Stiftung West-Östliche Begegnungen

The Stiftung West-Östliche Begegnungen is a private foundation under civil law, established on January 31, 1994. Its goal is to promote civil society encounters and cooperation between Germany and the countries of Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and the Baltic States.

The foundation focuses on promoting measures that serve mutual information, cultural, and social cooperation. These include:

• Youth Encounters: Promotion of encounters between young people from Germany and partner countries to foster cultural understanding and respect for one another.
• School Projects: Support for school partnerships and educational initiatives that contribute to long-term cooperation and mutual understanding.
• Cultural and Social Initiatives: Promotion of cultural events, workshops, and social projects that strengthen cooperation and exchange between countries.
• Partnerships and Networks: Building and promoting partnerships between schools, cities, regions, and social organizations in Germany and partner countries.

The main mission of the Stiftung West-Östliche Begegnungen is to promote peace and international understanding and to establish it as a cornerstone of its activities. The foundation is committed to the liberal democratic basic order of the Basic Law and pursues the mandate to make philanthropically motivated investments for international understanding and peace between people in Germany and partner countries.

The foundation is engaged in numerous sustainable initiatives:

• Cooperation Projects: Implementation of cooperation projects and self-formats to strengthen West-East cooperation.
• Education and Exchange: Organization of seminars, conferences, and evening events to strengthen networks and initiate sustainable formats of cooperation.
• Humanitarian Support: Participation in humanitarian projects, such as the peace concert in Brandenburg an der Havel in support of a humanitarian center in Ukraine.
• International Encounters: Promotion of international encounter projects, such as the project "To tell OUR Stories: youth memories and refuge and resilience," which makes personal stories of young people in Ukraine and Germany visible.

The foundation recently celebrated its 30th anniversary and regularly organizes significant events, such as the Partnership Forum Germany-Central Asia, which will take place in November 2024 in Berlin. Additionally, the foundation works closely with the Federal Foreign Office to conduct "Townhall Talks" that address foreign policy issues in direct discussions with diplomats.

The Stiftung West-Östliche Begegnungen is an important player in the field of international understanding and is committed to a peaceful and cooperative future between countries with dedication and determination.

• 1 - https://www.aloys-wobben-stiftung.de
• 2 - https://www.stiftung-woeb.de/stiftung/satzung/
• 3 - https://www.olb.de/olb/unternehmen/die-bank/engagement-region
• 4 - https://www.stiftung-woeb.de
• 5 - https://www.familienunternehmen.de/de