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 26.03.2026 (further information in the current newsletters):
Dear members and donors, dear people interested in our association’s activities,
Of course, despite all the anticipation, the suffering of the people, especially in Ukraine, Gaza, Iran and Lebanon , should not be forgotten. In view of the disaster in the Iran war with its global repercussions, it is very difficult not to give up hope for a new beginning, confidence, love and peace in the world.
Donations tripled to save the Birgittinnen convent on the Mount of Olives
Due to the current situation, we are once again urgently asking for donations to save the Birgittinnen convent on the Mount of Olives (see last newsletter), where part of the slope and large trees have already fallen or are still threatening to fall. In order to prevent damage to the buildings below (including the Orthodox church), immediate construction measures have been initiated (felling trees, providing makeshift support for the large slope, etc.), meaning that the sisters still need a lot of money.
The Jerusalem city council has threatened to close the convent if the urgent work to secure the Mount of Olives slope, including felling the trees at risk of falling, is stopped. Perhaps this monastery, which stands on the border with West Jerusalem but still belongs to East Jerusalem, will then simply be expropriated. The workers on site want cash every day, otherwise they will stop working. The sisters are therefore now trying to carry out this work themselves, which They are, of course, completely overwhelmed. If this Christian monastery on the Mount of Olives were to cease to exist, it would send a very negative signal to the Christians in the Holy Land.
We have already transferred part of the money to the sisters’ account. However, much more money is still needed. The funds promised by the Congregation in Rome (approx. 50% of the estimated costs) will not arrive until June 26. A further €25k is still missing. I have promised to transfer a large part of it by Easter transfer. We therefore ask you to transfer your donation in real time if possible. In order to avoid the closure of the convent by the Jerusalem city council (possibly even expropriation due to the situation in East Jerusalem), the sisters have to do it themselves, which of course they have to do. overwhelmed. Help save this monastery. Short video: Link: https://youtu.be/X_AVw0cBNSE
Review of Hüsch’s Peace Psalms (15.3.) and Best of Poetry Slam (21.3.)
Christian Kercher’s well-attended presentation of Hüsch’s Peace Psalms was really very moving and great poetry between dance and jazz. They are more relevant and necessary today than ever. Harpist Ella Thomas not only lent Hüsch’s psalms a supernatural sound, but also impressed with wonderful harp solos. Left: https://youtu.be/oHMECRXc8Jg, https://youtu.be/7awPt3KEtsU, https://youtu.be/rjOdK7OjFGA, https://youtu.be/7-SIKbzo0t8, https://youtu.be/TOg13VD0L
Best of Poetry Slam (21.3.): This competition between the 4 top-class poetry slammers Mario el Toro, Sandra da Vina, Heidi Daniels, Julius Esser and the brilliant beat boxer August Klar, moderated by Florian Stein, co-organizer of the German Poetry Slam Championship, delivered what it promised. There was a large EdK trophy for Julius Esser, who was chosen as the winner by the audience, but the other four artists and the great presenter Florian Stein also received smaller trophies, which were also donated by the artist couple Dietrich/Merten (many thanks for that!). Unfortunately, there were far too few spectators, which of course meant that the costs could not even be covered despite the municipal subsidy.
Here are 7 great video links:
1. Beatboxer August Klar: Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3uUDxkdO7Y
2. Heidi Daniels: Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj7N8hemDOw
3. Sandra da Vina: Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQBgTQSOCyA
4. Mario el Toro: Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y-6_scFSPU
5. Mario el Toro: Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QgXc_mqHUo
6. Julius Esser: Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpSyGW1D9N8
7. Julius Esser: Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovnNBm-jAoE
Award ceremony with large EdK trophy (Photos: © Roland Gras)
Film: Coexistence, My Ass! Director: Amber Fares (F/USA 2025, 90 min.)
very worth seeing !!!
Noam Shuster-Eliassi has been familiar with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict since childhood. The stand-up comedian, who grew up in an Arab-Israeli peace village, uses sharp irony to confront her audience with the harsh reality of the Middle East conflict. As the region descends into violence, she uses humor to force her audience to reflect on the incomprehensible. Laughter against hate: The documentary accompanies Israeli activist and comedian Noam Shuster-Eliassi during the creation of her one-woman show “Coexistence, My Ass!”. Shot between 2019 and 2024, the film shows her personal and political development – parallel to the escalating Middle East conflict. Growing up in Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam, an
Israeli-Arab peace village where Palestinians and Israelis live together as equals, Shuster-Eliassi realizes early on where traditional peace work ends. Instead of political diplomacy, she opted for stand-up comedy and became a well-known voice in the Middle East with her sharp, self-deprecating manner. Her song ʺDubai, Dubaiʺ even goes viral in Arabic-speaking countries in 2022. As the violence increases, her humor becomes a weapon: with bitter comedy, she confronts her audience with a reality that leaves little hope – and yet always opens up new perspectives.
Link: https://www.arte.tv/de/videos/119417-000-A/coexistence-my-ass/
New: 16-27.4.2026: Israel-Palestine trip canceled due to flight cancellation: new date from 17.10.26
01.05-03.05. 2026: JIK trip to Paris (only for active and potential JIK employees), information from me
13.05-23.05.2026: Katholikentag in Würzburg (with Daoud Nassar as speaker, among others: 15.5., 11:00) followed by a short trip to Germany until Pentecost to Bonn on 18.5., Bergisch-Gladbach(Peace Prize for Daoud) and Berlin(19-23.5.) – if possible, further information in the next New
10-18.07.26: planned new date for the visit of the youth group from Bethlehem
11.-16.07.26: New, attractive JIK cultural program (free tickets for members, info to follow)
14.07. 2026: possible new date for school trialogue events in Bonn and St. Augustin, among other places The aim of the trialogue events is to talk about the Middle East and the consequences for Muslim/Jewish life in Germany while recognizing the suffering of both sides.
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: 19:00 Admission free, donation proceeds for Palestine
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
11.10.26: 18:00: Tiki Küstenmacher (© Bild): Living and believing more simply & happily, Admission: 17:30
Where: Aula Rhein-Sieg-Gymnasium, Hubert-Minz-Str. 20, 53757 St. Augustin, admission free, proceeds for Palestine
The world bestselling author of “Simplify your life” (over 5 million copies) and Protestant pastor cleans up our entire lives with this classic book on life management! From desks and finances to health, relationships, partnerships and faith, he covers all areas of self-management and time management. He illustrates his talk in a meditation style with live cartoons on the tips for a more carefree, relaxed and happier life & faith.
17.10-1.11.26: Israel-Palestine-Jordan youth trip (fall break), 16 participants (18 years and older), 10 places available, with 160 € early bird discount until 15.5.26: only 790 € !!! (online registration), great program see website: Reports Youth Exchange: Oct. 22 We very much hope that the trip will be possible.
(April news will be online soon: www.gregorschroeder.de – for all those who love humor, literature (+ interpretation) and
creative political-satirical and poetic texts of all kinds. New: Goldsmith: The evolution of the brain)
Situation on the ToN (26.03.26):
There are currently 3 volunteers who will leave as soon as possible. It is unclear whether new volunteers will then be able to come.There is now a new watchtower on the access road 20m behind the entrance gate (just for better surveillance?) Despite repeated harassment, you can still reach the ToN by car and leave again. Work continues on the ToN as best as possible. The approach of missiles from Iran and Lebanon can be observed from the ToN. Fuel, gas and food have become much more expensive and are sometimes unavailable. If no new volunteers arrive in May and the situation becomes more threatening, Daoud might not be able to come to the Catholic Day in May. Over 700 trees have already been planted. We are still looking for more adult volunteers who would like to help out on the ToN for 2-3 weeks from May (register at www.tentofnations.com). If you need more detailed information in advance, please feel free to contact me (see below).
JIK supports the ToN stay of volunteers from 2-3 weeks by subsidizing/covering the flight costs (for information contact me: 01636-335535). Thanks to our help, volunteers will again be able to help out there for longer periods of time. Costs for accommodation, food etc. approx. 150 € per week.
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 situation of many people in the Near and Middle East continues to be catastrophic. A return of pilgrims/tourists to Bethlehem, for example, is probably not to be expected before the fall. 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 division.
| 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: 630 T € for Ukraine, Africa, Latin America, India, the Middle East, etc. As our donations are also declining overall, in future we will 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 have fallen into particularly great need due to the current wars, could and can be helped through 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.
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