Respekt! Diversity Ambassador

How can you become a Respekt! Diversity Ambassador?

You can become a Respekt! Diversity Ambassador by committing to all the following three activities:

1. Organise an activity in the framework of the initiative Respekt!  (e.g., diversity snack, participatory action, information stand).
2. Advertise this activity in a course or your department
3. Write a statement on "I support diversity because..." (500 to 750 characters incl. spaces or 1-minute video), which will be published on our social media channels and website.

What are the benefits of our Diversity Ambassador certificate?

1. Recognition and certification: Our Diversity Certificate serves as proof of your commitment to diversity and inclusion. It documents your efforts to promote diversity.
2. Professional development: Diversity and inclusion are of great importance in many professional fields. The Diversity Certificate can improve your career opportunities as employers and organisations are increasingly looking for diversity-sensitive employees.
3. Personal development: Addressing diversity issues can strengthen your diversity competence and empathy.
4. Social responsibility and sustainability: With your commitment, you advocate for a diverse and future-oriented society. You show that diversity and social sustainability are important present and future issues.

Our Respekt! Diversity Ambassadors at the H-BRS

"I support diversity because it brings a richness of perspectives, ideas, and experiences that helps us grow as individuals and as a community. Embracing diversity fosters innovation and creativity, as different viewpoints challenge us to think beyond our own boundaries. It’s through these unique differences that we build empathy, respect, and understanding, creating an environment where everyone feels valued and included. I believe that when we celebrate diversity, we strengthen our shared humanity and pave the way for a more inclusive and compassionate world."  Aashish Raviraj

"I support diversity because diversity enhances our communities, workplaces, and viewpoints and fosters an atmosphere where everyone may feel appreciated and respected, I am in favor of it. By accepting others with different experiences, backgrounds, and points of view, we can all learn from one another and develop empathy and creativity. Diversity pushes us to see beyond our own preconceptions and prejudices, which eventually improves our ability to make decisions and be creative. We learn more about the world and develop resilience when individuals with diverse identities, cultures, and skill sets come together. Supporting diversity is opposing prejudice, injustice, and exclusion while acknowledging that our individual identities add to our strength as a group. By valuing variety, we create welcoming environments where people can realize their greatest potential and advance justice and equality for everyone."  Pallavi Aithal Narayan

"I support diversity because it brings a richness of perspectives, ideas, and experiences that helps us grow as individuals and as a community. Embracing diversity fosters innovation and creativity, as different viewpoints challenge us to think beyond our own boundaries. It’s through these unique differences that we build empathy, respect, and understanding, creating an environment where everyone feels valued and included. I believe that when we celebrate diversity, we strengthen our shared humanity and pave the way for a more inclusive and compassionate world."  Arnold Dsouza

"I firmly believe that diversity is essential for thriving communities and workplaces. I recently was part of the organizing team of Diversity Day at H-BRS, an experience that profoundly deepened my appreciation for diversity. Engaging with students and professionals from various backgrounds opened my eyes to the richness that different perspectives bring. I felt a strong connection to the idea that diversity fosters creativity and innovation; the discussions sparked fresh ideas and solutions I hadn’t considered before. Moreover, I witnessed how diverse teams excel in decision-making. Presentations highlighted studies showing that inclusive groups make better choices, often outperforming their peers. This reinforced my belief that diversity is not just a moral imperative but a strategic advantage in any organization. Participating in workshops on cultural competence and empathy allowed me to reflect on my own biases and grow personally. I realized that embracing diversity leads to a more enriching learning environment, preparing us for the globalized world we live in. Ultimately, Diversity Day solidified my commitment to supporting diversity. It’s about creating spaces where everyone feels valued and can contribute uniquely, fostering stronger communities and successful organizations."  Shashwat Pandey 

"I support diversity because it enriches our lives and allows us to appreciate the beauty of multiple cultures, including their unique traditions, celebrations, and cuisines. Learning about how people around the world celebrate life fosters understanding and connection among us. Diversity teaches us the value of collaboration and creativity through different perspectives. I firmly believe that discrimination has no place in society; every individual deserves respect and equal opportunities, regardless of their background. By embracing diversity, we create a world that values individuality and promotes harmony, where everyone can thrive and contribute meaningfully to the global community."  Ujjwal Vijay Patil

"I support diversity because it strengthens our society by bringing together different viewpoints and life experiences that spark innovation and personal growth. When people from varied backgrounds collaborate, they challenge each other's assumptions and develop more effective solutions. This mixing of perspectives helps everyone become more understanding and adaptable - skills we desperately need in today's connected world. In our schools, workplaces, and communities, diversity creates resilience through different approaches to problem-solving and builds bridges between cultures. This makes our society not just fairer but also more dynamic and creative, ensuring that everyone has a chance to contribute their unique voice to our shared story."  Vedika Chauhan

"I support diversity because it enriches our understanding of the world and fosters empathy. Every person brings a unique perspective shaped by their culture, language, and experiences. When we embrace these differences, we open ourselves to innovation, collaboration, and personal growth. Diversity isn’t just about inclusion—it’s about celebration. It’s about creating a world where everyone feels seen, valued, and respected, paving the way for stronger connections and a brighter future for all."  Vicky Prince Victor

"I support diversity because it reveals how interconnected we are, despite our differences. Cultures separated by vast distances often share surprising similarities—be it in values like family, storytelling, or even art forms. Yet, diversity also shows how unique we are, with each culture offering distinct perspectives on shared experiences like food, traditions, or celebrations. This blend of similarity and difference enriches our understanding of humanity, fostering empathy and innovation as we learn from one another's ways of living and thinking."  Prachi Sheth

"I support diversity because it broadens our perspectives and allows us to learn from one another in meaningful ways. Understanding different cultures and ideologies will help us to build a society together filled with harmony and peace, we will foster a mutual respect and understanding for each other,  thus allowing everyone to feel valued and empowered in the society. A society built on such values and principles will help us achieve goals even the most ambitious goals. The diversity camp at HBRS is a step forward to making this vision a reality."   Oviya Rajavel

"I support diversity because diversity brings different experiences. With every different experience comes a platform to learn something new, maybe an opportunity to change some old beliefs. With it comes the challenge of binding individuality and individuals together into a unique blend of personal and social beliefs just as is the case with food. The resulting dish is an amalgamation of all sorts of individual ingredients bound together with a cherished recipe. Just as we saw on the day of the snack event, different food items, prepared individually, were presented together and it was no doubt a super hit event." Ritwik Sinha

"Diversity is more than mere acceptance; it involves actively celebrating our differences and fostering an inclusive environment. By creating spaces where individuals feel valued and empowered to express their authentic selves, we cultivate a sense of belonging. This celebration of diversity enriches our communities, as varied perspectives lead to greater creativity, innovation, and problem-solving. When everyone is encouraged to contribute their unique experiences and viewpoints, we build stronger connections and understanding. Ultimately, embracing diversity paves the way for a more harmonious society where everyone can thrive and succeed together." Salvin George

"I support diversity because diversity brings together individuals from various backgrounds and this gives us an opportunity to dispel stereotypes by learning and sharing information or facts that people are generally not aware of. Additionally, it allows us to know about and be a part of different cultures which enriches our lives and helps us grow by drawing from experiences of other people."  Swathy Satheesan Cheruvalath 

"I support diversity because it enriches education, creating a campus where varied perspectives thrive. In a university, diversity includes race, ethnicity, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and life experiences. Students from different backgrounds bring unique viewpoints that challenge assumptions and spark meaningful conversations. These interactions inspire innovation and prepare students for a globalized world where collaboration across cultures is essential. Diversity fosters empathy and understanding, encouraging individuals to engage with experiences unlike their own. A university mirrors society, and its environment helps students develop broader perspectives. For example, discussing social issues with peers who have faced systemic challenges deepens awareness and respect for others' realities. These exchanges help dismantle biases and build skills for promoting equity in personal and professional spaces. Diversity intellectually offers the potential for increased problem-solving and creativity. Studies have found that diverse groups outperform homogeneous ones, bringing varied angles to a given challenge. Universities that act to include diversity provide centers where innovative thought is fostered, with collaborative projects benefiting from multiple views. This environment strengthens academics and prepares students for success in a diverse workplace. Representation is just as important, providing a platform for underrepresented voices to be both seen and heard. It creates a sense of belonging and affirmation, particularly in colleges and universities. When students see others like themselves among their peers and faculty members, they feel supported and motivated to succeed. A university committed to diversity sends a clear message: every voice counts in the academic enterprise. Moreover, diversity builds cultural competency. Exposure to different traditions, languages, and beliefs enhances the ability of students to connect across boundaries. Events such as cultural festivals and seminars about global issues expose them to a wider world and encourage appreciation for human experience in all its variety. Such efforts build more harmonious communities-both on campus and beyond. Diversity in universities is not only moral but also pragmatic. The world shrinks day by day, and prosperity depends on reaching across differences. Supporting diversity empowers students with the ability to thrive in global societies and enrich their communities meaningfully. Because of this, diversity is essential for the mission of higher education."  Yash Nainesh Somaiya