Foreign subsidiary Germany
The Auslandsgesellschaft Deutschland e. V. (AgD) is a non-profit association based in Dortmund . The association is committed to international understanding and international dialogue.
history
Since 1949 foreign societies have been campaigning for peace, tolerance and international understanding in some federal states. The oldest foreign company is the Dortmund-based Auslandsgesellschaft Nordrhein-Westfalen e. V. The idea of forming a loose association of legally independent foreign companies came about with the founding of the Lower Saxony Foreign Company e. V. (founded in 2003) in Osnabrück and the Mitteldeutsche Auslandsgesellschaft (founded in 2006) in Oberlichtenau (Saxony). On November 7, 2005, the Auslandsgesellschaft Deutschland e. V. (AgD) founded as an umbrella. The talks that had been held since 2003 on the constitution of the AgD were concluded with the founding assembly.
On October 8, 2003, the award for international understanding, tolerance and peace was awarded to the former Hungarian Prime Minister of Hungary Dr. Gyula Horn . for his commitment and the promotion of international dialogue between people of different nationalities, religions and cultures. The AgD award honors personalities who have rendered outstanding services to international understanding in the spirit of humanity and tolerance. On November 17, 2004, the Dortmund Solar Energy Forum took place as the kick-off event for the AgD's agricultural development project in cooperation with OIKOS Eine Welt e. V. in Angola. 50,000 euros in donations were collected for 5 motorized corn mills. Five village communities with around 100,000 people live from the yields of the maize mills.
On December 9, 2005, the first award of the prize for international social engagement to the Olga-Havel Foundation, Prague, and Smile as a gift, Bratislava, followed at the Dortmund Solar Energy Forum. The Olga Havel Foundation was honored because it has made a special contribution to the rights of disabled, old and sick people in the Czech Republic. The Smile as a gift foundation is particularly committed to helping socially disadvantaged children, young people and women in the Slovak Republic.
On November 5, 2006 the award for international understanding, tolerance and peace was awarded to Charter 77 in the Solar Energy Forum Dortmund. Representing Charter 77 and on the occasion of its 30th anniversary, its members Vaclav Maly (Auxiliary Bishop of Prague) and Dr. Alexandr Vondra received the award.
tasks
The purpose of the company is "to support the foreign companies active at the state level in fulfilling their statutory mandate to serve international understanding in the spirit of humanity and tolerance." (Extract from the association's statutes). For this purpose, the AgD maintains - together with the AGNRW - "the Intercultural Academy, a further education institution recognized according to the North Rhine-Westphalia Further Education Act, which cultivates human, cultural, social and economic relationships with all peoples." (Extract from the statutes)
The AgD represents the interests of the foreign companies grouped together in Germany nationally and internationally in political, cultural, social and economic matters vis-à-vis federal institutions, the European Union and the UN, as well as all national and international organizations. It also maintains a representative office in the federal capital Berlin.
Together with the Auslandsgesellschaft Nordrhein-Westfalen e. V., the AgD is based in the former police station at Steinstraße 48 ( Steinwache ) in Dortmund, which was used by the Gestapo to torture and extort confessions from political opponents during the Nazi era .
Areas of activity
- The Intercultural Academy conducts intercultural training, German as a foreign language (DaF) intensive language courses, integration courses from the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees , foreign language courses in 25 languages and language courses for students during the holidays. The "Business Services" summarize the language services and intercultural offers for companies, authorities and associations. With its range of services, it makes a contribution to the integration of foreigners into the social structure of the Federal Republic of Germany. At the same time she informs about other countries, cultures and religions.
- The purpose of the International Dance Academy is to support ballet as an art form in cooperation with the respective local national ballet organizations. The International Dance Academy works closely with the Ballet of the Dortmund Theater.
- The Academy for International Relations and Cooperation bundles the company's national and international contacts under the umbrella of the AgD. As part of its work, the academy organizes international country conferences, events and handles international projects.