Valeria Castañeda Ramirez receives DAAD Award 2022

Growing up in Guadalajara, Mexico, Valeria Castañeda Ramirez did federal voluntary service at the family center "Die Brücke" in Berlin after finishing school in Mexico. She decided to stay in Germany for her studies and passed the university entrance exam with top grades. For the past three years, she has been successfully studying in the bachelor's degree program in social work at the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam and is now being awarded the university's 1,000 euro DAAD award. Prof. Dr. Frank Früchtel, Dean of the Faculty of Social and Educational Sciences and Professor of Ethics, Theory and Methods of Social Work, honored the high-achieving student with a special recognition for her exceptionally committed cooperation and top grade in the lecture "Theories of Social Work". The award will be presented to the student during the International Day of the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.

In addition to her studies, the Deutschlandstipendiatin volunteers at the International Youth Community Service (IJGD) Berlin and Potsdam, supports volunteers from Africa, Asia and Latin America during their stay in Germany in the Buddy Program and reports to students about her own experiences as a volunteer in Germany. Following her federal voluntary service, she volunteered at the family center "Die Brücke" and has been a student employee there since 2019. 

DAAD Award

The DAAD Award of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, annually recognizes international students who have distinguished themselves in a special way through high performance in their studies and social, intercultural commitment. The award is intended to help put faces to the multitude of international students at German universities and connect them with stories.