ESC: Volunteers across borders 2023

Over Grenzen vzw means Across Borders Association and is an organisation that sets up projects concerning Peaceand Remembrance education for both youths and adults. It wants to connect the past and the present to promote a culture of peace and non-violence. The association uses the Youth Meeting Centre as a guest accommodation and educational centre as a ´base of operations´ for its activities. Because the YMC is situated next to the German military cemetery of Lommel, and in that way connected to the German War Grave Commission, it also supports the (youth) work and educational vision of this organisation. Across Borders Association has no economic, political or religious goals and is politically neutral. The association aims to promote cross-border meetings between both young people and adults about peace education. This objective includes: Building a bridge between the past and the here and now to promote a culture of peace and non-violence. The association wants to achieve this goal, among other things by: • Organizing projects and activities (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 temperaryexhibitions. We accompany the schoolgroups or youthgroups that stay here for more days by working on stories of soldiers or themes like propaganda, censure, democracy and EU, World War I and II, conflict handling, the African ubuntu, etc... We organise project with themes, which are mentioned above. We manage a group accommodation, with it's sleeping rooms, kitchen and free time sports possibilities. We maintain a European network of peace organisations that work with commemoration and education.