The book "Emma jumps – A story about big leaps and small miracles" was officially presented. Numerous guests from politics, sports, and education, as well as partners of the project, came together to celebrate the release of this special book.
The children's book, which also includes the French translation, was created on the occasion of the Special Olympics National Games Saarland 2026 and the campaign "Being There is Saarland." The focus is on Emma, a girl who shows with joy of life, courage, and openness how important community, participation, and mutual support are.
The Saarland Minister for the Interior, Construction & Sports, Reinhold Jost, praised the project as an important contribution to more lived inclusion in everyday life:
“‚Emma Jumps‘ is far more than a children's book. It is an invitation to understand differences as strengths and to approach people with openness. The book encourages courage and shows how valuable solidarity and mutual support are for our society. This book does not only tell a story. It conveys an attitude. This also applies to the Special Olympics National Games, which will become our Saarland 'summer fairy tale' from June 15th,” emphasized Minister Jost.
Interior Minister Jost gave special thanks to the PSD L(i)ebenswert Foundation of PSD Bank RheinNeckarSaar eG, whose financial support made the project possible.
“We wanted to support a project that not only makes an impact on a single occasion but also moves something in the daily lives of children. As the foundation of a regionally rooted cooperative bank, promotion for us is not a statement on glossy paper, but our mission. ‘Emma springt’ brings inclusion exactly where it has the most sustainable effect: into the children's rooms, daycares, and primary schools of our region. Here, a generation is growing up for whom diversity is taken for granted from an early age – and that is the most beautiful return for the PSD L(i)ebensWert Foundation: a Saarland that becomes more livable and lovable at the same time,” says Matthias Brändle, Chairman of the Board of PSD Bank RheinNeckarSaar eG and the PSD L(i)ebensWert Foundation.
In addition, the project partners include Patrick Franziska, silver medalist in table tennis at the Olympic Games, Pauline Schäfer-Betz, world champion in artistic gymnastics, as well as para-cyclist and multiple Paralympic medalist Denise Schindler. The authors of the book are Ibrahima Ndiaye from Saarbrücken and Anja Tuckermann from Berlin. The illustrations are by Saarbrücken-based illustrator Jürgen Schanz.
During the event, it became clear that the message of the book goes far beyond the upcoming National Games. The Saarland Ministry of Education and Culture will make the book available to all primary and special schools in Saarland. In addition, Saarland's daycare centers, municipalities and districts, as well as public libraries, will receive copies of the book.
“With 'Emma Jumps,' we not only give children a special story but also awaken the joy of reading. Books open up new worlds, foster imagination, and help to discover different perspectives. Emma’s story shows children in an empathetic and realistic way how enriching diversity is and how important it is to treat each other with respect, openness, and appreciation. It makes clear that every child has their own strengths, talents, and unique path – and that these very differences make our community strong. This book thus combines reading promotion with lived inclusion and sends an important message for cohesion and participation.”
For all interested parties, the book is available while supplies last through the online shop of the campaign "Being There is Saarland" on the LSVS website: www.lsvs-webshop.de
