FUNDING PROGRAMME TO PROMOTE PUBLIC RECOGNITION OF VICTIMS OF NATIONAL SOCIALISM IN EASTERN EUROPE

The DIALOGUE FORUM programme addresses Belarusian, Russian and Ukrainian organisations that work to improve the lives of the elderly in their home countries. Through our support, we want to enhance respect for the life achievements and promote public recognition of the victims of National Socialism. The programme encourages people to use the potentials of local social systems and to establish sustainable on-site institutional structures for the victims of National Socialism. The Foundation EVZ provides EUR 1.2 million each year for this purpose.

TARGET GROUP

The target group are former forced labourers under National Socialism, concentration camp and ghetto inmates, prisoners of war and other victims of National Socialism in Belarus, Ukraine and the Russian Federation. The programme works with organisations and institutions that strengthen the participation of these people and elderly victims of Stalinism in community life and which foster dialogue between them and other generations.

COORDINATION BY ON-SITE ORGANISATIONS

The Foundation EVZ has handed over the organisation of the funding programmes to national executing agencies in Belarus, Ukraine and the Russian Federation. These partner organisations are responsible for publicising and managing the programme and for supporting and networking the funded projects. Applicants wishing to join the programme should contact the executing agencies in the respective countries (see right-hand margin). For more information on DIALOGUE FORUM projects and support activities go to the multi-language website www.mestovstrechi.info.

SUPPORT FOR RUSSIAN PROJECTS SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

In the Russian Federation, calls for applications to the programme were issued in the Rostov, St. Petersburg/Leningrad, Pskov and Brjansk regions up to 2010. Regrettably, the Understanding and Reconciliation Foundation (programme executing agency) had to close its office on 31 January 2011. The organisations receiving support in Russia ended their projects prematurely at the end of 2010, as it was no longer possible to coordinate the programme from Moscow. For more information go to “Press”.The Board of Directors of the Foundation EVZ is currently examining various options for continuing the DIALOGUE FORUM programme in the Russian Federation. The Foundation EVZ is continuing to support longer-term projects in Russia through bilateral cooperation arrangements within the PARTNERSHIPS FOR VICTIMS OF NATIONAL SOCIALISM programme. Click here for more information (only in German).

PROGRAMME SUPPORT

As well as supporting individual model projects, the Foundation also funds comprehensive support activities in order to anchor the programme in the respective countries and provide long-term assistance to the target group. An academic support project is examining the extent to which intergenerational projects impact positively on the physical and psychological well-being of the elderly project participants. Starting in October 2011, the results of the study will be presented to a wide range of professionals in the field at conferences in Moscow, Minsk, Kyiv and Berlin.

• Please find all information about implementation and deadlines on the website www.mestovstrechi.info/ or on the websites of the national executing agencies in Belarus, Ukraine and the Russian Federation (s. below)