ESC Volunteer Friends of Ysselsteyn

In 2013, the foundation 'Friends of Ysselsteyn' was founded. The purpose of the foundation is: Support the German War Cemetery and the international educational center (JOC) in Ysselsteyn financially and morally in her work. The objectives of the German Wargraves Commission, the German Military Cemetery and the JOC read: Reconciliation over the graves and visitors meet the past and work together in peace projects. We are an organisation that sets up projects concerning Peace- and mRemembrance education for both youths and adults. We want to connect the past and the present to promote a culture of peace and non-violence. The association uses the Youth Meeting Centre in Ysselsteyn as a groupaccommodation and educational centre as a ´base of operations´ for its activities. Because the YMC is situated next to the German military cemetery of Ysselsteyn, and in that way connected to the German War Grave Commission, it also supports the (youth)work and educational vision of this organisation. The foundation Friends of Ysselsteyn has no economical, political or religious goals and is politically neutral. What does our foundation do? • Organizing projects and activities (concerts, theatre, exhibitions, events, lectures, etc.) for both youths and adults concerning Peace- and Remembrance education. • Enhancing international encounters between both youths and adults (meeting- or exchange programmes) • Founding or cooperating with thematic networks, partners and educational platforms • Ensuring the further development of national and international cooperation concerning peace and remembrance. • Being a breeding ground for innovation and creation of projects regarding peace and remembrance What kind of activities do take place? • We help visitors of the German Wargrave Cemetery, to find graves of their relatives or help them with the search of soldiers for research. • We accompany day group visits to our cemetery and temporary exhibitions. • We accompany the schoolgroups or youthgroups that stay here for more days by working on stories of soldiers or themes like propaganda, censorship, democracy and EU, World War I and II, conflict handling, etc... • We organise projects with themes, which are mentioned above. • We manage a group accommodation, with sleeping rooms, houses, kitchen and free time sports possibilities. • We maintain a European network of peace organisations that work with commemoration and education.