Dialogue places and memorial tours
International encounters and historical learning are at the centre of ASF’s work – international meeting places are available in Poland, Israel and France. They welcome group and individual travellers from a wide range of backgrounds and organise an extensive seminar programme.
In addition, ASF volunteers throughout Europe, Israel and the USA are involved in various places of remembrance and learning. They are happy to support you in planning and organising memorial site trips.
On this page:
Dialog places
The aim of the international dialog places is to encourage young Germans in particular to confront National Socialism and its consequences through dialogue and direct encounters with people from a wide range of backgrounds.
Three international dialogue places have been closely associated with Aktion Sühnezeichen Friedensdienste for years. The International Youth Dialogue Place in Oświęcim/Auschwitz (Poland), Beit Ben Yehuda – Haus Pax (Israel) and Foyer le Pont (France) regularly host events organised by and with Aktion Sühnezeichen Friedensdienste. Individual and group travellers will find accommodation and educational offers here.
The international dialogue place Beit Ben Yehuda – Haus Pax (BBY) in Jerusalem offers affordable accommodation for individuals and groups. The historic building, which is located in the leafy Talpiot neighbourhood, also hosts exciting educational and meeting programmes.
The International Youth Dialogue Place (Internationale Jugendbegegnungsstätte) in Oświęcim/Auschwitz has been open to groups and individuals as an educational facility since 1986 – also as a result of years of commitment by women and men who have worked for German-Polish and Christian-Jewish dialogue as part of Aktion Sühnezeichen in the GDR and the Federal Republic of Germany.
The Foyer le Pont, the international dialogue place of the Protestant churches in Europe, offers overnight accommodation and a varied seminar programme in the heart of Paris.
Memorial tours
Aktion Sühnezeichen Friedensdienste volunteers are active at many memorial sites in Germany and abroad. They are happy to support individuals and groups on site in organising their trip to a memorial site, advise them on preparations and put them in touch with educational staff at the memorial sites.
As far as possible, they also help to establish contact with contemporary witnesses.
The support provided by the volunteers does not replace the necessary educational support.
Most of the time the volunteers are not trained educators.
Your contact person:
Annika Uepping
Advisor for Volunteer Services
(covering for Clara Tamir-Hestermann)
E-Mail: uepping[at]asf-ev.de
Phone: +49 30 28395-217
Fax: +49 30 28395-135
All in one place
Are you planning a trip to a memorial site? Here you will find an overview of support and funding opportunities.
Support with the organisation of memorial tours
Trips to the Auschwitz-Birkenau memorial site
At the International Youth Dialogue Place in Oświęcim / Auschwitz, initiated by ASF, you will find overnight accommodation and support from educators in planning and organising group trips to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial.
IJBS Auschwitz
ul. Legionów 11, 32-600 Oświęcim
+48 33 843 21 07 / +48 33 843 12 11
www.mdsm.pl/de / reservation[at]mdsm.pl
Fahrten in die Gedenkstätte Theresienstadt
The volunteers from ASF and the Austrian Memorial Service at the Terezín Volunteer Office will be happy to help you plan and organise trips to the Terezín Memorial and your stay in Terezín: https://jugendbegegnung.de
Financial support for memorial tours
German-Polish Youth Office (DPJW)
The DPJW supports German-Polish memorial site projects in the “Paths to Remembrance” funding programme.
Since 1 January 2016, the DPJW no longer funds unilateral memorial tours.
Extracurricular trips: funding from the Federal Youth Ministry (Bundesjugendministerium)
Since 2016, the Federal Youth Ministry (BMFSFJ) has been funding extracurricular memorial trips in Germany and abroad with funds from the Children and Youth Programme (KJP). KJP grants can be applied for via IBB Dortmund gGmbH. The current funding guidelines and application forms can be found on the IBB Dortmund website:
https://kjp-gedenkstaettenfahrten.de/
School trips: funding from the Federal Youth Ministry (Bundesjugendministerium)
If there is cooperation between a non-school organisation and a school and the non-school organisation is in charge, this trip can also be funded by the KJP:
https://kjp-gedenkstaettenfahrten.de/
Current funding opportunities
For current funding opportunities, please contact IBB Dortmund or the Ministry of Education responsible for your federal state or your state centre for political education.
