The end of the event was emotional: 33 singers from the International Deutsche Welle Choir sang. The Hymn to Joy, a Franco-German version of Beethoven's Ode to joy. 200 guests at the benefit concert in the Zeltkirche in Bergisch Gladbach were clearly captivated by this piece of music, which is the most frequently performed piece in music history worldwide. Grandios!
But let’s start at the beginning: 20 years ago, on August 29, 2006, a small group led by Gabriele Apicella, Horst Fossen, Rainer Henze, Hans-Josef Irlenbusch and Dettlef Rockenberg received the official foundation certificate for the Eine-Welt-Stiftung Rhein-Berg after years of preliminary work by the Cologne District Government. Their purpose is quickly explained: We all live in „One World“ – there is no other world – which is why it is only fair that residents of privileged regions support people from poorer countries. Projects in the fields of education and small business should be the focus, such as supporting schools or providing microloans for the construction of a tailoring shop or the purchase of seeds. All projects pursue the goal of „helping to help themselves.“ The concept works. In many countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, the Eine-Welt-Stiftung Rhein-Berg has funded groups and initiatives over the past two decades.
And because round birthdays should be properly celebrated, the Eine-Welt-Stiftung Rhein-Berg invited the International Deutsche Welle Choir to the Kippekausen tent church in Bergisch Gladbach on October 11, 2026, for a benefit concert. 33 singers from 15 nations presented 17 songs from all over the world in their respective national languages. The love song A-Li-Shan Zhi Ge from Taiwan, for example, South Africa's anthem against apartheid Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika, The Iranian Freedom Anthem of Women Baraye, the appeal for peace Yarraba Ssalami / Hewenu Shalom from Palestine/Israel as well Arnissi by Mikis Theodorakis and the Greek Nobel Prize laureate in literature Giorgos Seferis, the anthem of the resistance movement against the Greek military dictatorship. Songs from Poland, Tanzania, Serbia, Argentina, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the Philippines and the USA completed the evening.
An extraordinary event, always driven by the longing for community, brotherhood and peace in this One World of ours! The Deutsche-Welle Choir concluded with the French-German version of the song mentioned at the beginning. Ode to joy. The text was written by Friedrich Schiller, and Ludwig van Beethoven composed the music for the fourth movement of his 9th Symphony. And today? Today the melody of the Ode to joy The official European anthem. That fits perfectly!
Mirko Smiljanic
Bergisch Gladbach, October 14, 2026
