Educational work in the tradition of re-education
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The year 2025 was a momentous one in world politics. The news that reached us daily focused not only on the crisis of liberal democracies based on the rule of law, which were increasingly threatened by authoritarian policies and totalitarian tendencies, but also on hate and violence online. 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 increasing 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 agitation, outrage, and fear. How can a democracy prove itself in the face of these all-round attacks and multiple crises in the world? And how can we – this is the guiding question for our work– Can extracurricular civic 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..., that young people who experienced and survived National Socialism urgently need a place to exchange their thoughts and experiences. This place was founded independently of parties, associations, churches or other interest groups with the aim 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 people with different opinions as enemies.. They can exchange 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 ensuring that young people at the wannseeFORUM experience an encouraging environment. Experience of Self-efficacy, solidarity and tolerance can make. Thus, in 2025, the board supported a labor-intensive and extensive project „the new accessible website of the wsF“Thanks to the great commitment of our employees, this project was successfully implemented.”.
Furthermore, as part of a follow-up to the Council of Europe's quality report and certificate, we intensively examined individual aspects of quality development, such as the formulation and review of annual targets., the realization of „more inclusion“(See article in this annual report). An improvement in public relations (newsletter)” Furthermore, the exchange with the teaching team regarding methods for evaluating educational work formed another focus of our board's work. Our quality working group, in cooperation with the board of trustees, has begun planning a mission statement and quality process. Together, we want to reach an understanding with all employees about goals and quality improvements in all areas of the WannseeFORUM.
We had to tackle an exceptional task, which resulted in astonishing learning gains for us: A generous donor had bequeathed a mid-six-figure sum of money to the foundation as an endowment. . We now know what needs to be considered when setting up an endowment, and we can report that we have succeeded in doing so.
The tasks and topics outlined here could only flourish and be successfully implemented on the basis of a trusting, creative and constructive collaboration with Nicole Hasenjäger and Dr. Roman Fröhlich, our management team. We would like to express our sincere thanks to them, as well as to all employees who contributed to the foundation's successful work in 2025 with their commitment and ideas..
Board of the Wannsee Forum Foundation
Barbara Kühn – Rita Eichelkraut – Meinhard Jacobs – Clemens Mücke – Dr. Barbara Schöler-Macher