Kreisau-Initiative e.V.

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Kreisau-Initiative e.V. Building democracy together. [EN] Democracy is something we build together. We organise youth encounters and training courses that help strengthen democracy.

The Kreisau-Initiative organises youth encounters, training courses and other activities to empower young people to help shape a more just future. The Kreisau-Initiative creates spaces where young people from around the world can come together, make their voices heard, and develop new perspectives. We encourage people to ask critical questions, inspire them the to take action, and in doing so helping build stronger communities for the future. In our youth encounters, young people have the opportunity to meet peers from different countries, with different backgrounds and experiences, and discover new perspectives. But our aim is not simply to pass on knowledge. We explore some of the big questions of our time: How do we want to live together? What responsibility do we have for one another? And what can I do personally to stand up for myself and for others? In our training courses, seminars, and conferences, we work with youth workers and other professionals in the field. They discover new methods, share experiences, and build connections across national borders. They take new ideas back into their work, helping them support young people even better and make sure their voices are heard. Our projects focus on the following areas: Contemporary History & Human Rights, Inclusion, and Socio-Ecological Transformation. The Kreisau-Initiative was founded in 1989 by people from East and West Berlin. Their aim was to support the establishment of an international meeting centre in Krzyżowa, Poland. To this day, we work closely with the Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe, which runs the meeting centre. Many of our events take place there. At the same time, we work with a wide range of international partner organisations on projects across Europe. In doing so, we bring together people from around the world with different backgrounds and life experiences. Because we believe that democracy, justice, and treating one another with respect concern us all.


[DE] Demokratie entsteht, wenn wir sie gemeinsam gestalten. Die Kreisau-Initiative schafft Räume, in denen gerade junge Menschen aus der ganzen Welt sich begegnen, ihre Stimmen erheben und neue Perspektiven entwickeln. Wir laden zum Hinterfragen ein, machen Mut zum Anpacken und stärken so die Gemeinschaft von morgen. Wir organisieren Jugendbegegnungen und Trainings, die Demokratie fördern. In unseren Jugendbegegnungen haben junge Menschen die Chance, Gleichaltrige aus verschiedenen Ländern mit unterschiedlichen Geschichten zu treffen und neue Blickwinkel zu entdecken. Dabei möchten wir nicht einfach Wissen vermitteln. Es geht um die großen Themen unserer Zeit: Wie wollen wir miteinander leben? Welche Verantwortung tragen wir füreinander? Und was kann ich selbst tun, um für mich und andere Menschen einzustehen? In unseren Fortbildungen, Seminaren und Tagungen arbeiten wir mit Fachkräften aus der Jugendarbeit. Sie lernen neue Methoden kennen, tauschen Erfahrungen aus und knüpfen Kontakte über Ländergrenzen hinweg. So nehmen sie neue Ideen mit in ihre Arbeit und können junge Menschen noch besser unterstützen und ihren Stimmen Gehör verschaffen. In unseren Projekten beschäftigen wir uns mit diesen Themen: Zeitgeschichte & Menschenrechte, Inklusion und Sozial-Ökologische Transformation. Die Kreisau-Initiative wurde 1989 von Ost- und Westberliner*innen gegründet. Ihr Ziel: den Aufbau einer internationalen Begegnungsstätte in Kreisau in Polen unterstützen. Bis heute arbeiten wir eng mit der Stiftung Kreisau für Europäische Verständigung zusammen, welche die Begegnungsstätte leitet. Viele unserer Veranstaltungen finden dort statt. Gleichzeitig setzen wir mit diversen internationalen Partnerorganisationen zahlreiche Projekte in weiteren europäischen Ländern um. Dabei bringen wir Menschen aus der ganzen Welt mit unterschiedlichen Hintergründen und Lebensrealitäten zusammen. Denn wir sind überzeugt: Demokratie, Gerechtigkeit und ein respektvolles Miteinander gehen uns alle an.

Call for participants: Traces of forgotten memories🎨 How can art help us remember stories that have been overlooked for ...
13/10/2026

Call for participants: Traces of forgotten memories

🎨 How can art help us remember stories that have been overlooked for too long?

Our new project „Traces of Forgotten Memories“ brings together 15 people from Germany, Poland and Serbia to explore the history of the genocide against Sinti and Roma at historical sites of N**i persecution in occupied Serbia.

💭 Together, we will explore creative ways of remembering and commemorating this part of history. In the project, you will develop ideas and concepts for artworks and memorial installations. Back in your home country, you will then bring them to life with young people through photography, music, painting, woodwork, clay or any other form of artistic expression.

The project is for young artists and anyone interested in combining art, hands-on creativity and remembrance. No academic background is needed!

Our goal is to make this lesser-known part of history more visible and accessible, especially among young people in vocational schools and non-academic educational settings.

🔵 When: 01.12.2026 – 08.12.2026
🔵 Where: Belgrade, Serbia
🔵 Apply by 25 October 2026 via this form: https://kreisauinitiative.wufoo.com/forms/w6zbhhh16ff5y7/

More information: https://www.kreisau.de/en/latest-news/call-for-participants-project-traces-of-forgotten-memories/

Das trilaterale Jugendprojekt JAZDA! unseres Partners Fundacja Krzyżowa dla Porozumienia Europejskiego / Stiftung Kreisa...
13/10/2026

Das trilaterale Jugendprojekt JAZDA! unseres Partners Fundacja Krzyżowa dla Porozumienia Europejskiego / Stiftung Kreisau wurde für den Deutscher Engagementpreis nominiert. Wir gratulieren der Stiftung Kreisau und ihren Projektpartnern herzlich zu dieser großartigen Nominierung! 👏

✍ Wer in Deutschland lebt, arbeitet oder studiert, und eine deutsche Mobilfunknummer besitzt, kann mitvoten und das Projekt somit unterstützen. Die Abstimmung ist bis zum 29. Oktober geöffnet: https://shorturl.at/M5DR1

Hier vergebt ihr eure Stimme für den Publikumspreis des Deutschen Engagementpreises. Knapp 500 Projekte aus ganz Deutschland stellen sich vor, und jedes von ihnen wurde bereits von einem Engagementpreis ausgezeichnet. Schaut euch um, entdeckt, was Menschen in ihrer Nachbarschaft, ihrem Verein oder ...

Building Bridges Greece: 27.07.2026 – 03.08.2026🌎 To end our Building Bridges summer, we headed to Greece! For the ninth...
12/10/2026

Building Bridges Greece: 27.07.2026 – 03.08.2026

🌎 To end our Building Bridges summer, we headed to Greece! For the ninth time, our inclusive international project Building Bridges Greece took place on the island of Thassos, bringing together young people from nine different countries.

This year, we focused on a topic that affects us all in different ways: mental well-being. What makes me feel good? What helps me slow down and relax? How can I recognise what I need in the moment? And how can we support each other in creating a group environment where everyone feels comfortable, safe and accepted?

🧘‍♀️ Rather than just talking about these questions, participants explored them through shared experiences and hands-on activities in a variety of workshops. Some activities encouraged them to become more aware of their bodies and emotions, while others focused on using movement to release energy or find a sense of calm. The young people got creative, tried out new things and enjoyed the freedom to experiment without the pressure of having to create something “perfect”. Nature became a space to practise mindfulness, slow down and share experiences.

Along the way, the young people discovered different ways to connect with themselves and others. They also learned that well-being can mean something different to everyone.

💛 As we look back on this wonderful experience, we want to say a big thank you to our group leaders, interpreters, workshop facilitators and team members. And to the representatives of our partner organisations, whose dedication, enthusiasm and care helped make this exchange possible: Fundacja Krzyżowa dla Porozumienia Europejskiego / Stiftung Kreisau, Zespół Szkół Specjalnych w Oławie, Dominik o.s., Orasul Siret, Babele Odv, Zavod Dobra pot, Cool Crips, Solidarumo tiltas, Corporación Otra Escuela Madrid.

Most of all, we want to thank the young people who brought their openness, curiosity and ideas to the project. We’re ending this project summer with full hearts, lots of positive energy and countless wonderful memories. And we’re already looking forward to the next edition in 2027!

👀 Head over to our YouTube channel for a glimpse into each day of BB Greece. Kicking things off: https://youtube.com/shorts/BAc0JCutXdE?si=U0ojH0vpPzqi9Tp8

Photos & videos: Paweł Izdebski Video Maker

The project was co-funded by the European Union.

🫵 Wir suchen Verstärkung für unser Team!Du bist Student*in und hast Lust uns in der Umsetzung und Sichtbarmachung histor...
08/10/2026

🫵 Wir suchen Verstärkung für unser Team!

Du bist Student*in und hast Lust uns in der Umsetzung und Sichtbarmachung historisch-politischer Bildungsprogramme zu unterstützen?

Wir suchen eine*n Werkstudent*in in Teilzeit, die*der uns mit 19 Stunden/Woche in Berlin in der Öffentlichkeitsarbeit sowie im Projektmanagement im Bereich Zeitgeschichte und Menschenrechte unterstützt.

📝 In der Öffentlichkeitsarbeit arbeitest du an Beiträgen und Texten für diverse digitale Plattformen und Printpublikationen auf Deutsch und Englisch mit, unterstützt bei der Gestaltung und Aufbereitung von Materialien, bei der Kommunikation unserer Projekte und Veranstaltungen sowie bei der Mitgliederpflege.

🤝 Im Projektmanagement im Bereich Zeitgeschichte und Menschenrechte hilfst du bei der organisatorischen Vor- und Nachbereitung von Projekten und Veranstaltungen mit, unterstützt in der Kommunikation mit Teilnehmenden, Partnerorganisationen und in projektbezogenen Recherchen. Außerdem wirst du bei der Dokumentation und Abrechnung von Projekten mitwirken.

Mehr Informationen gibt’s auf unserer Website: https://shorturl.at/WaqeI

Wir freuen uns auf deine Bewerbung bis zum 18.10.2026 an: [email protected]

Young Baltic Energy Futures: 30.08.2026 – 03.09.2026💡 How we generate and use energy in future affects us all. Yet, espe...
07/10/2026

Young Baltic Energy Futures: 30.08.2026 – 03.09.2026

💡 How we generate and use energy in future affects us all. Yet, especially since Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and the debates about the vulnerability of energy infrastructure, one thing has become clear: the energy transition is not only an ecological issue, but also a question of security, society, and the future. And it can only succeed as a European, cross-border effort. Young people in particular do not just want to watch from the sidelines. They want to help shape what comes next.

That’s why the training course of Young Baltic Energy Futures brought together 13 participants from Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Finland, Denmark and Germany to strengthen their knowledge and exchange ideas on how to address and discuss this complex topic together with young people.

⚡ The highlights of the week: Expert workshops by Benjamin Pohl (speaker, as part of the programme Climate Diplomacy and Security by adelphi) and Veronika Šlakaitytė (speaker) as well as a workshop by Marlen Rein (speaker, as part of the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence).

🟢 In his input, Benjamin Pohl referred to a study of adelphi that researched climate crisis and its security implications: the climate crisis is already undermining national and international security in multiple ways, yet he also stressed that the complexity of these risks offers many entry points to reduce them.

🟢 Veronika Šlakaitytė, researcher specialising in energy security, maritime policy, and the geopolitics, introduced participants to important milestones of the energy transition in the Baltic Sea region (BSR). She presented the development and status quo of the energy mix in every single BSR country and introduced an energy policy game to participants.

🟢 Another special cooperation of the project has been established with the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence in Vilnius, a hub of knowledge and expertise in Energy Security. Subject Matter expert Marlen Rein introduced participants to the concept of energy security and resilience and simulated in a tabletop exercise a role play, where small groups reacted under time pressure to different threats to critical energy infrastructure, including cyber-attacks and disinformation.

Some of the most important takeaways: To address and discuss this topic with young people, most importantly it needs tangible, interactive and practical activities, like visits of wind parks or a measurement of energy consumption. Furthermore, the training offered a first and important step towards a stronger connection and networking opportunity of interested peers in the Baltic Sea region countries.

We thank all our participants and speakers for their valuable insights and contribution to the project.

👀 What’s next: The training course laid the foundation for the upcoming youth encounter from 27 November until 3 December in Krzyżowa.

The project was co-funded by the German Federal Foreign Office and the European Union.

Building Bridges Dance: IV Inclusive International Tanzfestival: 27.07.2026 - 03.08.2026 🦋 “Working and dancing together...
22/09/2026

Building Bridges Dance: IV Inclusive International Tanzfestival: 27.07.2026 - 03.08.2026

🦋 “Working and dancing together taught me to set and loose boundaries. To see the uniqueness in every person and how to get out of my comfort zones of movement.”

These were some of the impressions one participant took away from the Building Bridges Dance Week. From 27 July to 3 August 2026, our international inclusive dance festival took place in Krzyżowa. For one week, 105 people from 11 countries came together, bringing with them a wide range of languages, experiences, perspectives and ways of expressing themselves.

🎶 One of those ways needs no translation: dance. The young people had the chance to explore dance, develop movements and choreographies together with the workshop facilitators, get to know one another and learn from each other along the way.

It was never about everyone making the same movements or dancing in the same way. Quite the opposite: it was precisely these differences that made dancing together so special. Dance can take shape in many different ways: using the whole body or just a single movement, fast or slow, big or small, powerful or very subtle. At the dance festival, movement became a way to connect and encounter one another.

🤝 What mattered was not which language someone spoke or what abilities or experiences they brought with them, but the curiosity and willingness to create something together.

A very special thank you goes to all the young people who embraced this intense week together: meeting new people, hearing different languages, exploring new movements and sometimes stepping outside their own comfort zones. Thank you for your courage, openness and curiosity, and for contributing your ideas, personalities and your own unique ways of expressing yourselves.

💛 We would also like to thank our partner organisations: Fundacja Krzyżowa dla Porozumienia Europejskiego / Stiftung Kreisau, Stowarzyszenie „Ostoja” na Rzecz Osób z Niepełnosprawnościami, Zakladni skola a materska skola pro postizene Liberc, Orasul Siret, Babele Odv, Zavod Dobra pot, Cool Crips, MTÜ Laste- ja noorsootöö keskus Valgus, Solidarumo tiltas, Bettws Boys and Girls Club. A huge thank you also goes to all the group leaders, assistants, workshop facilitators and team members who made this encounter possible and supported the participants throughout the week with so much dedication, patience, care and heart.

Once again, the international inclusive dance festival showed us that people do not have to be the same in order to connect with one another. Differences can remain visible, while something shared can still emerge.

🎞️ If you would like to get a glimpse of what the young people worked on throughout the week, stay tuned: our short film featuring the final performance will be online soon!

Photos: Paweł Izdebski Video Maker

The project was co-funded by the European Union.

Climate Matters! 15.08.2026 - 20.08.2026🍃 The climate crisis is no longer a distant issue. For many young people in part...
21/09/2026

Climate Matters! 15.08.2026 - 20.08.2026

🍃 The climate crisis is no longer a distant issue. For many young people in particular, it is one of their greatest concerns for the future. Yet, instead of working together to find solutions, divisions often emerge. That’s why “Climate Matters!” took place in August in Trebnitz and brought together 25 participants from different countries of Europe.

The highlights of the week:

🗣️ Together with our invited experts, the training discussed climate change in times of societal polarisation. Amongst them was Sören Hellmonds from Das Progressive Zentrum who presented seven climate-regressive narratives. Andrea Lübcke, member of the German Green party in the Bundestag, told and exchanged her experiences together with participants.

Besides, a field visit of different initiatives in Berlin gave interesting insights. At first, a few steps on the Tempelhofer Feld offered a quick view on a truly unique urban space of the city. It was followed by a warm-hearted and inspirational presentation by Gülcan Nitsch, who founded the initiative Yeşil Çember - Çevre, doğa ve sağlıklı bir yaşam için elele 20 years ago. It focuses on environmental education in an intercultural context, especially with and for the Turkish community in Berlin.

✍️ In the evening, participants were shown a unique performance of climate monologues – a documentary theatre directed by Michael Ruf from “Wort und Herzschlag”: http://www.wort-und-herzschlag.de/. The play told personal and emotional stories of existential decisions caused by the climate crisis. A followed discussion with the actors and the directors stressed the importance of storytelling, also in climate education.

Particularly interesting was also the open space where participants shared own educational methods and tools as well as their expertise on different topics and discussed the role of youth in climate policies. One participant also highlights the impact the week had on them: “I wanna use my knowledge about sustainability communication and storytelling for good. Maybe in the course of workshops, maybe educating others, I will see – but I feel empowered to actively do something.”

The next “Climate Matters!” activity will take place in spring 2027. If you are interested to join with a group of students (aged 15-18), don’t hesitate to contact us.

💚 We thank all people and institutions involved in the project for their valuable contribution and commitment to the topic. A special thanks goes to co-trainer Lea Grosse who contributed loads of interesting insights as a climate psychologist as well as with her expertise as a climate communication expert.

This project was co-funded by the European Union.

✨ New look, same mission: Building democracy together.After more than 30 years with the same visual identity, we have gi...
03/09/2026

✨ New look, same mission: Building democracy together.

After more than 30 years with the same visual identity, we have given the Kreisau-Initiative a new look – developed together with the agency Funkhaus - Immersive Experiences.

Our work has grown and evolved over the years: with new topics, international partnerships and people joining us along the way. Our new visual identity shows who we are today: diverse, open and international, while staying conntected to where we come from.

🫂 Together, we empower young people to help shape a more just future.

Discover the story behind our new corporate identity: https://www.kreisau.de/en/latest-news/a-new-look-for-the-kreisau-initiative-shaping-democracy-together/

Adresse

C/o Allianz SE, Merlitzstraße 9
Berlin
12489

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