On Tuesday morning, December 9, 2025, the German Ambassador, Dr. Ackermann, visited the DSND primary school. He brought along a very special gift: the large, beautifully decorated gingerbread house from this year’s Saint Nicholas celebration at the Embassy. The children were amazed and could hardly wait to taste the sweet creation.
To welcome their guest, the pupils performed a poem and sang the traditional song “Lasst uns froh und munter sein.” With beaming faces, they thanked the Ambassador for the delicious gift and his festive visit to their school.
Afterwards, the winners of the Saint Nicholas art competition from grades 3/4, together with the school principal, Mr. van Neerven, accompanied the Ambassador to the HOPE Project. There, they jointly presented the donated Saint Nicholas gifts to the children on site. The recipients welcomed the visitors with great joy and heartfelt warmth.
Festive Christmas songs were also sung upon arrival, creating a cheerful and celebratory atmosphere. The pupils of the HOPE Project were delighted with the presents, which included pencils, colored pencils, paper, and other materials for learning and playing, small items that brought great excitement.
We enjoyed a wonderful morning during which children from both institutions met and learned from one another. The time together fostered mutual appreciation and support, clearly showing how enriching this exchange is for our students.
