The Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe, an independent NGO, was established in 1990 by Poles, Germans, Dutch and Americans, co-operating with the Club of Catholic Intelligentsia from Wrocław. The goal of the Foundation is peaceful, democratic coexistence of different nations, through mutual understanding of social groups and individuals.

The meeting centre in Krzyżowa in Lower Silesia is a special historic location. A German resistance group, the Kreisau Circle, held secret meetings in this village during World War II giving an example of civil courage and co-operation despite political and religious differences. Helmuth James von Moltke, to whom the entire estate belonged at that time, was one of the leaders of the group. In November 1989 Krzyżowa was chosen for the Polish-German Mass of Reconciliation, a symbolic turning point in Polish-German relations after Poland rejoined the family of democratic countries.

Three main activity groups of the Krzyżowa Foundation help to promote mutual understanding: Inter-national Youth Meeting Centre, European Academy and Memorial Place. Guests of the meeting centre at Krzyżowa are not only participants of the meetings organized by the Foundation, but also companies and businessmen. They organize here their own conferences, presentations and training courses. The Krzyżowa Foundation is present in Wrocław too. The office in the main city of Lower Silesia supports the programme activity fostered in Krzyżowa and helps to finance it.

Projects of the Krzyżowa Foundation
  for Mutual Understanding in Europe

International Youth Meeting Centre

The main, longest running and largest activity of the Krzyżowa Foundation is work with young people from all Europe, especially Poles and Germans. IYMC extends an invitation to meetings on different topics organized in the form of school exchanges, integrational meetings, artistic workshops, conferences and courses. Recreation and games follow the intensive programme of work.

Guests of the Meeting Centre learn: foreign languages, culture and traditions of different countries, history, perspectives of the European Union or how democracy works. While developing their own hobbies and extending their knowledge in various subjects they also gain friends, despite national differences, and they successfully combat prejudices. Organized groups as well as individuals participate in programmes of the Meeting Centre.

European Academy

The Academy is based on an assumption, that the future of democracy in Europe requires a mutual understanding and co-operation between the East and the West of the continent, two worlds which were divided in the 20th century. In order to build bridges between both parts of Europe the Academy organizes conferences on different subjects, study trips and residential courses, workshops, concerts, exhibitions or meetings with authors. Guests are always invited from both Eastern and Western Europe.

The Academy supports co-operation at a regional level by hosting groups dealing with the economics, science, culture and politics of this part of Poland.

The Memorial Place

The Memorial Place provides a scholarly workshop for discovering and for dealing with history creatively. It is not a museum, but a place of meetings, of awareness and thoughts about the past and the future. The Memorial Place presents resistance and opposition against totalitarian dictatorships in the 20th century by recalling groups and individuals from all over Europe, who despite high personal risk fought for justice, freedom and human rights.

A library with a multimedia section, as well as a permanent exhibition on the history of the Kreisau Circle and democratic opposition in Eastern and Central Europe (1945-89), help to fulfill this task. Conferences and various congresses dealing with this topic are also organized in co-operation with the IYMC and European Academy.

Conference Centre

The conference and hotel facilities of Krzyżowa are also used as a place for work and recreation for groups and individuals coming here with their own programme of stay. They support the organization of congresses, conferences, negotiations, fairs, banquets and other national or international business meetings.

Outdoors events which diversify the stay in Krzyżowa like picknics, bonfires, festivities, horse riding sessions or other leisure activities are arranged by the Conference Centre too.

All profits earned by the Conference Centre finance the programme work of the Foundation undertaken in Krzyżowa.

Europeum

The office of the Krzyżowa Foundation as well as a commercially operated hotel in the Europeum building, right in the city centre of Wrocław. The office supports the programme of work in Krzyżowa, playing the role of an "embassy" in the main city of the region.

All profits from the rooms and conference facilities in Europeum finance international youth exchange and the activities for mutual understanding undertaken in Krzyżowa.

Meeting Centre in Krzyżowa offers:

• 175 places in 1-, 2-, 3- or 4
• bed rooms (suites and rooms with shared bathroom)
• 16 conference rooms, including a multifunctional room for 350 guests
• Equipment for simultaneous translations and multimedia presentations
• Stage with professional public address and lighting system
• Restaurant, Café
• Gym and sports ground
• The meeting centre in Krzyżowa are friendly towards disabled people