EUROPEANS FOR PEACE is the largest German funding programme for international youth projects between Germany, the countries of Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe, and Israel. The programme was first funded in 2005 on the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of the end of the war and liberation under the title "Peace for Europe - Europe for Peace". Since then approx. 280 projects have been promoted with funds amounting to over EUR 3.5 million.
Within the programme, young people examine current and historical human rights issues together. The history of National Socialism, the Holocaust, World War II or the post-war history can serve as historical reference points for their work. Present-day topics concern current human rights violations and how each of us can play a part in ensuring and upholding human rights today. Projects raise the question of why the Universal Declaration of Human Rights remains relevant today and why human rights are still not recognized everywhere. In the course of the projects, the participants come face to face, encountering and coming to understand differing perspectives.
The Foundation EVZ supports international schools and youth partnerships that work together to develop and implement cross-border projects. The funding programme aims to encourage young people between 14 and 21 years
- to undertake a critical examination of history and the present
- to enter into cross-border cooperation with others in their age group
- to seek the dialogue between the generations and their experience of war and peace.
EUROPEANS FOR PEACE bears the following expenses for these projects:
- Travel expenses of the groups for international project encounters
- Accommodation and food expenses
- Material costs associated with development of the project product and presentation of the results.
The partner groups can be granted for their common project work up to one year. In addition to financial support, EUROPEANS FOR PEACE offers multi-day international seminars for young people and adults responsible for projects that address both the subject matter and methodology of project work. Project partners receive suggestions and methodical support for their project ideas and learn to administrate the funding during an international preparation seminar.
The projects should be developed and implemented together and should take into account the perspectives of the projects partners. They are oriented to the life situation and opportunities of the young people and at the same time they seek a dialogue between generations.
An international jury will assess the project ideas in the spring of 2010. Projects selected for funding can be implemented between July 2010 and July 2011. Application materials, assessment criteria and many other interesting resources available at www.europeans-for-peace.de.
The programme has been executed since 2004 by MitOst e.V.
