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KlimaWorld

Sustainable integration comes from cooperation—when skills from environmental education and migration education come together.

On November 26, Natalia Neumann, director of KUNA e.V., and scientific expert Dr. Alexandra Pozniak visited the extracurricular learning center KlimaWelten Hilchenbach. The visit took place as part of preparations for joint activities and possible cooperation in the project “SIBINE – Social Integration through Education for Sustainable Development.”

KlimaWelten aims to get people of all ages excited about climate, environmental, and sustainability issues and to enable action-oriented learning. The educational concept is based on the UN’s 17 sustainability goals and focuses on experiential learning with all the senses—from the KlimaKüche (climate kitchen) to the KlimaLabor (climate lab).

During the discussion, we talked about specific ways in which KlimaWelten could contribute to the SIBINE project and other areas of KUNA’s work. The organization has unique expertise in ESD education and thus represents a valuable addition to KUNA’s work in the areas of migration, diversity, and sustainable integration. Together, we identified the following potential areas of collaboration:

• Participation in the SIBINE project as a learning location partner in the field of sustainable integration

• Development of joint learning methods for adult migrants and local communities

• Implementation of workshops and practice-oriented offerings in the KlimaWelten premises

• Multiplier training on ESD methods in combination with integration and community-building approaches

• Long-term regional cooperation in North Rhine-Westphalia in the field of sustainable education and diversity

The visit was an important first step toward developing a strategic partnership between KUNA e.V. and KlimaWelten. We are very much looking forward to continuing our collaboration and working together to create new, innovative educational formats at the intersection of sustainability and integration.

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Central Asia: Breaking down stereotypes and building bridges!

The three-day international forum ‘Looking to Central Asia – and back’ in Lutherstadt Wittenberg has just come to an end. The event, organised by the West-East Encounters Foundation with the support of the Protestant Academy of Saxony-Anhalt, offered a deep insight into the region.

Central Asia is not a monolith, but a multi-layered mosaic of unique cultures, histories and the aspirations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Key insights and speakers

• Opening: Welcome addresses by Paul Martin (Protestant Academy) and Elena Hoffmann (West-East Encounters Foundation) and a keynote speech by Dr Andrea Schmitz (SWP) on current dynamics in the region.
• Geopolitics: Shairbek Dzhuraev and Temur Umarov shared fascinating insights into the political order and geopolitical dependencies.
• Economy: Dr Roland Götz and Dr Uwe Strohbach (Germany Trade & Invest) presented the region from the perspective of resources, reforms and development potential.
• Civil society: Matthias Platzeck, Dr Mahabat Sadyrbek, Tatyana Nikitina and Elmira Abylbek discussed the role of activists between the state and change.
• Conclusion: A dialogue with the heads of the embassies of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan on current political events and regional cooperation.

The atmosphere was complemented by cultural highlights: a performance by flutist Mira Tulenova and an art tour with ArtCity e.V., featuring photos from Kyrgyzstan and a short film.

This forum provided an invaluable, nuanced perspective. A huge thank you to the organisers and all participants for an honest conversation!

Mutual understanding and bridge-building are exactly what we need right now!

to galery …

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Announcement: Seminar workshop ‘Sustainable development of regions: Smart Region +’

The initiative launched by the SMART Village e. V. association in Bad Belzig is presented as an example of a comprehensive and successful project for the digitisation of rural areas. In addition, other practical digital solutions from rural regions are presented, including inspiring projects from the regional competition ‘Our Village Has a Future’.

On the days outside the workshops, the learning experience will be enriched by guided tours and excursions to sustainable villages in the North Frisia region.

📅 Date December 8–12, 2025
📍 Place: Flensburg, Germany
💰 Entry fee: 350,00 €
🚗 Travel and accommodation costs are to be borne by the participants themselves.

📌 The detailed programme will be announced shortly.

📧 Registration via E-Mail
⏰ Registration deadline: September 30, 2025