UNIS) Vienna, and Ambassador Gabriela Sellner, Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations Vienna joined the event and made a few remarks stressing the importance of children’s rights, freedom, and peace.
The children from the VIC kindergarten represented 40,000 peers from across Vienna’s educational districts (Bildungsgrätzl) by giving a heartwarming dance performance and singing a song. The children handed over their letters with wishes for a better future to Ernst Woller and Ambassador Gabriela Sellner, marking their bright hopes for this coming season and for a peaceful future for all children in the world. This year’s theme was: ‘Please help to find my voice and a way for it to be heard! ‘, based on Articles 12 and 13 of the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child: the right of the child to be heard, as well as the right to freedom of expression.
By the late evening, the Christmas tree lights were turned on and the audience could enjoy the Christmas cookies, punch, and atmosphere. In the spirit of Christmas, the Wiener Zitherfreunde performed through the evening, while the children had the opportunity to decorate their gingerbread.
Background info educational districts (Bildungsgrätzl):
Educational districts (Bildungsgrätzl) are long-term, locally-based collaborations between schools and kindergartens with extracurricular institutions in the areas of (adult) education, youth and social work, sport, culture and health.
When implementing the Vienna Educational districts (Grätzl), various municipal departments of the City of Vienna (education and youth, schools, kindergartens, integration and diversity, child and youth welfare) work together with the Vienna Education Directorate and the Education, Youth, Integration and Transparency business group.
They ensure a diverse range of educational, leisure and advisory services in the districts where the children, young people and adults live. The educators receive comprehensive training and benefit from the professional exchange with others. The guiding principle for the collaboration is that it takes a district (Grätzl) to raise a child.
