Discovering diversity: Together we are more colourful and stronger!

Discovering diversity in the Neflental: Together we are more colourful and stronger!

The glittering festival of Glanzhoch begins in Neflental. The sun paints the meadows in sunny gold and the lakes glow sapphire blue. The air glitters like amber as tiny dots of light dance across the landscape. On this special day, Rosa Periwinkle sets off to walk to the bay of water lilies. Rosa Periwinkle loves the time of the glamour high, because all the peoples of the valley celebrate together.

The water lily bay becomes a meeting place for everyone

The water lily bay lies on the edge of the crystal lake. The bay is full of large, round leaves and delicate, white flowers. Colourful fish glide back and forth beneath the leaves. Dragonflies with iridescent wings dance above the water, casting patterns of emerald green and coral red on the surface. Pink periwinkle stops for a moment to marvel.

The villages of the Periwinkles, Flossians, Buchians and Bergsteins are gathered around the bay. Colourful lanterns drift silently across the water. On the shore sit the children of the peoples in all their colours, wearing clothes as different as the leaves in the fern forest.

Playing together by the water

The Flossians invite you to build colourful boats. Everyone should contribute something. The Buchians bring strong branches that they have found in the forest. The Evergreens collect large leaves. Bergsteins contribute sparkling stones and the Flossians carve small oars from reeds. Rosa Periwinkle sits down in the group and everyone helps together.

Soon wondrous boats emerge: no two are alike, all are differently coloured and recognisable. Rosa Periwinkle lifts up a boat that shimmers in all colours. "Together we are colourful and much stronger than if we do everything alone!" she shouts, and everyone nods happily.

Colourful diversity, strong team

The boats are given names in all the languages of the peoples. The white elves bring small lights, which they place on the boats. Together, the children let the boats glide onto the water. The sun is reflected in the waves and makes the colours glow. The boats dance next to the fish and the dragonflies fly above them. Rosa Periwinkle claps her hands because the sight is so beautiful.

As the sun slowly sets, everyone sits round the fire. They share food that each people has brought with them. It smells of fresh bread, sweet berries and fried fish. One of them sings a song and gradually everyone joins in. The voices sound as different as the people themselves. But together they sing the most beautiful song that the forests and mountains have ever heard.

Celebrate together and learn from each other

Rosa Periwinkle sees everyone laughing and dancing together. She realises that everyone really is important - no matter what they look like or where they come from. Because only together can they celebrate such a big, happy festival. Because everyone can do something special, the glittering festival in Neflental is so colourful and strong.

A child from the Flossian people comes to Rosa Periwinkle: "I would never have built such a beautiful boat on my own." Rosa Periwinkle replies: "That's why there are so many of us. And that's what makes our valley so special."

What do we learn from this?

When many different people come together and everyone gives their best, something wonderful is created. Together we are more colourful and stronger! And in Neflental, this can be experienced at every glamorous festival.

You want the book Order "Pink evergreen and the golden oak leaf" - click here!. Also like to take Contact the author Kira Kimmelmann at or read more short stories by Pink evergreen here.