Working together against antisemitism: The EVZ Foundation's funding program aims to establish targeted contact persons for antisemitism prevention in institutions. Ranging from sports and the working world to the media, culture and civil society. Funding is provided for the setup, expansion and enhancement of systematic and institutional action and intervention skills.
Together with accompanying projects and activities, our funding program strengthens institutions and organizational structures by creating and expanding contact points for antisemitism prevention. At the same time, we establish sustainable structures that actively combat antisemitic incidents and discrimination, support those affected, and develop their own formats for critically examining antisemitism. Among the project sponsors are umbrella organizations, sports associations, environmental protection organizations, trade unions, cooperatives, interest groups, cultural institutions and universities.
Combating antisemitism is a task for all areas of society. Civil society plays an immensely important role in this regard. The new program of the EVZ Foundation will help clubs, associations and other institutions in a very concrete way in the fight against everyday hatred of Jews and create sustainable antisemitic critical structures. I warmly appreciate this innovative approach.
© Stefanie Loos
What do the project sponsor and the EVZ Foundation seek to achieve with this project?
This pilot project highlights antisemitism as a problem affecting society as a whole – including within trade union structures. The trade union IG BAU is developing antisemitism-critical offerings for its members and employees, and is establishing clear procedures for dealing with antisemitic incidents. Union members acquire knowledge and gain the confidence to take action. As a result, antisemitic narratives are less likely to be repeated, and more likely to be identified and challenged. Thanks to transferable methods, other trade unions can also benefit from the project’s outcomes.
Who is involved, and who does the project reach?
The participants are IG BAU – the trade union for construction, agriculture, and environment – with its members as well as dedicated employees and volunteers. A particular focus is placed on the union’s youth wing.
Why is the EVZ Foundation supporting this project in particular?
As the fifth-largest individual trade union in Germany, IG BAU has a broad reach, including in sectors like agriculture and forestry, in which critique of antisemitism has hardly been established and far-right tendencies are increasingly visible. There is also a clear need for greater awareness of this issue within the union landscape, especially in addressing criticism of capitalism that is simplistic or antisemitically coded.
Project sponsor: PECO-Institut (for IG BAU)
Funding period: 2024–2026
Funding amount: 89,938 euros
Funding country: Germany
Webseite: www.peco-ev.de/demokratiebildung
© Stefanie Loos
What do the project sponsor and the EVZ Foundation seek to achieve with this project?
This project is establishing a permanent supplementary study program as part of teacher training at the University of Würzburg under the name “Zertifikat antisemitismuskritische
Bildung für Unterricht und Schule” (ZABUS) (Certificate in critical education on antisemitism for teaching and schools). In addition, a support service for victims of antisemitic incidents is being created, along with a professional development module for university staff and faculty. The support service will enable a structured response to antisemitic incidents and highlight
existing needs.
Who is involved, and who does the project reach?
The project’s target group is students and staff at the University of Würzburg. The ZABUS concept is giving rise to a transferable model project that has already attracted attention nationwide and can contribute to sustainably and structurally establishing critical education on antisemitism at other universities in the future.
Why is the EVZ Foundation supporting this project in particular?
Antisemitism-critical content has not been systematically integrated in teacher training up to now. This pilot project takes an innovative, transferable approach designed to close this gap. It has the potential to sensitize universities throughout the country to antisemitism-critical education.
Project sponsor: Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg
Funding period: 2024–2026
Funding amount: 90,000 euros
Funding country: Germany
Website: www.ev-theologie.uni-wuerzburg.de
Do you have questions or suggestions about the funding program? Please contact strukturen@stiftung-evz.de.
