The proclamation of the Universo was once again part of the city's international Carnival reception, “BonnExpat Alaaf!” in the Old Town Hall. For the eleventh time, employees of the United Nations and international non-governmental organizations, globally active companies and scientific institutions celebrated together. As specialists from all over the world, many of them are often only in Bonn for a limited period of time as so-called expatriates.
Together with Bonn's Prince Oliver I and Bonna Maike I, Beuel's Washer Princess Lea I, Liküra Ann Celine I and a delegation from the Bad Godesberg Carnival, they experienced the cultural heritage of the Rhineland up close and hands-on. To find out that Carnival also works in English!
UNiverso comes from India
Since 2017, BonnExpat Alaaf has been the most important date of the session for the UN Funken and their royalty. UNiverso Gaurang I. (Thanekar) calls himself an “Indian” Bonner with a wink. Born in Mumbai, he came to Germany to study and stayed in Bad Godesberg not only for the UN, but also for love. With his appearances at the Bonn Carnival, Gaurang I wants to set an example for diversity, tolerance, fairness and strong cooperation: “Carnival is a celebration that unites people, no matter where they come from. In keeping with this year's Carnival motto in Bonn: 'Colorful and tolerant, that's how we are in “Jeckenland'”, let's stand up for a society in which each and every individual can develop freely with Rhineland cosmopolitanism and tolerance.”
Mayor Dörner said at the proclamation: “In keeping with Bonn's Carnival motto, Gaurang I places the elimination of inequalities at the center of his commitment as UNiverso. I particularly like the fact that the UN Funken have entered into a session partnership with the Bonn organization “Ausbildung statt Abschiebung “ (Vocational training instead of deportation) - this stands for the peaceful coexistence of people from 180 nations in our city.”
UN Funken President Heidi Nabel-Meyer from Canada, who works for the United Nations Volunteer Program, adds: “Diversity and tolerance have never been more important than they are today - the UN Funken stand for international fellowship. And they stand for building bridges between Carnival and the Sustainable Development Goals that we all stand for. With UNiverso Gaurang I, our mission to fight against inequality and the partnership with ASA, we are living these goals.”
UN Funken contribute to more sustainability in Carnival
The UN Funken will once again take part in the 2025 Rose Monday parade as a walking group and carry the motto of the United Nations in Bonn, “Shaping Sustainability”, into the parade. As part of the Bonn Carnival family, they are making a special contribution to greater sustainability in Carnival. And this is visible on the outside - for example in the medals made of FSC-certified wood on ribbons that tell stories from the everyday life of an ethnic minority from the homeland of Gaurang I, each one different and handmade by members of this ethnic group. This time, the UN Funken will once again be using cargo bikes provided by Bonn’s public utilities (SWB) in the Rose Monday parade - because climate-neutral mobility is also a top priority in Carnival.
Thanks to the UN Funken's commitment, the world's first climate-neutral Carnival parade passed through Bonn on Rose Monday back in 2019. Since then, around 1,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions have been offset annually by investing in climate protection projects in the Global South, since 2024 together with the Bonn Carnival Festival Committee. The President of the UN Funken, Heidi Nabel-Meyer, and the chief coordinator for the parade, Björn Bachmann, presented the certificate for 2025, which this time supports an initiative from India, in the presence of the Prince, Bonna, UNiverso and Mayor Dörner.
Background to the “BonnExpat” series of events
The BonnExpat event series brings together Bonn's international community. Employees of the United Nations, non-governmental organizations and large international companies get to know each other and the many sides of their professional home Bonn at the events.
BonnExpat evenings are hosted by the Foundation for International Encounters of the Sparkasse in Bonn, Deutsche Post DHL and the City of Bonn.