Prize-giving ceremony at the Society for the Support of Foreign Students in Bielefeld 

At the end of January, the Society for the Support of Foreign Students in Bielefeld (ViSiB) honoured two foreign students for their good work and exceptional commitment. The chairperson of the society, Michael W. Böllhoff, awarded the prizes – each worth 750 Euros – to Mathilde Ackermann (Bielefeld University) and Zineb El Gharbaoui (Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences) during the Society’s annual reception in Building X.

Since the winter semester 2013/14, Mathilde Ackermann from France has been studying in the German–French history degree programme (Bachelor) launched more than 15 years by Bielefeld University together with the Université Paris Diderot. The young French student has been not only very committed to the joint courses in the degree programme but also supports African students at the university. Mathilde Ackermann was born in the West African state of Benin, grew up in France, and also continues to help several families in Benin. In Bielefeld, the 19-year-old student is a member of the Arbeitskreis für afrikanische Projekte [African projects team], also helped to organize the Africa Day at the Faculty of History, Philosophy, and Theology in May 2014, and worked on an African music project.
Zineb El Gharbaoui from Morocco is an exceptionally promising student in her third semester studying electrical engineering at Bielefeld University of Applied Sciences. As an informatics tutor, she helps German and foreign students with their specialized questions and problems. Zineb El Gharbaoui, who comes from a small Moroccan village, is having to finance her studies by herself. Nonetheless, she still finds time to be actively involved in the Protestant Students Congregation (ESG) and to help integrate German and foreign students – for example, by participating in the ESG guitar group.
The Society for the Support of Foreign Students in Bielefeld (ViSiB) has been committed to the integration of foreign students in Bielefeld for more than 25 years. It has organized various projects such as arranging sponsor families, offering a wide range of leisure activities, or hiring out bicycles. The Society also helps foreign guests to find accommodation and jobs in Bielefeld and provides emergency assistance.