Tamara Or
Executive Director at German-Israeli Future Forum
“Now more than ever, it is important not to give up hope”
7 October is etched in our memories. Many people in our networks have lost relatives or friends in the inhuman massacres or are still desperately waiting for the return of the abductees. Participants in the German-Israeli youth exchange project 'Change Makers,' which we supported together with the EVZ Foundation, were also in Israel on 7 October. The innovative project, which was largely developed by the young people themselves, had to be cancelled due to the terrorist attack. The ongoing war and the indescribable suffering of the people of Israel and Gaza make it difficult to look to the future with optimism. But now is the time to keep hope alive. Now, more than ever, we need forward-looking perspectives for youth exchanges. I am very grateful to Dr. Andrea Depot and the EVZ team for their professional and deeply collegial cooperation. The valuable work of the EVZ gives me hope, even after the end of the project, that we will all continue to work together for German-Israeli exchange, human rights and a democratic future.