Twin Cities Program

The Twin Cities Program is a joint Polish–German and Czech–German program carried out by the Batory Foundation since 2002 in partnership with the Robert Bosch Foundation in Germany and NGO Information Centre in the Czech Republic. The program, initiated and financed by the Robert Bosch Foundation, aims to develop and encourage cooperation between twinned cities, towns and municipalities in neighbouring countries through support of joint projects and activities of local organizations on both sides of the border.

Both Poland and the Czech Republic have several hundred Polish-German and Czech-German twin towns and municipalities. Local authorities sign agreements, and are the key entity in defining the form of partner relations, sometimes indeed involving actual and effective cooperation, albeit sometimes being no more than an artificial paper entry. As part of the Twin Cities Program – implemented simultaneously in Poland and the Czech Republic – we encourage non-governmental organisations to take action to boost cooperation between twin towns and municipalities. Such action bring authentic cooperation between citizens of neighbouring states, activate local communities, and better cooperation with the local government.

In Poland, the Program targets Polish non-governmental organizations operating in towns and municipalities that have partnership agreements with their German counterparts. In 2004, in the third edition of the program, the organizations could apply for grants to support projects implemented in collaboration with German organizations from twin towns and municipalities. Projects might concern various areas of public life, though they should respond to the actual needs of local communities and utilize mutual experiences of the partners.

Grants were awarded on a competitive basis, with an international Jury of Polish, Czech, and German experts supervising the two-tier application assessment procedure. As a result of the competition, in 2004, 32 Polish-German and 12 Czech-German projects received funding.

Most of the Polish-German cooperation projects came from Western Poland, especially Lower Silesia, some of them were of overtly transborder character. However, there were also several from the territories far-off the Polish-German border, Lublin, among others. The awarded Polish projects span a vast array of activities: from ecological education of youth, promotion of professional activity of women in a united Europe, to the projects devoted to the cultivation and caretaking of common historic venues, organization of cultural or sports events serving the purpose of overcoming national stereotypes and prejudices and involving large community groups from both partner towns or cities.

In May in Krzyżowa a trilateral meeting of representatives of the Program grantees was organized. The meeting provided an opportunity for Polish, German and Czech partners to present the projects, share experience gained during their implementation and participate in the workshops on intercultural communication, fundraising, promotion and international projects management.

Grants:		PLN 801 955
Meetings and grant committees sessions:		PLN 14 958,72
Operational costs:		PLN 95 277,21
TOTAL:		PLN 912 190,93

The European House of Meetings - Nowy Staw Foundation Lublin	Partner organization:Buergermedienzentrum Bennihaus, Münster Project: Media across borders – promoting twin cities and the activity of their inhabitants through audio-visual production and the Internet	PLN 30 140
Sokółka Local Fund Foundation Sokółka Podlaska	Partner organization: Jochann Mathesius Gymnasium, Rochlitz Project: Let’s share the verdure – ecological education as well as practical activity of youth towards saving the environment in twin cities	PLN 40 977
Free Educational Initiatives Foundation Wrocław	Partner organization: Forschungstelle für Frei- und Spielraumplanung, Dresden Project: Ecological kindergartens as an example of partnership between German and Polish cities	PLN 33 135
3rd Century University of Głogów Głogów	Partner organization: Seniorenbeirat, Eisenhüttenstadt Project: Conference entitled: The situation of the elderly at the time of a united Europe. Opportunities, hopes, needs	PLN 5 381
Kaszuby Institute of Development Kościerzyna	Partner organization: Club Cölbe-Kościerzyna, Cölbe Project: Together it is always easy. Solving the problems of social pathology in the EU – a session of study visits and sharing experience	PLN 27 582
Partnership Committee of the District of Goślina Murowana Goślina	Partner organization: Partnerschaftskomitee, Hemmingen Project: Project: Our Partnership in the European Union – a session of events promoting twin cities	PLN 23 508
Sobriety Association of Konin Konin	Partner organization: Deutscher Kinderschutbund, Herne Project: Project: Intercultural education as a condition for a full understanding of cultural diversity in the societies of the European Union – study visits and workshops	PLN 21 379
Voluntary Fire Brigade Lewin Kłodzki	Partner organization: Freiwillige Feuerwehr, Diedersdorf Project: Cultural heritage on the Amber Route – sports events, workshops and integrational events of the junior fire brigade teams from Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic	PLN 30 970
Voluntary Fire Brigade Schodnia	Partner organization: Freiwillige Feuerwehr, Heinsberg Project: The natural environment a common good in the countries of the European Union – a Polish–German workshop in the field of technical and ecological life-saving	PLN 13 961
Sasinia Cultural Association of Ostróda Ostróda	Partner organization: Kreisgemeinschaft Osterode Ostpreußen e.V., Osterode am Har Project: Memory and the Present - a program aimed at saving six neglected Mazurian graveyards connected with a literary contest, art competition for youth, as well as publishing activities	PLN 18 555
Bank of Food of Podkarpacie Rzeszów	Partner organization: Bielefelder Tafel e.V., Bielefeld Project: At a shared table – Polish-German charity cooperation	PLN 41 529
Polish-German Forum of Women Świnoujście	Partner organization: Deutsch-Polnisches Frauenforum Wolgast im Landkreis Anklam, Anklam Project: Women in the European Union – a Polish-German seminar for 60 participants with the participation of Deputies form the EU as well as MPs from Poland and Meklenburg	PLN 12 150
Regional Polish-German Society Zielona Góra	Partner organization: Deutsch-Polnischer Verein e.V., Cottbus Project: Art workshops for youth from twin cities	PLN 26 685
Salos Sports Organisation Czaplinek	Partner organization: Vfl Bad Schwartau v. 1863. eV, Bad Schwartau Project: II Sport Contest of twin cities	PLN 18 905
Association for Partnership between Starogard and Diepholz Starogard Gdański	Partner organization: Förderverein Starogard-Diepholz e.V., Diepholz Project: Kociewie in the European Union – a session of events aimed at promoting Kociewie with the participation of voluntary workers from Poland and Germany	PLN 18 273
Our Europe Association Wrocław	Partner organization: Partner organization: Paneuropa-Jugend Sachsen e.V., Dresden Project: A session of workshops entitled: Active women in the EU and a conference entitled: A woman of success. Creativity in life and at work with the participation of women from Poland and Germany	PLN 34 814
Art Forum Association Dębno Lubuskie	Partner organization: Barnimer Alternative e.V., Strausberg Project: Green Europe – a Polish-Czech-German ecological activity – planting a forest in Dębno, Strausberg and Terezin	PLN 19 037
Association of Polish Librarians Wrocław	Partner organization: City of Dresden, Dresden Library Project: Cultural education of children and youth- international conference	PLN 17 120
Jarocin XXI Association Jarocin	Partner organization: Werkstatt-Theater, Schlüchtern Project: Projections – a meeting of young people from Schluchtern and Jarocin – theatre workshops and a preview of independent cinema	PLN 52 243
LOS Self-help Centre of Lublin Lublin	Partner organization: Buergermedienzentrum Bennihaus, Münster Project: Bridges between nations – intergenerational cooperation of youth and seniors from Poland, Germany and Israel in the area of multimedia activities – e-learning	PLN 35 499
Association for Disabled Children and Youth Lublin	Partner organization: Partner organization: Foerderverein Münster-Lublin, Münster Project: Therapy and everyday work with a disabled child - an interchange of therapeutical experience between organisations from Poland and Germany	PLN 16 877
SŁUBFURT Association Słubice	Partner organization: Verband SLUBFURT Frankfurt/Oder Project: NGO Słubfurt project – a project of cooperation between non-govermental organisations from twin cities: Słubice and Frankfurt	PLN 31 743
Słubice Music Society Association Słubice	Partner organization: Mediationsstelle Frankfurt/Oder Project: Polish-German mediation trainings for teachers and students – continuation of a project launched in 2002	PLN 45 024
Theatre KANA Association Szczecin	Partner organization: Verein Städteparter Stettin, Berlin Kreuzberg Project: Body released – Polish-German theatre workshops for youth addicted and exposed to addiction	PLN 20 084
Green Pomerania Association Koszalin-Bobolice	Partner organization: Gemeinde Schmatzin, Melkenschule Schlatkow Project: Culture without borders – a session of cultural, educational and sports events with the communities from twin cities	PLN 32 618
Regional Government of Silesia Association Leśnica	Partner organization: Christlich-Soziales Bildungswerk Sachsen e.V., Miltitz Project: Festival of Partnership in Leśnica – a session of events promoting twin cities	PLN 10 126
Twin Town Partnership Association of Świdnica Świdnica	Partner organization: Partnerstadt Verein, Biberach Project: Poles and Germans – as good hosts – a series of events promoting twin cities with the participation of the representatives of the local government, business, youth and social activists from German and Poland	PLN 13 572
Open Education Society Wrocław	Partner organization: AWO Sonnenstein, Dresden Project: Therapy and integration with use of art – Polish-German art-therapy workshops and the festival Labyrinth of creation	PLN 40 124
Society of Lovers of Barlinek Barlinek	Partner organization: Deutsch-Polnische Gesellschaft, Schneverdingen Project: Following the footsteps of our ancestors – a cross-border cooperation – a series of integration events promoting twin cities	PLN 34 535
Five Students’ Sports Club Tczew	Partner organization: Freunschaftsverein Tczew-Witten, St Vinzenz von Paul Project: Our Alternative – Europe 2000 – an international conference on the ways of preventing drug addiction among youth, connected with a sport competition	PLN 11 928
Students’ Sports Club Puławy	Partner organization: VS Lokomotive Stendal Project: Intercultural integration through recreation and sport – Polish-German sports-integration meetings in Puławy	PLN 18 290
Association of Gardeners Jelenia Góra	Partner organization: Stadtverband Aachen der Familiengärtner Project: Green gardens of Europe – establishing a cooperation based on partnership between garden-plots of Aachen, Liberec and Jelenia Góra	PLN 5 191