name of the project/initiative: Women's memory: Future needs remembering - remembering needs future beginn: 1.Januar.1998 end: 11.Mai.2019 position of the project/initiative : running location of the project/initiative (city and the country): Germany, Central- and East-Europe, Georgia Institution responsible: East-West-European Women's Network, OWEN e.V. adress: Elsa-Brändström-Str. 5 13189 Berlin Germany fon: +49-(0)30-280 85 41 fax: +49-(0)30-283 2252 email: owen@snafu.de website: www.owen-frauennetzwerk.de contact person: Marina Beyer-Grasse cooperation with other institutions: Gender Studies Praha Gender Studies Bratislawa Memorial St. Petersburg Summary/ Abstract: identity building, history and memory social learning integration of minorities non violent conflict prevention peace and reconciliation Background (reason, initiative?): OWEN as a women’s NGO based in East-Germany was founded in 1991 to support women as actors and activists for democracy, mutual understanding, dialog and cooperation in Europe after the collapse of the socialist regimes in Central- and East Europe. In this context we had to learn and to understand, that our past – history as well as biografies AND the ownership of the post-socialist “power on memory and history” of the pasts can be used as chances but also barrieres for creating the future. We understood, that remembering the own past and sharing personal memories and stories can have an empowering effect by opening ways to overcome new and old pattern of “internalized oppression” and raising self confidence as a responsible acting subject and citizen. We understood, that by sharing personal memories and reflecting its structural and cultural context across existing diversities “bridges” can be build in order to link past – present and future and in order to support civic and democratic initiatives from buttom up. Therefore we decided to start in 1998 together with Gender Studies Praha an other partners in Central- and East Europe the international research and education project “Women’s memory- searching for the life and identity of women during the socialist era”. Since 1998 more than 500 biografic interviews had been done with women, born between 1920-1960. During the project process we developed a set of methods for workshops/seminars/ training courses where approaches of biografical work, oral history, the Paulo Freire”pedagogy of deliberation” and gender related education are used. objectives: Promote civic society and democracy through supporting dialogues between women, women and men, belonging to diverse generations, cultural, ethnic, social backgrounds as well as diverse political positions target groups: women (and men) of diverse generations, migrants, NGO activists, trainers of school external institutions setting (family. open space, school, home, others): open space, home, school education external institutions methods of intergenerational learning/ dialogue: intergenerational dialogue/learning) - biografical interviews of women belonging to tree generations, born between 1920-1960 - workshops/seminars/training courses difficulties and ways of transition: Difficulties: Internalized victimization of people who had to cope in the past with traumatic experiences often show problems to listen to others, who are outside of the “community” of victims. The older generation sometimes likes to send “messages” to the younger ones. In order to come into a dialogue it seems hard for them to accept, what THEY could learn from the next generations, growing up in an other “modern” world, where social structures and cultures (values, visions and life stiles) has been changed. We try to manage these challences through setting rules of communication, through a empathic work of the moderator and providing a trust full environment Does the project relate trainings of persons involved? (Discription): yes, through train the trainers and providing training materials successful experiences: A real dialogue between people who for different reasons belong to diverse communities needs courage, openness, trust and learning of all who are involved extension of the project/ initiative: crossing borders funding: Public foundations, public institutions (federal, state), European Union publications: non