Our Projects

Building democracy together.

Teilnehmende des Alumni-Treffens zur Jubiläumsfeier "20 Years of MICC" der Kreisau-Initiative unterhalten sich freudig mit anderen Teilnehmenden.

Vier junge Teilnehmerinnen des Projekts Girls der Kreisau-Initiative stehen auf einer Wiese und lachen gemeinsam mit einer Lehrerin.

Current projects

Discover our current projects

Contemporary History & Human Rights

Model International Criminal Court (MICC)

How does the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague actually work? Who decides on cases involving human rights violations there? The Model International Criminal Court (MICC) project provides answers to these questions. And more than that: it lets you experience exactly that first-hand.

Junge Teilnehmende des Projekts MICC der Kreisau-Initiative in den Rollen der Richter*innen während einer Simulation des Internationalen Strafgerichtshofs.

Inclusion

Building Bridges

Sometimes we think that differences such as language, background, or physical characteristics separate us from one another. Yet often, all it takes is one encounter to realise how much connects us. The Building Bridges project series shows how: its projects bring together young people from across Europe, with and without disabilities, and with different life experiences and backgrounds.

Zahlreiche junge Menschen tanzen bei dem Internationalen Inklusiven Tanzfestival der Kreisau-Initiativeausgelassen miteinander, die Hände in die Luft gestreckt.

Socio-Ecological Transformation

Facts for Future

You’re scrolling through your feed: a short video, a comment, a hashtag like #climatescam. Suddenly, there it is: the claim that climate change isn’t caused by humans after all. Posts like these spread rapidly. And that’s exactly what makes them dangerous.

Contemporary History & Human Rights

Histoire Croisée (Entangled History)

Societies around the world are becoming more diverse: people from different cultures, with different backgrounds and abilities, are living closer together today than ever before. Globalisation makes this possible. But with it comes an increased risk that people will face more and more discrimination and exclusion. Globalisation is also changing the way we view history. How, for example, do we talk about the Holocaust? How do we need to reassess historical events? And how do they continue to affect people today, especially those who are disadvantaged and directly affected?

Lehrmaterialien aus dem Projekt Uprooted der Kreisau-Initiative sind ausgefächert in einer Hand zu sehen.

Inclusion

Professional Exchange

Want to develop your professional skills while connecting with peers from other countries? The Professional Exchange project makes it possible. Here, young people from different countries come together. They share the same professional field but bring very different life stories and perspectives. Together, they learn from one another, develop their skills, and discover what connects them.

Mehrere junge Teilnehmende des Projekts Fachaustausch der Kreisau-Initiative stehen aufgereiht mit einer Trainerin und schauen fröhlich nach rechts.

Socio-Ecological Transformation

Climate Matters!

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. Discussions about the climate are increasingly shaped by fear, uncertainty, and polarisation. Instead of working together to find solutions, divisions often emerge.

Eine Gruppe junger Teilnehemnder bei einem Workshop innerhalb des Projekts Local in Global der Kreisau-Initiative draußen im Freien auf einer Wiese in Krakau.

Contemporary History & Human Rights

Just Now – A Toolbox for Teaching Human Rights

Sometimes issues like human rights or international justice seem far removed from our lives. Too complex, too big. But what if we could experience them in a way that makes them truly relevant to us?

Ein Richterhammer als Teil des MICC-Projekts der Kreisau-Initiative liegt auf einem Tisch.

Inclusion

Fair

Fairness sounds simple, yet it is often a challenge. We live in societies where people, their stories, and their needs are fundamentally different. What does it mean to truly meet one another as equals, accept our differences, and support one another?

Socio-Ecological Transformation

Young Baltic Energy Futures

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.

Mehrere junge Menschen sitzen zusammen an einem Tisch und bearbeiten Bildungsmaterialien im Projekt "Facts for Future" der Kreisau-Initiative.

Contemporary History & Human Rights

My Story – Your Story

How did people in Germany and Poland experience the period after the Second World War? What experiences, losses, and new beginnings continue to shape their stories to this day?

Teilnehmende des Alumni-Treffens zur Jubiläumsfeier "20 Years of MICC" der Kreisau-Initiative schauen sich gemeinsam Lehrmaterialien an.

Inclusion

Girls

Girls and young women should feel safe in their everyday lives. They should be able to be loud, quiet, angry, proud, or simply themselves, without being judged. The Girls project creates space for this. It offers a place where young women can share their issues and concerns, build trust with one another, and discover their own strengths.

Contemporary History & Human Rights

Roots and Borders

Imagine having to leave your home for good. Because war, discrimination, or destruction have left no room for safety. Millions of people around the world are going through exactly this experience.

Inclusion

The Kreisau Model

Education should be accessible to everyone, regardless of background, abilities, or impairments. This is where the “Kreisau Model” training series comes in: through regular training and professional development sessions, youth work professionals come together to make their projects more inclusive, diversity-sensitive, and trauma-sensitive.

Zahlreiche junge Menschen sitzen an einer langen Tafel und bemalen innerhalb des Projekts Fair Signs der Kreisau-Initiative Keramik.

Contemporary History & Human Rights

Uprooted

For a long time, hardly anyone spoke about them: children who were abducted from their home countries, such as Poland, Czechia, and Ukraine, and taken to Germany during the Second World War. The National Socialists wanted to “forcibly germanise” them and strip them of their origins, language, and families. Many of those children still do not know where their roots lie.

Inclusion

NextGen Rights

Children’s and young people’s rights are important. But they only matter if they can be felt in everyday life. That’s exactly what NextGen Rights is about. Young people from Italy, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Germany come together to talk about their rights. They ask themselves: Where do we run into obstacles? What’s missing? And how can we be better protected and heard?

Contemporary History & Human Rights

Up2Youth

Young people bring fresh ideas, energy, and new perspectives to our society. With Up2Youth, we want to empower them and amplify their voices. Above all, we want to create space for young people in Europe who grow up with fewer opportunities than others to be heard. Because everyone has something to say. And every voice can make a difference.

Inclusion

In Ukraine, with Ukraine

The training brings together youth work professionals who are asking themselves: How can we support young people in war zones like Ukraine? How can we shape youth work in times of trauma? How can we create safe spaces where young people can share their experiences and find strength? And how can we build networks between Ukrainians and professionals from EU-/European countries?

Inclusion

What gives us strength?

Crises, wars, and conflicts, both global and personal, often leave deep marks. Many people have experienced traumatic events that they carry with them for a long time and that weigh heavily on them. Young people in particular need someone early on who will listen, understand, and support them.

Zwei Projektbeteiligte des Inklusiven Internationalen Tanzfestivals der Kreisau-Initiative legen behutsam ihre Hände auf den Rücken einer Person mit rotem T-Shirt.

Our educational work

These issues are important to us.

Vier junge Teilnehmende des Projekts MICC der Kreisau-Initiative posieren in ihren Rollen der Richterinnen während einer Simulation des Internationale Strafgerichtshofs.

Ein blauer, abgeschnittener Kreis als grafisches Element.

Contemporary History & Human Rights

Those who engage with history come to understand where we come from and the responsibility we bear for the present. After all, attacks on democracy, certain social groups, or individuals often happen right beside us. We are convinced that remembrance must not stand still, it must inspire action.

Eine Person mit Rollstuhl tanzt mit einer anderen Person während eines Tanzworkshops innerhalb des Inklusiven Internationalen Tanzfestivals der Kreisau-Initiative.

Inclusion

Imagine a society where everyone can truly take part. Whether young or old, with or without disabilities, regardless of origin, language, identity, or educational background. No one is left on the sidelines. Diversity is not a barrier, but our strength. That’s what we put into practice in our projects.

Junge Teilnehmende des Projekts Waldakrobat*innen der Kreisau-Initiative spielen gemeinsam mit einem Jugendtrainer ein Spiel im Wald.

Socio-Ecological Transformation

We’ll show you how to take a critical look at the exploitation of people and nature so you can get things moving both locally and globally. When many individuals come together to form a movement, we can make a big impact even on a small scale.

The Added Value

Non-formal education is important. Here are our reasons.

We use methods that spark curiosity, encourage reflection, and inspire people to see things from a different perspective. It’s important to us that everyone can truly take part – regardless of where you’re from, your financial situation, your abilities, or whether you have a disability. Our projects are meant to be places where you feel safe, can be yourself, and can grow beyond yourself.

More about us

History and civic eduation

History comes alive when we connect it to the present. We examine historical events to see what we can learn from them for the future and how we can take responsibility. What matters to us in this process is what matters to people personally. Only then can we meet as equals, understand one another, and develop ideas together about what a more just world might look like.

Intercultural and inclusive exchange

Our projects bring together people from a wide variety of backgrounds, languages, and abilities. We break down perceived barriers and show how we can all work together toward a common goal. Empathy and openness to new ideas form the foundation for getting to know one another. Our goal: to create ways of living together that include everyone.

Civic engagement

With us, participants learn to take a critical look at their surroundings and themselves. Our mission is for people to leave our projects asking themselves: what can I do to help? Because every contribution, big or small, counts when it comes to making the way we live together a little fairer.

Democracy and participation

Democracy thrives when people take part. Through workshops, simulation games, project work, and innovative methods, we show how this can be done. To help other organisations use these ideas, too, we develop materials and handbooks that we make available online free of charge or upon request.

Joining forces

Together, we can achieve more. That’s why we build on strong, long-term partnerships with organisations and institutions around the world. When we learn from one another and support each other, we can grow together and help make our community a little more supportive.

Die Hände zweier Personen aus dem Projekt NextGen Rights der Kreisau-Initiative berühren sich beim Tanzen.

Partnership

Are you looking for a partner for your project?

Get in touch