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Newsletter Krzyżowa 1/2021

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Welcome for the first time in 2021! Unfortunately, this is still a time marked by the pandemic and its imposed limitations. And so we all need contact with other people and freedom of movement. We do hope, however, that we are getting closer to the moment when Krzyżowa will be full of conversations in different languages, laughter and music.

The situation of the Foundation, like other similar organizations, remains difficult, but despite the financial and physical limitations caused by the pandemic, we are not idle. You can read about our projects that fill the virtual Krzyżowa from the beginning of the year. We also recommend our lat-est publications in this issue. We also want to boast about our successes - the Krzyżowa Foundation became the first Polish winner of the Altiero Spinelli Prize, and prof. Waldemar Czachur (chair-man of the Foundation Council) and Dr Robert Żurek (managing director) was among fifty personalities described as "verdiente Versöhner", that is, people who contributed to the Polish-German reconciliation.

In this issue of the Newsletter, we also want to start a reflection on the history and achievements of Polish-German relations. This year we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Treaty of Good Neighbourship, and this anniversary should become the moment when we consider how much we have managed to achieve together - despite differences, crises and still present prejudices. There-fore, we invite you to read the KRZYŻOWA FORUM section, including the text by Dr Robert Żurek "Polish-German relations. Can we appreciate what we have achieved? Reflection on the 30th anniversary of the Treaty of Good Neighbourship" and memories of Joachim Trenkner (by Dr Paulina Gulińska-Jurgiel) - one of those people who made the "miracle of reconciliation" (Władysław Bartoszewski) possible. In this context, we also remember dr Ewa Unger - the co-founder of the Krzyżowa Foundation who died last year, a person who contributed greatly to build-ing Polish-German relations. In this issue you will find an invitation to the memorial services, which will take place on 13th of March and will be broadcast online.

We managed to have a beautiful winter in Krzyżowa this year, and now we are waiting for an equally beautiful spring! We hope that in the next issue you will be able to admire photos from the already blooming Krzyżowa. In the meantime, we wish you health, strength, patience and invite you to read!

Newsletter Editors

KRZYŻOWA FORUM

German-Polish relations. Can we appreciate what we have achieved? A Reflection on the 30th Anniversary of the Treaty of Good Neighbourhood || Dr Robert Żurek

We all have experienced this situation: we make an effort, we try to create the best possible quality, but the recipients of our actions seem not to notice it. But one mistake is immediately noticed, and then pointed out, undermining previous achievements.

This mechanism occurs in our interpersonal and professional relationships, as well as in the public and political spheres. I draw attention to it because I have the impression that Polish-German relations are perceived in a similar way. We get excited when something bad happens, but we stop paying attention to the fact that the "miracle of reconciliation" (Władysław Bartoszewski) is happening right in front of our eyes.

Klaus Zernack, a German historian who has greatly contributed to changing the approach of German historiography to Poland and to Polish-German relations, repeated that it is difficult to find in the history of the nations of Europe such a great estrangement as was shared by Poles and Germans after the Second World War. It is difficult for us today to imagine the scale of hostility, pain, fear, contempt and hatred that divided our ancestors only a few decades ago. Neither one nor the other believed that Poles and Germans could one day be good neighbours, partners and friends. (...)

Joachim Trenkner – Farewell | Dr Paulina Gulińska-Jurgiel

At the end of 2020, we said goodbye to Joachim Trenkner - a German journalist, a long-time collaborator of German, American and Polish media, since 1997 associated with "Tygodnik Powszechny".

Joachim Trenkner was one of the people to whom we owe the "miracle of reconciliation" (W. Bartoszewski). As a journalist active in both German and Polish media, he largely contributed to overcoming resentments and bringing the two nations closer together. Especially now, in the year when we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the treaty of good neighborliness and friendly cooperation, it is important to recall the people who contributed to the peaceful coexistence of both nations.

We encourage you to read the memories about Joachim Trenkner, prepared for us by Dr Paulina Gulińska-Jurgiel, author of the interview with Joachim Trenkner "German mirror".

IN THIS ISSUE

The Krzyżowa Foundation is the first Polish winner of the Altiero Spinelli Prize

The European Commission has announced the list of winners of the 2019 Altiero Spinelli Prize. The Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe is one of the 16 winners from all over Europe, thereby the first Polish organization in the history of this competition to receive such a distinction.

The Altiero Spinelli Prize has been awarded since 2017 and is a recognition of outstanding activities that promote understanding of the European Union as an integration project and its values. It focuses in particular on initiatives that help young citizens to engage in the democratic processes shaping the future of the EU. In the last edition of the Altiero Spinelli Prize, the activities undertaken in 2019 were assessed, and the work of the International Youth Meeting Center in Krzyżowa was recognized as outstanding in Europe.

We invite you to watch the transmission of the Altiero Spinelli Award ceremony on 17 March 2021 at 5 pm on the FB profile of the European Commission. We will also broadcast the event on the FB profile of the Krzyżowa Foundation.

Prof. Waldemar Czachur and Dr Robert Żurek in the group of "verdiente Versöhner" - persons of merit for German-Polish reconciliation

With real joy and pride we have received the information that the Chairman of the Council of the Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe - Professor Waldemar Czachur and the Managing Director of the Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe - Dr Robert Żurek were among the fifty personalities described as 'verdiente Versöhner', i.e. people who have merited the benefit of German-Polish reconciliation. In a letter sent by the German Ambassador to Poland, Arndt Freytag von Loringhoven, to both of the honoured persons, their merits in building a German-Polish understanding were highlighted through, among other things, their involvement in the activities of the Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe.

The distinction "verdiente Versöhner" was awarded by the German Embassy in connection with the 50th anniversary of Willy Brandt's kneeling in front of the monument to the Ghetto Victims in Warsaw.

Polish-German online workshops using the Betzavt method - January - February 2021

The Krzyżowa Foundation, together with the Adam Institute for Democracy and Peace in Israel, has just finished the first Polish-German seminar this year. "Meetings of Poles and Germans. Facing Democracy's Challenges - those that are similar and those that are different”. The seminar was conducted online for 4 consecutive Mondays from 25.01. until 15.02. by the creator of the Betzavta method, Uki Maroshek-Klarman.

21 people took part in the seminar - teachers and educators who work with young people, often in the Polish-German context. The topics discussed were national identities in the context of working with international youth groups, issues of power and inequality, issues of stereotypes and attitudes to them, and issues of migration.

Online youth exchanges. Information meeting - 24.02.2021

We thank you, with our partner from Germany, for a fantastic meeting.
It was nice to feel part of the Krzyżowa Community again...

On 24th February, on the initiative of "Krzyżowa" Foundation, an information meeting about Polish-German youth exchanges online took place. 50 participants representing schools from Poland and Germany took part in event organized on Zoom platform to plan upcoming season of youth meetings. Specialists from International Youth Meeting Centre in Krzyzowa presented innovative forms and themes of proposed meetings such as "Global Education", "Ethics in Internet", "History of inequality and discrimination".

All participants recalled previous meetings in Krzyżowa very well and many of them are looking forward to meeting live and spending time together.

Online training “Social Justice and Diversity” - 28.01-16.02.2021

Within the framework of the four-day online training "Social Justice and Diversity", about 30 actors from Germany and Poland participated from 28th of January to 16th of February. The training was led by Social Justice and Diversity founders and trainers Leah Carola Czollek and Gudrun Perko and simultaneously translated by interpreters.

The focus was on the topics of socio-cultural gender, non-heteronormativity and (hetero)sexism. The project was designed for people from the field of education, activists, multipliers of German-Polish youth work and civil society actors from Poland and Germany who wanted to exchange information about current events in Poland and Germany and get to know the concept of "Social Justice and Diversity".

Local History on Instagram - 5.02-5.03.2021

Let's bring the local story to Instagram. Let us try to consider how we remember historical events that took place in our area and how the culture of memory influences our view of the past. These were the main messages of the project "Local History on Instagram", in which about 25 participants from Poland and Germany take part. The project started on 5th of February 2021 and will run until 5th of March 2021 via the Zoom online platform.

During the four-day workshop as part of the project "Local History on Instagram", participants deal with various topics. On the first day, there was an introduction to the project, participants got to know its assumptions and organizers - the Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe and the Kreisau Initiative e.V. and Welcome in! Fulda e. V. Then, in small groups, they talked about whether they had recently met someone who had shown particular courage and if they had any local stories associated with heroic attitudes.

"Education. Dialogue. Memory. Workshops in Krzyżowa" - 23.02.2021

On 23 February, a webinar devoted to the challenges facing the education of schoolchildren on the culture of dialogue and historical education was held with the participation of 46 teachers and educators from Poland and Germany.

The webinar was organised by the Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe and Bayerische Landeszentrale für politische Bildungsarbeit. It was the first of the meetings organised as part of the project "Place of Education Krzyżowa / Lernsort Kreisau", which aims to build a network of partnerships between Polish and German teachers who would like to cooperate in preparing educational materials and workshops for Polish-German exchange groups which come to Krzyżowa.

"Creative week in Krzyżowa" – 11-15.01.2021

In the last week of the winter holidays, the Krzyżowa Foundation organized day camps called "Creative Week in Krzyżowa". From 11 to 15 January 2021, children from grades 1-4 of primary schools participated in classes prepared by an international team of pedagogues specializing in humanities and non-formal education.

The day camp program was filled with artistic activities, during which children could develop their creativity. They learned, among other things, how to sculpt in clay, weave, paint on glass and fabric, and how to creatively use various types of materials. During a very intense week, among others, hand-melted candles, talismans, painted eco bags, clay figurines were created.

All classes were held in small groups, in compliance with the rules of the sanitary regime in force during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Presentation of scholarships for students under the project "Professionals on the local labour market" - 18 February 2021

On 18th of February, in the Complex of Technical Schools in Kłodzko, there was a solemn presentation of scholarships for students within the project "Professionals on the local labour market" carried out by the Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe.

This school year, the scholarship was awarded to 10 students for the period until June 2021.

The "Professionals on the local labour market" is the fourth partnership project of the Krzyżowa Foundation, the Kłodzko County and the Technical School Complex in Kłodzko. Over the past four years, over 600 students and teachers from the school have been supported, and the total value of subsidies allocated to support the students and the school exceeded PLN 5 million.

My Europe of Freedom. International Essay Competition. Online ideas workshop - 25-27.02.2021

From Thursday to Saturday (25-27th of February 2021), we had the pleasure to host the second workshop session as part of the International Essay Competition entitled "My Europe of Freedom". A total of 42 people from Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany participated in the history and literary workshops, of which 33 were young people aged 16-29 looking for an essay idea.

Historical workshops were conducted by: dr Tomasz Skonieczny ("Krzyżowa" Foundation), Andrea Böhm (Bildungswerk Sachsen) and Michael Urban. Literary workshops were conducted by Constanze John, Radosław Wiśniewski and Pavlína Hilscherova. The meeting, moderated by Adelajda Lebioda ("Krzyżowa" Foundation), was also an opportunity for an international exchange of thoughts on the events of the 1980s and 1990s, in the countries of the so-called Eastern Bloc.

PUBLICATION || (Un)present. Essays about Dialogue, ed. by Tomasz Skonieczny

"(Un)present. Essays on Dialogue" is the latest publication issued by the Krzyżowa Foundation and Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Poland. It is not only an attempt to show the condition of dialogue in the contemporary world and to present experiences and difficulties which can be encountered professionally while working on behalf of civic education, but also - we hope - an inspiration to oppose the culture of polarisation and dispute.

PUBLICATION || #(Hi)storytelling. My History, Your History, Our History

Today at the Foundation, not only online work prevails over working in lively contact with people participating in educational projects, but also our publications appear more and more often in digital form, not in the form of a book that smells of print. The currently presented publication is the result of a two-day online BarCamp organized in June 2020 together with the Kreisau Initiative e.V. and Freya von Moltke Stiftung, to participate in which we invited youth work specialists from Germany, Poland and Ukraine.

The subject of BarCamp was reflection on the current situation of historical and civic education in our three countries. Innovative methods, which we are currently developing in order to maintain the existence of non-formal education, especially historical and civic education, played an important role here.

INVITATIONS

13.03.2021

Ceremony to commemorate the first anniversary of the death of Dr Ewa Unger

March 2021 will mark the first anniversary of the death of Dr Ewa Unger, co-founder of the Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe and long-time chairwoman of its board, long-time president of the Club of Catholic Intelligentsia in Wrocław, a Wroclaw native who worked throughout her life for Polish-German understanding.

The Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe, the Club of Catholic Intelligentsia in Wrocław and the Dortmund-Wrocław-Lviv Foundation of St. Hedwig are organising a commemoration of the life and work of Dr Ewa Unger on 13 March 2021.

11.00 - Holy Mass in the St. Lawrence Church in Wrocław
17.00 - Memoirs of Dr Ewa Unger [online; ZOOM platform]

The ceremony to mark the first anniversary of the death of Dr Ewa Unger was held under the honorary patronage of the President of Wrocław, Jacek Sutryk, and of the Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Wrocław, Hans Jörg Neumann.

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

25-26.03.2021

18th East-West-European Memorial Seminar Kreisau

Kind invitation to the 18th East-West European Memorial Meeting in Krzyżowa. This year the meeting will take place as an online event, the topic is "The virtual remembrance - Memorial work and digital media".

Please send your registration by email to: dominik.kretschmann@krzyzowa.org.pl.
Deadline for registration is 22 March 2021.

Fundacja „Krzyżowa” dla Porozumienia Europejskiego
Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe
Krzyżowa 7, 58-112 Grodziszcze, Poland
tel: +48 74 85 00 300, fax: +48 74 85 00 305

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