Special Funding 2026 – WE ARE CONNECTED.

The terror attacks of the Hamas on civilians of all ages in Israel on October 7, 2023 has caused more than 1,200 dead, about 240 Israelis have been kidnapped and tens of thousands of people have lost their homes. The war initiated by Hamas and supported by terror and missile attacks in the north of Israel has caused the evacuation of cities and communities. On the background of the attacks on Israel, the initiative WE ARE CONNECTED. was launched.

The initiative invites German and Israeli partner organizations and young people from the field of youth exchange, school exchange and the voluntary services, to keep in touch with each other. It encourages to give concrete support to concrete help projects. The initiative invites to support mentally and through creating ideas for donations.

As part of the initiative, partner organizations can develop a variety of ideas for non-material, practical or financial support. Some specific ideas can also receive funding.

Options are, for example …

• Making Israeli Voices Heard: Contribute in making Israeli voices heard in Germany – from those directly affected and from the center of the Israeli society. German organizations can organize an online-meeting or invite their Israeli exchange partners to Germany for a few days. Organizations from Germany can bring former participants, parents and friends of the German-Israeli exchange projects into contact with the guests from Israel – for an evening, a discussion round, as part of the visit to a youth center or a school. 

  With the short-term funding of a “small project” (in German: “Kleinaktivität” – max. 1,000 €) you can realize an online meeting.

  With the funding of a “Professional Program” (in German “Fachkräfteprogramm”) you can invite professionals from the field of youth work from Israel to Germany.

• Invitation of Young Israelis – Affected by the Situation: German organizations can invite young people from Israel, who were directly affected by the attacks, or are still affected, to come to Germany and to meet with young Germans. Thousands of children and young people in Israel are still confronted with a very challenging situation – they were attacked in their own communities in the south or had to be evacuated from the northern part of the country. German organizations can invite young Israelis to Germany – to relax and find distraction from the ongoing state of emergency in Israel. Meetings between young people from both countries can be particularly valuable in these times.

  With the Special Funds WE ARE CONNECTED. 2026, an invitation to Germany and an encounter with young Germans can receive support (further details can be found below).