For more than 63 years, Father Walter Stärk has been committed with extraordinary dedication to Burundi, the partner country of Baden-Württemberg. In recognition of his many years of social, humanitarian, and development work, he was awarded the Staufer Medal of the State of Baden-Württemberg on 19 May 2026 in Stuttgart. The award was presented by former Minister Peter Hauk.

For more than 40 years, Baden-Württemberg and Burundi have been connected through a close partnership. Father Walter Stärk has been part of this partnership from the very beginning. After his ordination as a priest in 1962, he moved to Burundi.

There, he worked tirelessly to support disadvantaged people. Education and future opportunities for children and young people were always especially close to his heart. Thanks to his close connections with Baden-Württemberg, numerous educational projects were established in Burundi, including schools and kindergartens that have opened up new opportunities for thousands of children.

Together with AgrarKontakte International (AKI) e. V., the former Ministry of Food, Rural Affairs and Consumer Protection of Baden-Württemberg (today: Ministry of Rural Affairs, Agriculture and Homeland – MLR), and the CDU Parliamentary Group of Baden-Württemberg, a training center for sustainable agriculture was established in Gitega. Thousands of farmers receive training there in permaculture, sustainable farming methods, and climate resilience. In addition, housing was built for 30 disadvantaged women and their children, equipped with solar energy and water supply systems.

The award honors a lifetime of commitment that has connected Baden-Württemberg and Burundi for decades. Minister-President Cem Özdemir and Deputy Minister-President and Minister of the Interior, Digitalization and Europe of Baden-Württemberg, Manuel Hagel, also congratulated him on this special recognition.

For his selfless commitment, Father Walter Stärk had already been awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in 1994.

The life’s work of Father Walter Stärk stands as an outstanding example of the strength of civil society within the AMAHORO! state partnership. His commitment demonstrates how long-term engagement can build bridges between people and cultures and create sustainable change.

SEZ and AKI congratulate Father Walter Stärk on his achievements and are pleased about the successful cooperation within the framework of the AMAHORO! state partnership.

This is a joint article by AKI und der SEZ