ConAct – Koordinierungszentrum Deutsch-Israelischer Jugendaustausch is a nationwide service facility based in Lutherstadt Wittenberg that has been promoting and coordinating German-Israeli youth exchange since 2001. The organization supports young people from Germany and Israel in building mutual understanding, cultural dialogue and sustainable relationships through encounters, programs and professional exchanges. ConAct is an institution of the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ) and is supported by the states of Sachsen-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The local sponsor is the Evangelische Akademie Sachsen-Anhalt. The Israeli partner is the Israel Youth Exchange Authority (IYEA) Tel Aviv, which acts on behalf of the Israeli Ministry of Education and Foreign Affairs[1][2][4].
The core business of ConAct includes advising on the planning, financing and implementation of German-Israeli youth encounters and professional exchanges. ConAct facilitates contacts between project partners in both countries, offers qualification programs for group leaders and provides support with educational materials. Also central is the content-related processing of important social issues such as the culture of remembrance of National Socialism and the Shoah, diversity awareness and the examination of the living environments of young people in Europe and the Middle East. In this way, ConAct promotes not only practical encounters, but also pedagogical and political education work on both sides[1][2][3].
ConAct's main mission is to build and strengthen German-Israeli relations through joint youth projects, recognition of each other's history and culture, and commitment against anti-Semitism. Sustainability is demonstrated in the long-term development of networks and structures for youth exchange, the promotion of intercultural competence and the support of sustainable encounters that strengthen social participation and peaceful coexistence. The systematic qualification of specialists ensures a high quality of exchange work. In addition, ConAct actively campaigns against anti-Semitism and thus contributes to social responsibility[3][4].
ConAct stands for joint action ("ConAct"), networking and reflection with the aim of empowering young people in Germany and Israel to build bridges between societies. The combination of practical assistance, content-related competence and sustainable structural support makes ConAct a central institution in German-Israeli youth exchange with growing influence and importance.
This description is based on information from the official website conact-org.de, the Wikipedia article on ConAct and current work reports from the organization from 2022 and 2023.
