Russia

IJGD stands for International Youth Community Services. It is a non-profit organisation working in the field of international youth work and political education. Since 1949, IJGD has been active throughout Germany as an organisation independent from any religious or political party and recognised by the state authorities. The aim of IJGD is to forward young people's awareness of social conditions and to support the development of a feeling of social responsibility. The work of IJGD thus includes the promotion of international understanding and the reduction of prejudice between people of different nations, social backgrounds, religions and political ideas. We organise workcamps, international youth meetings, youth holiday periods in Germany, Europe and overseas as well as different trainings and seminars as further education.

In addition, IJGD is in charge of different long-term voluntary services such as the voluntary social service (FSJ), the voluntary ecological service (FÖJ) and the voluntary heritage service (FJD).

The Berlin part of IJGD, IJGD LV Berlin, has a specific focus on intercultural and inter-generation projects. In the field of the European Voluntary Service (EVS), IJGD Berlin is involved as a sending and hosting organisation. As part of our pilote project ‘voluntary services in socially deprived areas', ijgd Berlin has a growing number of EVS-placements in Berlin in socially deprived areas. This pilote project aims to further social inclusion, intercultural learning and to support small non-profit organisations and initiatives. As a sending organisation we send young German volunteers from Berlin and ist surroundings for longterm voluntary services to Europe in the frame work of EVS.

IJGD Berlin also organises midterm voluntary services in Africa, Asia and Latinamerika.

Students from over 120 different nations, aged 16 to 19, selected exclusively on the basis of aptitude (talent, commitment, motivation), live and learn together at one of the thirteen United World Colleges for the last two school years until they graduate from high school. The colleges are located in Wales, Norway, Italy, USA, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore, India, the Netherlands, Swaziland, Venezuela, Costa Rica and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The fund works as a sponsoring foundation. It fosters projects that serve the purposes of better understanding among peoples, the interests of survivors of the National Socialist regime, youth exchange, social justice, remembrance of the threat posed by totalitarian systems and despotism, and international cooperation in humanitarian endeavours.

The experience of the peaceful "Wende" in 1989 awakened in many people the hope that a Germany without a military could be possible. This hope led people from various civil initiatives in Halle together to found the Friedenskreis in 1990. The Friedenskreis Halle e.V. is an group of people of differing world views, religions, nationalities and political affiliations. We see peace not as a state of being or as a distant goal, and not simply as the absence of war. Peace is for us a means to a common, just and non-violent life together in diversity, where the personal development and liberty of the individual is made possible. The conception of this life together is always a new experience. This is why we try to explore, find and pass on new ways of doing so, while never forgetting to question the same. We are consequently involved in education, peace-associated activities and in projects for civil conflict resolution on both the domestic and international levels. Our work is made possible by paid and voluntary staff and carried through donations and public subsidies. Our current programme and projects

• Seminars and educational programmes in the areas of communication, conflict resolution, mediation, dealing with violence and learning how to speak out
• Consulting for initiatives and projects
• Lectures and seminars on current peace-associated themes
• Civil conflict resolution through the development of an educational and encounter centre in Jajce, Bosnia.
• Work camps, youth encounters and volunteer work in the countries of the Balkans.
• Counselling on military service and conscientious objection
• Cooperation in activities and campaigns against militarisation
• Coordination of the initiative "Zivilcourage: Bündnis für Gewaltlosigkeit, Demokratie und Toleranz in Halle"

European Academy of Education

CRISP organizes seminars, advanced trainings and workshops in the fields of civil conflict management and civic education. Our guiding principle is to adjust our projects to local needs. Therefor we develop and use especially simulation games as method. The work of CRISP promotes the confidence building between different population groups and enhance the understanding of political processes. Thereby we support the transformations in our target regions. We work especially with young people, who are willing to initiate and accompany a peaceful change in their societies.