© Katarzyna Mazur
German-Israeli relations are experiencing a significant generational and societal shift. As the generation of Holocaust survivors becomes smaller, new forms of remembrance, civic engagement and democratic cooperation are essential to maintain and renew the relationship between both societies.
Eligible countries are Germany and Israel.
For many years, the Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future (EVZ) has been actively engaged in Germany-Israel relations through its support for Holocaust survivors, remembrance initiatives and civil society cooperation. This engagement stems from the EVZ Foundation’s historical responsibility and its commitment to combating antisemitism, strengthening democratic societies and preserving the memory of National Socialist persecution.
At the same time, both Germany and Israel are facing growing societal challenges. Public debates have become increasingly polarized, digital spaces are shaped by disinformation, hate speech and oversimplified narratives, and democratic institutions and civil society organizations are under growing pressure. The events of 7 October 2023 and their aftermath have further intensified tensions and uncertainties in both societies.
Against this backdrop, cooperation between civil society actors in Germany and Israel is particularly important. Especially in times of polarization, there is a need for spaces that enable exchange, critical reflection, and the development of innovative democratic and civic approaches.
Through the program Shared Civic Futures, the EVZ Foundation supports German-Israeli partnerships that address societal narratives, democratic resilience, antisemitism and polarization. The program connects historical responsibility with contemporary democratic challenges and promotes projects that develop new ways of cooperation, understanding and civic engagement.
The program supports institutionalized cooperation projects between organizations from Germany and Israel.
Projects must be assigned to one of the following two funding tracks:
Digital platforms and social media have become key spaces for public communication and civic engagement. At the same time, antisemitic narratives, Holocaust distortion and Israel-related antisemitism are spreading rapidly across these digital environments and national borders.
The program supports projects that develop innovative educational, civic or technological approaches to counter antisemitic and other anti-democratic narratives in digital spaces and to strengthen democratic discourse.
Images, films and other visual media shape societal narratives about history, identity and the present. They reflect individual and collective experiences on both cognitive and emotional levels. In the German-Israeli context in particular, visual representations play a key role in fostering mutual understanding of historical experiences, contemporary societal developments and future perspectives.
The program therefore supports cooperation projects that use visual media and audiovisual formats to explore shared experiences and develop new forms of civic understanding and engagement within both societies.
Particular attention will be given to projects that address contemporary societal challenges, experiences of resilience and visions for the future in Germany and Israel since 2020.
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Do you have questions or suggestions about the funding program? Please contact scf@stiftung-evz.de.
