Worldfest at Frankfurt International School – Award for Astrid Kastening

Last Sunday saw the annual Worldfest held at Frankfurt International School in Oberursel.

This year the food from the 16 participating countries ranged from Coronation Chicken (Great Britain) to Kashk va bademjan (Iran) and from Kangaroo kebabs (Australia) to Falafel (Israel).

I also discovered a new drink to try: Mango Lassi from India – a mixture of mango purée and yoghurt.

One of the highlights of the afternoon was the presentation of the Mark E. Ulfers Leadership Award to Astrid Kastening.

The award is presented annually by the Chair of the Board of Trustees to a member of the school community who has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities during the school year, and who has given him or herself to the betterment of others through selfless service, built bridges of understanding within the community through his or her collaborative efforts, demonstrated a high level of cross-cultural awareness and international perspective on issues within the school, created programs or led initiatives that have left a lasting impact at FIS, and empowered other leaders through shared decision making and supportive mentoring.

Dr. Michael McKay presenting Astrid Kastening with the Mark E. Ulfers Leadership Award

Astrid Kastening was chosen this year for her extensive work in a number of areas within the school, and several organisations outside it as well.

In the school these included the Worldfest, Applefest, and 50th Anniversary Celebrations.

In the wider community she has been raising funds for the Children’s Cancer Clinic in Frankfurt by organizing the front of house at the musical performances of Theatre Unlimited. She organised a UNICEF charity performance of the musical HONK at the English Theatre in Frankfurt in aid of earthquake stricken children in Haiti. She has raised funds to support children and their parents in two slum areas of Nairobi as a member of the church council of Trinity Lutheran Church in Frankfurt, and travelled there herself to learn about their needs. And more recently she has been working as a general manager of the Frankfurt foundation “Citoyen” supervising several multi-cultural projects and organizing a prize awarding individuals and initiatives which aim at improving the intercultural understanding in Frankfurt and the Rhein-Main area.

The award was presented by Dr. Michael McKay, Chairman of the Board of Trustees at the school.

Click here to see our Worldfest Photo Gallery on Facebook