Our Story | UN Funken Carnival Association

2026 UNiversa Skirmante (Tamelyte)

UNiversa Skirmante hält eine Friedenstaube aus Papier — Image 1: © Larissa Neubauer | Image 2: © Festausschuss Bonner Karneval e.V., Agentur Welzenbachs & Jan Künster | Image 3: We support the SDGs

Universa Skirmante (Tamelyte) is originally from Lithuania and has been living in Germany for over 20 years. She works for the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). This enthusiastic carnival-goer brings Lithuanian flair to the Bonn Carnival.

In the current carnival season, the UNFunken chose the Sustainable Development Goal 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.

You can learn more about Skirmante’s season in our press review and press release [PDF].

This session we will partner with UN Women Deutschland, who are an independent non-profit association promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment.

2025 UNiverso Gaurang (Thanekar) I

UNiverso Gaurang I. mit SDG 10 Weniger Ungleichheiten — Image 1: Larissa Neubauer | Image 2: Festausschuss Bonner Karneval e. V., Agentur Welzenbachs | Image 3: We support the SDGs

Motto der Session 2023/24 „Ob en de Kneip, de Stroß oder em Saal, mir fiere Bönnsche Karneval“ — Image 1: Larissa Neubauer | Image 2: Festausschuss Bonner Karneval e. V., Agentur Welzenbachs | Image 3: We support the SDGs

UNiverso Gaurang was the second male figurehead for the UN Funken. He is Indian by birth and Bonner by choice. For the Season 2024/25 he has chosen SDG 10 – Reduce inequality .

Please read our press review, our press release [PDF] and a portrait to learn more about Gaurang’s session.

In the 2014/2025 session we had a successful partnership with the association Ausbildung statt Abschiebung (AsA) e.V.

2024 UNiverso Stephan (Ernest) I

UNiverso Stephan I. mit SDG 5 Geschlechtergleichheit — Image 1: Larissa Neubauer | Image 2: Festausschuss Bonner Karneval e. V., Agentur Welzenbachs | Image 3: We support the SDGs

UNiverso Stephan was the first male figurehead for the UN Funken. He was born in Bonn and, after several years at the UN Climate Secretariat, he now works in the Climate Neutral Bonn programme office. During his reign he promoted SDG 5 – Gender Equality.

Please read our press review to learn more about Stephan’s session.

2023 UNiversa Audrey (Ewert) I

UNiversa Audrey I vor dem Alten Rathaus in Bonn — Image 2: Festausschuss Bonner Karneval e. V. Image 3: We support the SDGs

Motto der Session 2022/23 „Mit Pappnaas oder Höötche, mer sitze all in eenem Böötche“ — Image 2: Festausschuss Bonner Karneval e. V. Image 3: We support the SDGs

UNiversa Audrey was unanimously voted by the members of the UN Funken to continue her reign into 2023 and she is our longest serving UNiversa to date. In the 2023 session she highlighted SDG 13 – Climate Action. At the invitation of Lord Mayor Katja Dörner at Bonn Expat Carnival she was finally proclaimed after 3 years of waiting.

Please read our press review to learn more about Audrey’s session.

2021-2022 UNiversa designate Audrey (Ewert) I

Image 2: Festausschuss Bonner Karneval e. V. Image 3: We support the SDGs

UNiversa Audrey was born in Australia however her family comes from Germany (Bad Godesberg and Kiel) and Malta. She works for United Nations Climate Change (UNFCCC). During her reign she promoted SDG 3 – Health and Wellbeing and took part is some smaller get togethers and some online events such as Expat Carnival. She also took part in the 25 Voices for the 25th Anniversary of the United Nations in Bonn series.

2020 UNiversa Raissa (Tadia) I

UNiversa Raissa I Portrait — Image 2: Festausschuss Bonner Karneval e. V., Agentur Welzenbachs. Image 3: We support the SDGs

Sessionsmotto 2020: Jötterfunke överall - Ludwig, Bonn un Karneval — Image 2: Festausschuss Bonner Karneval e. V., Agentur Welzenbachs. Image 3: We support the SDGs

UNiversa Raissa was born in Cameroon. She worked for the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and at the time of her reign was completing her master’s degree in Geography at Bonn University and she promoted SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. During that year, Bonn the birthplace of Ludwig Beethoven was a hive of musical celebration of what would have been his 250th birthday. UNiversa Raissa brought her enormous energy to the carnival celebrations.

Please read our press review to learn more about Raissa’s session.

2019 UNiversa Adriana (Valenzuela) I

UNiversa Adriana I grüßt vor einem Denkmal — Image 2: Festausschuss Bonner Karneval e. V., Agentur Federstein. Image 3: We support the SDGs

Motto der Session 2018/2019 „Mir all sin Bönnsche“ — Image 2: Festausschuss Bonner Karneval e. V., Agentur Federstein. Image 3: We support the SDGs

UNiversa Adriana was born in Columbia and worked for United Nations Climate Change in Bonn. During her reign she shared the message of SDG 17 – Partnerships for the goals. She enjoyed visiting many events and brought South American flair and infectious fun with her. For Rosenmontag in 2019, UNiversa Adriana was ferried through the parade on the back of a Rickshaw.

See UNiversa Adriana on Facebook to find out more about her session.

2018 – UNiversa Paulyn (Duman) I

UNiversa Paulyn I — Image 2: Festausschuss Bonner Karneval e. V. Image 3: We support the SDGs

UNiversa Paulyn was born in the Phillipines and works for the United Nations Systems Staff College in Bonn. During her reign she shared the message of SDG 4 – Education. She helped to further build the UN Funken through the flegling years and together with her sister was the original designers of our logos and orden. UNiversa Paulyn also had the opportunity to bring a taste of carnival to the participants of the Climate Change Conference in Bonn (COP23) with special guests the Bonner Stadtsoldaten-Corps.

Please read our press review to learn more about Paulyn’s session.

2017 – UNiversa Nora (Dineen) I

UNiversa Nora I — Image 2: Festausschuss Bonner Karneval e. V. Image 3: We support the SDGs

UNiversa Nora was the UN Funken’s first ever UNiversa. She was born in Germany and works for the United Nations Volunteers in Bonn. During her reign she shared the message of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and she helped to establish the UN Funken as a new carnival club in Bonn and paved the path for future generations of UNiversa/o/es.

Please read our press review to learn more about Nora’s session.