The IBZ serves as the project sponsor together with St. Ursula School. The two organizations coordinate the schedule, the preparation and follow-up for the seminars, and organize the seminars themselves, as well as determine the methodological, didactic, and content-related approach. The entire seminar program is supervised and supported by IBZ staff.
The network meetings also take place on the IBZ premises. The IBZ is located on the grounds of the nearly 800-year-old Cistercian convent of St. Marienthal in the tri-border region of Germany, Poland, and the Czech Republic, between Görlitz and Zittau, directly on the Neisse River, which forms the German-Polish border.
Since its founding in 1992, the foundation’s goal has been to promote encounters between people from diverse backgrounds. The foundation sees this as its contribution to peace, to the reconciliation of religions and worldviews, and to mutual understanding among European nations and ethnic groups. Today, approximately 200 events on various topics and for different target groups take place annually. In addition, the foundation works on outstanding and innovative (European) projects. The IBZ collaborates with the following networks:
Europe-wide: European Federation for Catholic Adult Education (FEECA); International Center for Adult Education; Caritas; Environment Builds Bridges; 5 trinational (D-CZ-PL) networks on “Equal Opportunities for Women and Men,” trinational network on environmental education (D-CZ-PL); PONTES – Learning in and for Europe; Euroregion Neisse.
Nationwide: Federal Association of German Foundations; Working Group of Catholic Social Educational Institutions; Network Against Violence; State Working Group on Adult Education.
IBZ Marienthal website: www.ibz-marienthal.de/
