Introduction to the Goethe Medal Awardees
The Goethe Institute, a global cultural body of Germany, has awarded the Goethe medal to three individuals for their outstanding services to international cultural exchange. Osman Kavala, a Turkish cultural promoter and activist for social justice, Li Yuan, a Chinese scholar and German language manager, and David van Reybrouck, a Belgian archaeologist and author, were honored for their contributions to reducing cultural obstacles, fighting for human rights and democracy, and finding a common language.
Osman Kavala’s Lifelong Commitment
Osman Kavala’s lifelong commitment to civil society is based on the conviction that art and culture are crucial for dialogue, mutual understanding, and creating a fair and integrative society. In 2022, he founded the Turkish NGO Anadolu Culture, which works at the interface of art, culture, civil society, and human rights. Kavala has also promoted cross-border cultural exchange through initiatives such as the Armenian-Turkish cinema platform and the Armenian-Turkish Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Kavala was arrested in 2017 and convicted of a life sentence for political reasons. However, he continues to work with Anadolu Culture from prison, heading the Diyarbakir Arts Center, which has become an important international space for art, culture, and civil society. With programs such as Tandem, Kavala promotes cultural exchange and cross-border cooperation between cultural institutions in Turkey and Europe.
Li Yuan’s Pioneering Work
Li Yuan, a Chinese linguist, was awarded the Goethe medal for her work in promoting intercultural understanding and strengthening German as a foreign language in China. As a professor of German language and German studies at Zhejiang University, Yuan uses artificial intelligence to develop innovative methods for learning German. She has created an intelligent feedback tool that is currently being tested and has developed textbooks for German studies that are used throughout China.
Yuan’s work aims to get foreign language students to engage with global topics, and she heads the Institute for German Studies and the Center for Global Competence at Zhejiang University. Her approach to language learning emphasizes common mistakes and uses empirical data analysis to improve learning outcomes.
David van Reybrouck’s Commitment to Marginalized Voices
David van Reybrouck, a Belgian archaeologist and author, was honored with a Goethe medal for his commitment to giving a voice to marginalized communities. His award-winning book "Congo: The Epic History of a People" (2010) examines the colonial past of Congo and has been translated into numerous languages. Van Reybrouck’s work is characterized by conversations with locals who have the space to tell their stories, and he has collected stories from remaining survivors of historical events.
In his homeland of Belgium, van Reybrouck is not only a successful author but also founded the G1000 initiative, a platform for democratic commitment and civil participation. His interdisciplinary approach combines literary style with an emotional approach, and his works are considered essential to contemporary political discourse.
The Goethe Medal Award Ceremony
The Goethe Medal Award ceremony will take place on August 28, the birthday of the iconic German writer and polymath Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. The ceremony will honor the outstanding contributions of Osman Kavala, Li Yuan, and David van Reybrouck to international cultural exchange and their commitment to promoting understanding, empathy, and cooperation across cultures.
