Encounter and understanding
Our support
Would you like to organise an exchange project or establish new contacts with partner organisations in Eastern Europe, the South Caucasus, Central Asia or the Baltic States? We support your projects!
The West-Eastern Encounters Foundation supports youth encounters, cooperation between initiatives and associations, school projects and much more, whether it’s a climate workshop, history workshop, concert, meeting or sporting event.
We advise those seeking funding on how to plan their encounter programmes sustainably and apply for funding.
Our partner countries
Our Blog
Future in Exchange – Youth and Dialogue Forum
Are you engaged in your community, curious about international cooperation, and eager to shape the future together with other young people? Then we warmly invite you to apply for our conference on 24 November 2025 in Berlin, Germany.
Annual Report 2024
A year full of encounters, collaborations, and new momentum: In our annual report, we provide an insight into the projects, partnerships, and developments that shaped our work in 2024. Discover how we are strengthening cultural exchange and cooperation between East and West.
Looking at Central Asia – and Back
We invite you to Lutherstadt Wittenberg from October 10–12, 2025, to explore the political, social, and cultural diversity of Central Asia. The focus will be on Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan – their self-images, external perceptions, and the different perspectives on the region.
Our mission
The West-Eastern Encounters Foundation promotes encounters between civil societies in Germany and the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. The Foundation also develops its own formats and projects in collaboration with partners at home and abroad. More.
Our initiatives
The West-Eastern Encounters Foundation is a sponsor and is also active with its own formats and collaborations. We organise seminars, conferences and individual events to bring together people with an interest in and commitment to the subject to exchange ideas. Our goal is to strengthen networks, promote dialogue, and develop sustainable long-term cooperation. More.
Our statements on Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine
The invasion by Russian troops is bringing suffering and violence to the Ukrainian people. It is threatening international understanding and cooperation for the foreseeable future. We stand in solidarity with those affected and call for a return to the negotiating table.
Read the full statement here.
The foundation is a member of the Federal Association of German Foundations.
The foundation supports the principles of good foundation practice.
Stiftung West-Östliche Begegnungen | Nicolaihaus | Brüderstr. 13 | 10178 Berlin | Germany
Tel.: +49 30 2044840 | Mob.: +49 1512 9503173 | Fax: +49 30 20647646 | Email: info@stiftung-woeb.de
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