Educational work in the tradition of re-education
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The year 2025 was a pivotal one in global politics. The daily news focused not only on the crisis facing liberal democracies based on the rule of law, increasingly threatened by authoritarian policies and totalitarian tendencies, but also on online hate and violence. In real life, we are confronted with wars in Europe and the Middle East. A declining importance of climate protection, even to the point of climate change denial, is ubiquitous in current politics. The growing acceptance of right-wing populist positions, extending into the mainstream of society and especially among young people, is extremely worrying. All of this is accompanied by algorithms in digital media that amplify constant outrage, indignation, and fear. How can a democracy prove itself in the face of these multifaceted attacks and multiple global crises? And how – this is the guiding question for our work– can extracurricular political and cultural education strengthen democracy, which is currently under threat, and contribute to its resilience?
The path to our building leads past a plaque commemorating the founding of the Wannsee Youth Center more than 75 years ago. The Wannsee Forum exists because, after the end of World War II and 12 years of dictatorship in Germany, the Americans recognized the urgent need for a place for young people who had experienced and survived National Socialism to exchange their thoughts and experiences. This place was established independently of political parties, associations, churches, or other interest groups, with the goal of re-education.
Even after more than 70 years, this educational center in Wannsee remains open to all young people. It is indispensable because it allows young people to experience self-efficacy outside of school and home. They learn to resolve conflicts without viewing those with differing opinions as enemies.They can share and reflect on their thoughts and anxieties about the future with others. Young people learn to recognize connections, to become active and creative, and to perceive the future, as well as democracy, as a space they can shape.
Our commitment as the board is aimed at ensuring reliable framework conditions for this valuable work. In doing so, we contribute to enabling young people at the wannseeFORUM to have the encouraging experience of self-efficacy, solidarity, and tolerance. For example, in 2025, the board supported a labor-intensive and extensive project:the new, accessible website of the wannseeFORUM. Thanks to the great dedication of our staff, this project was successfully implemented.
Furthermore, in the course of following up on the Council of Europe's quality report and certificate, we focused intensively on specific aspects of quality development, such as formulating and reviewing annual goals and implementinggreater inclusion(see article in this annual report). Improving our public relations (newsletter) and exchanging information with the teaching team on methods for evaluating educational work were further priorities for the board. Our quality working group, in cooperation with the board of trustees, has begun planning a mission statement and quality process. Together, we aim to reach an understanding with all employees regarding goals and quality improvements in all areas of the WannseeFORUM.
We faced an exceptional task that proved to be an amazing learning experience: A generous donor bequeathed a mid-six-figure sum to the foundation as an endowment . We now know everything that needs to be considered when investing an endowment, and we are pleased to report that we succeeded.
The tasks and topics outlined here could only flourish and be successfully implemented thanks to a trusting, creative, and constructive collaboration with Nicole Hasenjäger and Dr. Roman Fröhlich, our management team. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to them, as well as to all employees who contributed their dedication and ideas to the foundation's successful work in 2025.
Board of the Wannsee Forum Foundation
Barbara Kühn – Rita Eichelkraut – Meinhard Jacobs – Clemens Mücke – Dr. Barbara Schöler-Macher