Auslandsgesellschaft Nordrhein-Westfalen e.V.

Steinstraße 48

D - 44147 Dortmund

Fon: +49 (0)231 838 00 26

Fax: +49 (0)231 838 00 56

Internet: www.agnrw.de

E-mail: kommunikation@agnrw.de

Purpose/ Activities

The Institute for International Relations North-Rhine-Westphalia was founded as a result of a civic initiative established by a dedicated group of people. It was borne out of the trauma of the Second World War and sustained by a desire for understanding. These roots shape its goals up to this day: dedication to international understanding between peoples in the spirit of humanity and tolerance.

As a civil movement and institution involved in political education it strengthens democracy and civil society, promotes a deeper understanding for political and intercultural relations and supports individuals in forming their own political will by developing the ability to judge political events autonomously.

Priorities of the Institute's socio-political engagement are in the fields of:

immigration and integration, democracy and remembrance, European and international politics;

events with an intercultural and political focus (discussion forums, conferences, exhibitions, nation-focussed seminars);

specialist study and political information seminars abroad;

study and language trips worldwide;

High-School visits and work placements abroad;

international youth exchange programmes;

European Volontary Service.

Associated to the Institute for International Relations North-Rhine-Westphalia is the Institut für politische Bildung (Institute for Political Education), a public institution of the federal State of North-Rhine-Westphalia.

Activities in detail:

28 bilateral 'circles' and associations with partner countries from Egypt to Hungary; fields of priority: Western, Northern, Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, Middle East, Far East,

journeys & exchange: seminars, language courses, study trips, international internship programme, youth exchange and High-School students' exchange programmes,

events: lectures, exhibitions, workshops and discussion fora at home and abroad,

seminars: seminars for political education and on international politics; topics: immigration and integration, globalisation, democracy and remembrance, European and international politics,

projects.

Periodical Publications

Bridges (biannual)

Political and cultural Events (biannual)

Study and language trips (biannual)