From 5 to 15 August 2025, a summer camp for 24 participants aged 14 to 18 took place at the Seligstadt Youth Centre in Barcut/Bekokten, Romania, as part of the Go4Democracy project.
With the help of the ‘Fairtogether’ concept, developed from the ‘Alternatives to Violence Project’ (AVP) for young people in crisis situations, the participants gained experience of self-efficacy and participation, tried out ways of non-violent communication, constructive conflict resolution and inclusion of all, and found their role in the multilingual community. In modules on diversity and shaping their living environment, a playful foundation was laid for a later artistic approach to the complex topic of democracy. In workshops such as circus, theatre and (visual) arts, the impressions were imaginatively processed and prepared within 10 days for a final presentation.
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As the youth camp was attended by 9 team members, 6 multipliers and 18 young people from Germany, Romania and Ukraine, two translators had their hands full. In their free time, however, creative ways were found to bring the group closer together through various activities or simply with gestures. For many participants, the tranquillity of the tranquil village with the spacious and stimulating grounds of the youth centre meant a break from the daily reality of war in Ukraine or from the precarious domestic situation at home. The educational supervisors from the three partner countries repeatedly had to use their tact and sensitivity to make this place a safe and comfortable space. In addition, programme items such as a folk music concert, a visit to an outdoor swimming pool and a hike in the Carpathian Mountains also brought the group closer together.
This made it possible to present the results of the workshops in a final performance on the theme of Go4Democracy to an eager audience from Seligstadt, Barcut and Fagaras. Artists from the group individually demonstrated their skills on the trapeze, juggling, dancing and acrobatic jumps, ultimately coming together in their diversity to form a human pyramid in which each individual supported the others – a symbol of the necessity of uniqueness for a strong framework of diversity as a whole, as in democracy itself! This was followed by a self-produced performance by the theatre group, depicting the empty election promises and abuse of power of a selfish, ruthless dictator and the uprising of his servants. The ‘happy ending’, in which he was subsequently accepted into the circle of citizens, was particularly moving. The performers courageously recited texts they had written themselves about the power and importance of their own voices. Two boys even dared to perform as singers in front of the audience. The evening was framed by the art group's installation, which also served as the stage set: a colourful forest of protest signs on cardboard or wood, painted in bright colours and arranged in a wild and chaotic manner, calling for solidarity, nature conservation, respect and rebellion against injustice. The values of democracy, which the various working groups brought to the fore, clearly demonstrated their understanding of togetherness, which had grown during their time together.
The Baden-Württemberg Foundation, ifa and donors made this project possible, for which we are very grateful.
Democracy and peace education for young activists from Romania, Germany and Ukraine in the Romanian Carpathians
From 29 July to 2 August, as part of the Go4Democracy project, a training course for 15 young multipliers from the three countries of the Danube region took place at the Seligstadt Youth Centre in Barcut, Romania.
The participants were encouraged to experience self-efficacy in shaping their living environment. On the one hand, modules were held to impart knowledge on this complex topic and, on the other hand, playful exercises were used to promote team spirit and the exchange of personal, even controversial, opinions. In addition, time was set aside for the rest of the group to organise activities independently in small interest groups. This promoted both personal skills and active participation.
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For most participants, this was a new experience, as they were used to having the programme for such an event presented to them. After some initial uncertainty, everyone seized the opportunity and tried out new things. The youth centre, with its spacious grounds and wide range of possibilities, provided the ideal setting for this. The day trip to the breathtaking mountain world of the Carpathians was a highlight for most.
The training enabled the multipliers to pass on democracy education units they had developed themselves and to accompany groups of participants in exceptional situations or crises, and they can now apply this know-how in their field of work. Six of the participants accompanied the subsequent camp for young people.
In the third phase of the project, the multipliers met within their own countries in the autumn to hold workshops they had developed themselves with their own peer groups. Between internet outages and war reporting, the Ukrainian young people organised two units with discussions and colourful murals for pupils from two school classes in Odessa on the topic of democratic values. The Romanian team invited children from Roma and other socially disadvantaged families from the surrounding villages to meetings on the topic of diversity and uniqueness, where they created fabric pictures of themselves and discussed self-esteem and shared values. These will culminate in an exhibition. The German multipliers organised a spray workshop to design a wall of the Aalen town hall on the topic of democracy and a karaoke workshop with self-composed ‘freedom songs’. Many of the activities will continue in the new year.
The Baden-Württemberg Foundation, ifa and donors made this project possible, for which we are very grateful.
Hello there!
Your voice is important. Your story counts. Do you want to campaign for better conditions where you live, in your country, in a Europe worth living in for everyone?
📍Where? Youth centre in Barcut near Fagaras, Romania / Transylvania
🗓 When? 5 - 15 August 2025
👥 Who is it for? Young people aged 14 - 17 from Germany, Romania & Ukraine
What's there:
🎭Theatre, artistic & art workshops to choose from.
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⚖️ Exchange on ideas about democracy, freedom & justice
✊Teamwork, friendships & fun
💡Lots of space for your own ideas and free creativity
🌍 A colourful mix of great people
🎤 A stage for your performance
What is on offer:
🏠Full cost coverage - accommodation in the youth hostel and fresh regional catering
🎨Many different activities - workshop ‘Fairtogether’ and ‘Go4Democracy’, excursions to the Carpathians and the swimming pool, art, games as required - all inclusive!
✈️ Travel organisation- You will travel as a small group by train for 1.5 days, including an overnight stay in a sleeping car, and will be accompanied by an educational specialist - the adventure begins in Germany!
🗣Multilingualism - Most team members speak several of these languages: German, English, Romanian, Ukrainian, Russian (so don't worry about communication!)
❤️🩹A safe & sensitive space - A highly motivated experienced team of educators, a medical and psychological as well as artistic professionals are ready to empower and support you and yourselves
❤️Everyone is welcome!
The deadline for applications is 04.05.2025
If you have any questions, please send us an email: kraemer@act4transformation.net
NEW OPPORTUNITY (This application is open for people living in South Caucasus)
Fairtogether conference on peace-education in youth work in South Caucasus from 10 - 13th of April 2025 in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Apply via online application https://forms.gle/4eTveZ8XVrXnDGzS7 by 14th of March 2025
What is waiting for you?
This event part of the project "Fairtogether: ConnAct for Peace Education in the South Caucasus," implemented by act for transformation, Armenian Progressive Youth, ათინათი/Atinati, Act for Transformation's Caucasus Office, Sağlam Düşüncə Gənclər Təşkilatı • SDGT and supported by funds of the German Federal Foreign Office through ifa e.V. (Ifa - Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen) in line with the Zivik Funding Programme.
We are thrilled to share fantastic news as we step into the new year!
After a thorough review and on-site visits by auditors from Youth for Europe, Act for transformation has been awarded the Quality Label for the European Solidarity Corps (ESC) volunteer program. This official recognition allows us to both host and send volunteers across Europe and the South Caucasus under the ESC program from the European Union.
As part of this exciting new opportunity, in Autumn 2025, we will welcome our first ESC volunteers at Um-Welthaus in Aalen and we will also be able to send volunteers to our partner organizations abroad.
Through our volunteer programs, we provide young people with the opportunity to engage in civil society organisation that promote democracy, peace, and nonviolence. This new ESC program adds to our existing volunteer engagement through the Federal Volunteer Service (BFD) and the International Youth Volunteer Service (IJFD), strengthening our mission of international solidarity.
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We are now looking for partner organizations in Europe and the South Caucasus that may be interested in hosting volunteers from Germany through ESC. If your organization is involved in the ESC program or is considering participating, we would love to explore collaboration opportunities with you!
We are also looking for volunteers who are interested in being sent through to European countries and South Caucasus (Georgia, Armenia and Azerbaijan), through act for transformation. You can find more details or apply via the link: https://tinyurl.com/nhjxk39e
For more information about the ESC program in general, visit: www.solidaritaetskorps.de
Stay tuned for more updates as we look forward to building meaningful partnerships and welcoming new volunteers!
Peaceful greetings,
The act for transformation Team
“fairtogether: You(th) for Peace” – Exchange Program Promotes Nonviolence and Democracy
The project “fairtogether: You(th) for Peace” by act for transformation, cooperative based in Aalen, is one of the award winners in the 2024 “Active for Democracy and Tolerance” competition hosted by the Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb)! This international exchange program brought together young adults from Georgia, Poland, Armenia, and Germany, inspiring them to engage locally in nonviolence, dialogue, and democracy.
In two intercultural training seminar weeks for multipliers held in Bakuriani, Georgia, and Schwäbisch Gmünd/Aalen, 25 young participants explored topics such as nonviolent communication, conflict resolution, transcultural coexistence, and civic engagement. Using interactive methods like role-playing and discussions, practical approaches were conveyed.
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In their communities, the participants organized youth initiative projects involving around 220 young people, both with and without refugee backgrounds. These creative formats included city rallies, quiz nights, and juggling workshops. During online meetings, the young multipliers discussed inclusion and democracy with representatives of local politics. Monika, a participant from Armenia, emphasized the importance of such projects, especially in current times:
“The training in Georgia was the best experience I’ve ever had! This project is a great example of how young people can use the knowledge and experiences gained through international exchange programs to make a difference in their local communities.”
A year after the 2022 exchange program, the participants reunited in Schwäbisch Gmünd and Aalen in 2023 to share their experiences. They also discussed opportunities for political engagement for youth with the Aalen Youth Council. Representatives from the Youth Council of Zugdidi in Georgia joined the discussions, making the exchange highly enriching for everyone involved.
The project was successfully implemented with the support of young adults, mentors, volunteers, and one full-time staff member, and was funded by the European Union through Youth for Europe (Erasmus Program). Partner organizations included act for transformation, cooperative, the Institute of Innovation Foundation in Poland, Association Atinati and the Center for Peace and Civic Development in Georgia, as well as Armenian Progressive Youth in Armenia.
Projects like “fairtogether: You(th) for Peace” highlight the importance of international collaboration, nonviolence, and democracy education for our society. To ensure that such valuable exchange programs can continue in the future, we rely on your support. For more information about our work and ways to support us, please visit our website.
You can now support our current peace projects via: https://www.betterplace.org/en/organisations/15393-act-for-transformation-gem-eg. Every donation helps us to continue our work for peace and social change.
Thank you very much for your support!
The "One World Children's Holiday Program" at the Haldenhof was a great time for children from Aalen. A varied program was offered for the 23 children in the Um-Weltzelt, who came from Germany, Ukraine and African countries. Sergeiy Terntyev, who worked as a children's animator in the Ukraine, conducted exciting experiments with water and made giant soap bubbles. The volunteers offered handicrafts with clay and natural materials, as well as the reuse of plastic for creative things and enriched the days with lots of games together. On the last day, Daniel the juggler shared his skills with the children and the parents came to the Intercultural Garden to marvel at their children's new skills and to have fun and chat over a barbecue.
The event concluded on Saturday with a joint excursion with the parents to the Himmelsgarten in Schwäbisch Gmünd. The children really enjoyed the Himmelsgarten family park and the Taubental valley with its long ball track through the forest. The water playground, the mini golf course and the climbing park in the forest were also welcome challenges that parents and children had to overcome together. The activities were sponsored by the Kinderland Foundation and the Baden-Württemberg Strength Program.
Our new rooms in the former Hofacker School in Gartenstr. in Aalen: the girls' dance group has plenty of space and a bright room. Khrystyna Shvets leads the girls in a motivating way, body awareness and rhythm are required.
We are delighted that the cooperation with the neighbourhood management of Q85 and Heike Jänischke has been intensified and that we now have plenty of space for sports, games and fun until the summer - and of course for learning during tutoring. The project is funded by the Kinderland Foundation Baden-Württemberg.
Faruku Kibaba, Director of the Great Lake Peace Centre from Kasese in Uganda, visited act for transformation in Aalen as a project partner and further cooperation was intensified. There is currently a regular online exchange between young people from Uganda, Georgia and Germany on topics relating to sustainable development, funded by the Development Cooperation Foundation (SEZ), and an incoming volunteer, Salim Mbusa, who works in Aalen at the Um-Welthaus and the adfc bicycle workshop. During the visit to Schwäbisch Hall and the Freundeskreis Afrika e.V., the exchange of volunteers as part of the Weltwärts programme was agreed and from September, a German volunteer will work at the Great Lake Peace Centre in Uganda and a new Ugandan volunteer will come to Aalen to work at Um-Welthaus. The application deadline for the German volunteer is mid-May at: bewerbung@act4transformation.net
Photo: (from left to right) Jürgen Menzel (Board member of act for transformation), Faruku Kibaba (Head of Great Lake Peace Centre, Uganda), Claude Keil (Freundeskreis Afrika e.V.), Heidrun Seidel and Salim Mbusa (act for transformation) during their visit to the Freundeskreis Afrika e.V. in Schwäbisch Hall.
On Thursday, SWR-Aktuell reported on the wax collection campaign for Ukraine organised by act for transformation. The television team from Ulm filmed in the afternoon in the Um-Welthaus (Torhaus) and interviewed the volunteers and participants. They had previously visited Neresheim Abbey and brought candles and Father Matthias from the abbey. Ohla Veronova also organised the wax collection campaign last year, where more than two and a half tonnes were collected. It is sent to the volunteers in Kharkiv, who use it to make new candles that can be used for lighting and cooking. There was a live broadcast to Kharkiv that afternoon, during which the volunteer group in Ukraine and in Aalen greeted and introduced themselves to each other. The people from Kharkiv expressed their gratitude for the support from Aalen and emphasised that even in the second winter of the war there are severe restrictions in the supply of electricity and heat and that support is therefore still needed. The report and film can be found on the SWR website in the Ulm region section (https://www.swr.de/swraktuell/baden-wuerttemberg/ulm/aalen-wachs-ukraine-kloster-neresheim-gefluechtete-frauen-100.html) Photo: SWR-Ulm
With the new project "fairtogether: shaping life together" in East Württemberg and Berlin, act for transformation is promoting volunteer work for and with refugees. The project is funded for one year by the "German Foundation for Engagement and
and Volunteering" and offers various workshops and a
training for trainers in the fairtogether training concept. The
project coordinator Alena Kemm will guide and support the training courses and new employees. Napuli Langa Görlich and Gideon Gichiri will implement the project in the Berlin office and Sarah Lobenhofer and Salim Mbusa in Aalen. We are looking forward to the first workshops and the participants.
Opening of our new office at Planckstr. 20, in the centre of Berlin. Our project "fairtogether - shaping change together" is for refugees and volunteers working with refugees. It is being implemented in Berlin / Brandenburg and Aalen / Baden-Württemberg and is funded by the Ehrenamtsstiftung. Napuli Paula Langa will coordinate the project in Berlin and realise it with the association "Blacks and Whites together for Human Rights". We are looking forward to the co-operation.
Dec. 2023
We again offer a varied holiday programme for children at Haldenhof. The children showed a lot of skill juggling with Daniel Schiffner and learned different throwing and balancing techniques with scarves, ball and plate. The children visibly had a lot of fun playing games, exploring the forest and yard and enjoying a natural environment in the fresh air. In the culturally mixed group of Ukrainian, Turkish and German children, there was also constant translation into different languages, but laughter is understandable in all cultures.
Erasmus+ one-year project completed in July we finished "Fairtogether: You(th) for Peace" with our partners from Poland, Armenia and Georgia in Hornberg-Hostel near Schwäbisch Gmünd. 20 experienced and committed participants from Georgia, Armenia, Poland and Germany took part in the seminar to become Fairtogether multipliers for peace education, inclusion and non-violent conflict resolution in their communities. The main topics of the seminar were evaluation, democracy, political participation and activism. The seminar was led by international experienced trainers from Georgia and Germany. The group of young people had the opportunity to rebuild their relationships, share their experiences with local projects in their own countries and learn from each other's struggles and successes.
Minister Lucha visiting the One World House Aalen August 17, 2022 and our Ukraine projects and talked to the women's group. The project is funded by the state in the "Strength Program" (Staerke).
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Minister Manfred Lucha showed great interest in our work, as did the Lord Mayor of Aalen, Frederick Bruetting, and District Administrator Joachim Blaese. They informed out about our projects and the support of Ukrainian people in Aalen. In particular, the exchange with Ludymila Komashko's women's group, funded by the country's "Strength" project, gave the women the opportunity to talk to him about their situation and to find German politicians who would listen.