FLAGSHIP PROGRAMMES
National Network
Germany
Address
Fürstengarten 10Country
City
Lauenburg, ElbeMobile Phone
+33749799909Telephone
+33749799909E-Mail (2)
melissa@goik.deE-Mail (3)
programmes@intercultural-connections.deE-Mail (4)
annikadoreen.maurer@outlook.comWebsite
Click HereYear of Establishment
2025Contact Person1
Annika MaurerJob Title 1
Founder, Director and Intercultural TrainerContact Person 2
Oumaima NoualiJob Title 2
Programme CoordinatorOrganisation Type
Private CompanyFields of Activity
Democracy and community development, Environment/Sustainable development, International/Cultural relationsGeneral Information
Intercultural Connections is a youth-led initiative founded by Annika Maurer, supported by a team of five volunteers. Together, we run virtual exchanges and events for an international community of young people passionate about intercultural dialogue and social change. Since 2023, we have organized three virtual exchange programs, creating opportunities for connection and learning across borders. In addition to the flagship programme, we offer ongoing webinars and online workshops open to both alumni and new participants, fostering a growing, inclusive space for dialogue and exchange.
In March 2025, the project was finally registered as a not-for-profit company in Germany in order to further deepen the activities.
Mission and Objectives
Our mission is to create opportunities for young people regardless of geographic location, CV, passport or financial means to engage in intercultural dialogue, leadership development, and collaborative action. Through digital platforms, we provide access to knowledge and skills that promote peace, inclusivity, and sustainable development. We aim to break down barriers and challenge biases, empowering young leaders to make meaningful contributions in their communities and beyond.
The goal is to provide youth with the tools for building peace in their own communities and lead their own projects:
The projects is based on the assumption that global youth have the solutions already to the problems their communities are facing, but they lack connections, financial resources and knowledge how to implement them as well as how to get others on board. Through exchange of peacebuilders and changemakers from different regions, they can learn from each other's best practices and share struggles and develop ideas. At the same time, the intercultural exchange leads to a broadening of perspectives on the same issue. To nurture peaceful relationships and deal with grievances, we offer tools for resilience and social and emotional learning.
A key objective of our work is to connect youth engaged in grassroots action into a global community where they can gain visibility, share best practices, and receive their first exposure to international collaboration. Ultimately, we seek to build a diverse, connected network of youth changemakers and peacebuilders committed to dialogue and social impact.
Main Projects / Activities
Medium: Webinars, virtual workshops, virtual exchange programmes.
Learning Goal: SEL and youth leadership.
Topic: varying, connected to peace and intercultural dialogue.
The main means of Intercultural Connections to foster peace is Social and Emotional Learning and Dialogue. Through the means of interaction with people that are different from oneself coupled with theoretical learning on intercultural communication and a facilitation of the dialogue, youth practices holding space for differences, to disagree peacefully and to create friendships across borders.
All our events include a diverse target audience from multiple countries (to engage in cultural exchange), reflection prompts (either one one's own identity, culture or a topic related to sustainable develeopment) and a thematic input on a topic relevant to youth.
Our flagship programme, Connections, has taken place annually since 2023. Connections2025 focused on the theme of Intercultural Dialogue for Peace. These three-week virtual exchanges bring together young people from across continents to learn, collaborate, and reflect on shared values and cultural diversity.
Alongside the main programme, we host regular thematic webinars and community meet-ups, where participants explore issues such as the Sustainable Development Goals from a range of cultural perspectives. Topics include intercultural communication, climate action, education, and community engagement. These sessions are free, accessible, and open to all, and are facilitated by our team with a commitment to participation, inclusion, and learning.
How can you contribute to the Network in your country?
As part of the ALF Network, we would contribute by offering virtual capacity-building workshops and sharing our expertise in culturally informed project design, facilitation, and inclusive digital engagement. We have experience designing accessible online formats that are welcoming to diverse audiences, and can support other network members looking to engage youth through intercultural and virtual approaches. We are also eager to build connections within the network and collaborate with both national and regional partners to promote peace, dialogue, and youth participation.
Why do you want to join the ALF Network?
We are excited about the opportunity to join the Anna Lindh Foundation Network as a way to expand our activities, particularly in the Euro-Mediterranean region. While we currently have a strong base of participants from countries such as Morocco, Kenya, Cameroon, the Philippines, and Pakistan, we aim to grow our presence in Europe and deepen our regional collaborations. Being part of the ALF Network would allow us to co-create dialogue initiatives with like-minded organizations, strengthen our impact, and contribute to a collective effort toward peace and mutual understanding. We see this as an opportunity to not only amplify our own work but also learn from others and build a sustainable, youth-driven culture of dialogue.
Additional Information
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