Interkulturelles Netzwerk e.V.

The interkulturelles netzwerk is a charitable organisation which was founded in 1996 in order to enable the personal exchange of different people and cultures with the aim of encouraging international understanding and solidarity. We mainly offer disadvantaged young people the opportunity to get to know other persons, countries and ways of living in the context of international youth exchanges, as well as to exchange experiences with each other about their own situation. The aim of our work is to support the intercultural learning and to improve social skills of the participants. By taking part in common activities including 'foreigners', and the 'foreign', the participants can get to know better themselves as well as others, and they get involved into questioning themselves. In this process we see an opportunity to recognize and change rigid perceptions and prejudices, in order to create a foundation for a mutual understanding. One of the goals of the meetings is to accept being different as one form of being equal. Due to the language as an essential element in exchange measures we offer linguistic animation-training. The meetings can have several different contents. Programmes can include sports or activities, as canooing and climbing, as well as media-based and projects orientated in products, dealing with art or cultural topics, such as theatre, photography, video. The range of topics being on offer also includes subject-led programmes, such as looking for historical traces, anti-racist work or ecological issues. The actual topic of each meeting is determined by the interests and needs of the respective participants. Besides the youth meetings we also offer seminars for youth workers dealing with issues concerning intercultural topics. Our work is adapted to the needs of the different groups and we are always open for new ways and ideas.