welcome – salām – shalom – hos geldiniz – ahoj – kalos órisate – teple pryvitannya – namaste – karibu!
A warm welcome to you!
Winner of the European Diplôme d’Honneur award from the Fondation du Mérite Européen
Latest news from 02.01.2026 (further information in the current newsletters):
Dear members and donors, dear people interested in our association’s activities,
Unlike ancient, tradition-oriented religions, the Bible is future-oriented. Jesus expected the kingdom of God. Advent is the celebration of Jesus’ birth, associated with the hope of a better world. In the Middle Ages, the traditional static estate-based society with a fixed order prevailed. But as early as 1170, Chrétien de Troyes (Parzival, Arthur …) recognized the hunger for adventure as central to our lives, founded the modern novel and paved the way for our modern way of thinking over 300 years before the beginning of the modern era: seek the unknown, open yourselves to the foreign, go on journeys and report back home about your adventures. The unplannable, the unexpected, the open-minded are thus clearly part of the Christian life.
In addition: Lecture Prof. Zimmer – Advent: Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV_N2GQOXjc
Wolf Biermann: That can’t be all. A call to make more of your life!
Song from 1976: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-p_AsaNLnI&list=RDx-p_AsaNLnI&start_radio=1
Although there is still no end in sight to the suffering of the people, especially in Ukraine and Gaza, we should not give up hope for change and peace in the world. Change often happens precisely when there is actually no hope left.
Extended until the end of January: Daoud Nassar’s ToN tree planting campaign (target: 500 trees) as a sign of hope for justice and peace. We are all invited not only to support this campaign with tree donations (€20 per tree with certificate, last newsletter in the archive), but also to actively help with the tree planting as volunteers until March 26 (see below).
UrgentDonation tripling campaign to save the Birgittinnen Monastery on the Mount of Olives in order to prevent irreparable damage to the monastery structure and to ensure the safety of the residents and guests. It offers a fantastic view of the nearby Dome of the Rock and is an important spiritual center. The total cost of the urgent construction work to maintain the monastery and guest house is €250k. 88% of the costs are being borne by the Congregation of the Order of St. Bridget in Rome and a number of church institutions in the Holy Land.
12% (= €30k) must be raised through donations as soon as possible before construction begins. JIK would like to contribute to saving the monastery by tripling this donation campaign (target: €30k). We therefore need €10k in immediate donations to be able to make €30k available to the monastery. We are still €5k short. Help us to save this monastery on the Mount of Olives.
JIK newsletters offer a wide range of topics for very different target groups.
(Attached JIK-Newsletter v.6.1.26, New: 2. Johannes Zang: Und am Ende wartet die Erniedrigung – (30 Christians in Palestine speak plainly, et al. Interview with Daoud Nassar), 3. press report MCB Advent concert Left: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUc44f8IkUU, https://www.mc-birlinghoven.de/adventskonzert-2025-nachklang/
15.02.26: Between Despair and Hope – The Situation of Palestinian Christians 173rd Annual Festival of the Jerusalem Association in Berlin with Bishop Dr. Imad Haddad (ELCJHL), Daoud Nassar (ToN), Marc Frings (GenSek of the Central Committee of German Catholics, former Director of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation Ramallah), Birger Reese (Headmaster Talitha Kumi) etc.
06.03.26: World Day of Prayer for Women from Nigeria: “Bring your burdens”.
New: 15.03.26, 16:00: Hüsch’s Peace Psalms with harp accompaniment
Where: Paul-Gerhardt-Haus, Schulstr. 57, 53757 Sankt Augustin. Christian Kercher (reciter) and Ella Thomas (harp). Free admission, donations requested to cover costs
Christian Kercher’s psalm recital is poetry between dance and jazz. Ella Thomas, winner of the “Jugend musiziert” competition and student at the Lübeck University of Music, lends Hüsch’s psalms a wonderful sound.
New: 21.03.26: 19:00 Best of Poetry Slam with big JIK award ceremony with Florian Stein, 4 poetry slammers and beat boxers
Where: Rhein-Sieg-Gymnasium auditorium, Hubert-Minz-Str. 20, 53757 St. Augustin. Admission free, donations to cover costs requested
28.3.-6.4.26: Preparatory trip for (especially future) accompanying persons to Israel-Palestine, info from me (Easter vacations, 4/5 participants – low cost participation, info on JIK start page below, application and further info from me, 0163-6335535), program similar to March 25 (see under Youth Exchange Reports). You will get a very authentic, intensive and unique insight into the current situation and perspectives for the Middle East with many important personalities (incl. family visits on site and the ToN). Please apply to me immediately.
1.5.-3.5. 2026: JIK trip to Paris (only for active and potential JIK employees), information from me
13.-17.5.2026: Katholikentag in Würzburg (with Daoud Nassar as speaker, among others: New: 15.5., 11:00)
10 – 18.7.26: planned new date for the visit of the youth group from Bethlehem
11.-16.7.26: New, attractive JIK cultural program (free tickets for members, info to follow)
15.07. 2026: possible new date for the Trialogue panel discussion in Sankt Augustin The aim of the Trialogue events is to talk about the Middle East and the consequences for Muslim/Jewish life in our country while recognizing the suffering of both sides.
New: 09.10.26, 20:00: African Pulse, Nordic Space & Indian Spiritual Sound
Where: Aula Rhein-Sieg-Gymnasium, Hubert-Minz-Str. 20, 53757 Sankt Augustin. Admission free, donations to cover costs requested
Nils Kercher (D): Kora / West African harp, vocals, percussion
& Kira Kaipainen (FIN): percussion, vocals, balafon: youtube.com/watch?v=n_2kyv6sGXY
BarouKouyate (Mali): Ngoni / Malian lute, guitar, talking drum: youtube.com/watch?v=xmyjaGayFRo
Dr. Ranajit Sengupta (IND): Master of the sitar: youtube.com/watch?v=xOk3S-hPsnw
17.10-1.11.26: Israel-Palestine-Jordan youth trip (fall break), 16 participants (18 years and older), 10 places still available at 160 € early bird discount until 1.3.26: only 790 € !!! (online registration) unique program see website: Reports Youth Exchange October 22
Situation on the ToN (02.01.26), Daoud’s Christmas message of 23.12.(www.tentofnations.com)
There is little news on the ToN at the moment. The situation is currently quite stable. However,
the mobile checkpoints and road closures are still causing problems. The tree planting campaign (see above) is due to start this month. Among other things, we are urgently looking for adult volunteers
who would like to help out on the ToN for at least 2-3 weeks (register on the website
www.tentofnations.com). If you are still unsure and need more detailed information in advance, you can also send an e-mail to
: mail@freundeskreis-tentofnations.de
JIK supports the ToN stay of volunteers from 2-3 weeks by subsidizing/covering the
flight costs (information from me: 01636-335535). Thanks to our help, volunteers will once again be able to help out there for longer periods
.
With the help of all ToN supporters, we are endeavoring to develop a permanent initiative for the
rescue of the ToN, among others. Perhaps you also have important contacts/suggestions for us!
With your donations, you can also help to ensure that the many Christian institutions in
Bethlehem/Jerusalem, but especially the Jahalin Bedouins.
Appeal for donations
The financial situation of many people in the Middle East remains catastrophic despite a temporary ceasefire and more aid deliveries to Gaza. The return of pilgrims/tourists to Bethlehem, for example, is very hesitant.
Christian institutions, monasteries (e.g. the Birgittinnen), schools, universities, but also large parts of the Palestinian population in the West Bank, especially in Bethlehem, are facing ever greater financial hardship or are even threatened with extinction.
The greatest concerns are still the famine, the 80% destruction of Gaza and the aggressive, forced settlement policy in the West Bank and its planned partition.
| Therefore, once again my urgent request: Transfer a generous donation also for Bethlehem University and the 5,000 Jahalin Bedouins who are to be forcibly resettled next to a garbage dump! |
Successful fundraising campaign since 1.1.23: 590 T € for Ukraine, Africa, Latin America, India, Middle East etc. As our donations are also declining overall, we will in future concentrate on the many threatened and disadvantaged people in the Middle East (ToN, monasteries, schools and universities in Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Jahalin Bedouins, Angel of Cultures etc., see bank details below).
Our bank details (with information on donation receipts)
JugendInterKult e.V., Volksbank Köln-Bonn; BIC: GENODED1BRS; IBAN: DE09 3806 0186 0704 8870 19 (If you provide your address + e-mail address or send an e-mail, you will receive a donation receipt by e-mail for donations of €100 or more. Donations up to 300 € are recognized by the tax office without a donation receipt). If you would like to donate to a specific fundraising campaign or a special project, please state this in the reference (e.g. Birgittinnen-Kloster, Uni Bethlehem, Jahalin-Beduinen, ToN).
| With the help of your donations, many thousands of children and their families, but also Christian institutions (monasteries, schools, etc. in Palestine, among others) and persecuted Christians around the world, especially in disadvantaged countries that are particularly hard hit by the current wars in , can be helped with food and medical aid and care in all areas of life. We would like to thank all donors once again for their extremely generous support of our projects! We hope you will continue to support our work as benevolently as before. |
Stay healthy and, despite all the discord, remain confident and happy to donate!!!
Kind regards
Your Gregor Schröder (0163-6335535), schroedergregor@aol.com
Am Köppekreuz 21, 53225 Bonn – www.jugendinterkult.de
Founded in 2011, our Sankt Augustin-based association has both a local and global focus and is committed to intercultural understanding, justice as well as sustainable development worldwide as a basis for peace.
- We would like to inspire adolescents for intercultural youth exchange with Israel-Palestine-Jordan through specially sponsored and inexpensive bilateral youth encounters.
- JIK promotes intercultural creative projects (music, theater, dance, art) with socially and otherwise disadvantaged young people, young talents, refugees in many countries as well as volunteer work in Christian institutions, e.g. in Palestine.
Art project in Bethlehem
Music project in Zanzibar
- We support 50 aid projects in Colombia, Afghanistan, India, Congo, Palestine, etc. in over 25 countries worldwide.
- Total JIK funding for all projects and fundraising campaigns since 2011: over € 2.5 million
With the help of the donations, tens of thousands of children and their families, as well as Christian institutions (monasteries, schools, etc. in Palestine, among others) in many countries that have fallen into great need as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and the Middle East war, could and can be helped with food and medical aid as well as support in all areas of life.
Street children Colombia – Don Bosco
Afghanistan Aid – Caritas International
- We still need more people for our projects, people to accompany us on our trips, but also support through membership and of course especially donations for our many aid projects.
- Accompanying persons urgently needed for bilateral youth exchange with Palestine. We are not only looking for volunteers for the ToN and other employees for our projects, but also urgently for accompanying persons (e.g. religious teacher) for our bilateral youth encounters with Palestine from 2026, who would like to prepare and accompany these trips as leaders after participating in the trip in October 2026 and intensive JIK training. Applicants should be between 30 and 50 years old(preferably female), live in the Bonn – Leverkusen area, have good English skills and pedagogical experience in dealing with projects and adolescents, and preferably already be familiar with regional studies, the Middle East conflict and the 3 world religions. As a responsible manager from 2027, you will receive an expense allowance.
Participation in the following trips/two-sided youth encounters is welcome:
1. 28.3.-6.4.26 (approx.): Preparatory trip to Israel-Palestine (approx. 4/5 participants), small cost contribution from participants
2. 10-18.7.26: Visit of approx. 15 participants from Bethlehem in Bonn
3. Trip to Israel-Palestine-Jordan: 17.10. -01.11. 2026 (maximum 16 participants aged 18 and over)
Email applications to: schroedergregor@aol.com
Let yourself be inspired by the variety of our activities and take advantage of our offers by participating in international youth encounters, our creative projects, fundraising activities and/or by joining or becoming a member of us. As a member, you take part in all activities free of charge, have the opportunity to get free tickets for all cultural events from the JIK free ticket contingent and receive an early bird discount of €160 on trips.
Sign up for our newsletter