Grimme Prize for the film "Caravan of Hope" (2010)

"Caravan of Hope" - the TV documentary by directors Dr Bernhard Albrecht and Karsten Scheuren (ProSieben/Galileo Special) about the work of Annette and Rüdiger Nehberg's organization TARGET has been awarded the Adolf Grimme Prize. The filmmakers won Germany's most coveted television prize in the "Information & Culture" category. 18 films were nominated, five received the award. "A sensational success. It will significantly advance our work for the girls of Africa," says Rüdiger Nehberg (74). TARGET has been successfully fighting for an end to female genital mutilation for almost ten years - with Islam as a partner. One major goal has been achieved so far: the spiritual elite of Islam has declared the practice a sin.

Directors Dr. Bernhard Albrecht and Karsten Scheuren accompanied the Nehbergs to a TARGET conference in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa in spring 2009. In their report, they show how almost 100 Islamic religious leaders controversially discussed female genital mutilation and in the end unanimously spoke out against the bloody ritual. There was an awkward silence when the Afar girl Eri - a victim of the custom - spoke to the assembly about her suffering. The ProSieben team also showed insights into the everyday life of the eleven-year-olds in the barren Danakil desert.

The meeting in Addis Ababa was the kick-off event for high-ranking clergy from the Horn of Africa countries. They were presented with TARGET'S GOLDEN BOOK, which contains the fatwa outlawing female genital mutilation (Cairo 2006). Until now, religion has been used erroneously to justify the bloody ritual. The sumptuously designed work is intended to serve imams as a template for sermons in four million mosques. They receive it exclusively and free of charge.