The Benjamin Prize was established as a Norwegian prize to counter racism in 2002. The prize is awarded in memory of Benjamin Hermansen, who at the age of 15 years, was murdered in Holmlia, Søndre Nordstrand in Oslo, Norway. The death was racially motivated.This article was translated at request from the Norwegian Wikipedia article on this subject (retrieved 11 October 2008). See the interwiki link for the material in the original in Norwegian.
The prize is awarded each year on 27 January in conjunction with the commemoration of the Holocaust. On this date Soviet forces liberated Nazi concentration camps in Auschwitz and Birkenau. The prize is awarded to a school that actively works against racism and discrimination.
The work for which the award is given is to be characterized by: Anchoring: The school's work against racism and discrimination represent a long-term commitment. Involvement: The school's work against racism and discrimination involves faculty and students at the school. Highlighting: The school's work against racism and discrimination is visible both in the school and in the broader community.
The prize consists of 250,000 kroner, and a miniature bust of Benjamin Hermansen, created by Ivar Sjaastad. The original bust is placed at Holmlia.
The Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training awards the prize. The jury which determines the recipient consisted of Marit Hermansen (Benjamin’s mother) until her death in 2019. Since, it is represented by members from the Norwegian Center Against Racism, the Sami Parliament of Norway, Union of Education Norway, School Student Union of Norway, The Union of Education Norway is Norway's largest trade union for teaching personnel with more than 140,000 members. Parents Committee for Primary and Lower Secondary Education,A Norwegian representative organization of parents with children in primary school which serves as an advisory body for the Ministry in matters related to cooperation between home and school. and the Norwegian Center for Studies of Holocaust and Religious Minorities.
Winners 2002 — Sunndal Upper Secondary School in Sunndalsøra in Sunndal Municipality 2003 — Fjell School in Drammen in Drammen Municipality 2004 — Ila School in Trondheim in Trondheim Municipality 2005 — Gommerud School in Rykkinn in Bærum Municipality 2006 — Mandal Upper Secondary School in Mandal in Mandal Municipality 2007 — Skotselv School in Skotselv in Øvre Eiker Municipality 2008 — Sogn Upper Secondary School in Nordre Aker in Oslo Municipality 2009 — Skullerud School in Skullerud in Oslo Municipality 2010 — Hagaløkka School in Asker in Asker Municipality 2011 — Karuss School in Kristiansand in Kristiansand Municipality 2012 — Greveskogen Upper Secondary School in Tønsberg in Tønsberg Municipality 2013 — Brandengen Upper Secondary School in Drammen in Drammen Municipality 2014 — Uranienborg School in Briskeby in Oslo Municipality 2015 — Sjøvegan Upper Secondary School in Sjøvegan in Salangen Municipality 2016 — Løkenåsen School in Skårer in Lørenskog Municipality 2017 — Høyland School in Sandnes in Sandnes Municipality 2018 — Kuben Upper Secondary School in Oslo Municipality 2019 — Alvimhaugen School in Sarpsborg in Sarpsborg Municipality 2020 — Glemmen Upper Secondary School in Glemmen in Fredrikstad Municipality 2021 – Sofienberg School in Sofienberg in Oslo Municipality 2022 - Selbu ungdomsskole i Trøndelag 2023 - Stigeråsen School in Skien 2024 - Gjøklep ungdomsskole in Holmestrand 2025 — Sandvika Upper Secondary School in Baerum Municipality
References
External links Benjaminprisen at Norwegian Directorate for Education and Training.