Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we will remember 2020 as a very difficult year, as the time in which making plans for the future gave way to fear for our health and that of our loved ones, fear for work and a safe tomorrow. Under the circumstances the activity of the Krzyżowa Foundation had to change. Many of the plans we wanted to implement this year have been postponed, and many of them we have had to change or find other ways to put them into practice.
2020 was to be very fruitful for the Foundation, we counted on a record number of projects and visitors. Only in the period from March to June, 69 multi-day projects were planned in Krzyżowa, in which nearly 3,000 people were to participate. Most of them were Polish-German school exchanges. Lockdown in Poland and other European countries shattered all these plans. Within a few weeks, we had to completely change the approach to the implementation of our projects, in which, after all, youth exchanges and meetings of people from different countries were always the most important elements. In this crisis year we have been forced to find solutions to two key problems: how is the Krzyżowa Foundation to survive and how it can, after all, pursue its mission.
Read more: Crisis is also a search for new opportunities – 2020 at the Krzyżowa Foundation | Robert Żurek
Since October there is a new volunteer with us – Alicja. Where did she came from? Why did she decide to come to Krzyżowa/Kreisau? What is her first impression? You can read all about it in her short self presentation.
We are really glad that Alicja decided to do her volunteer service with us here in Krzyżowa and we hope she is going to have creative and inspiring time here.
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Read more: Welcome a new volunteer in Krzyżowa !
Recently, personnel changes have taken place on the board of our very close partner, the Kreisau-Initiative Association from Berlin. After 10 years, Ole Jantschek resigned from the position of chairman of the board. (Ole Jantschek is at the same time vice-chairman of the Council of the Krzyżowa Foundation). The new chairman became Paweł Prokop, who joined the board of Kreisau-Initiative in September 2019.
We would like to thank Ole Jantschek very much for our joint initiatives and fruitful cooperation, which culminated last year's jubilee celebration for both our organisations. We wish the new Chairman good luck!
Read more: Changes in the Board of the Kreisau-Initiative Association
On 12 November 1989, a holy mass was held in Krzyżowa, attended by Polish Prime Minister Tadeusz Mazowiecki and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.
The mass, during which representatives of the Polish and German governments stood shoulder to shoulder, was a milestone - especially given the very difficult political relations between the two countries since the end of World War II.
Thanks to symbolic gestures, the meeting at Krzyżowa wrote down in history as the Reconciliation Mass.
Read more: 31st Anniversary of the Reconciliation Mass at Krzyżowa
