The chairman of the board of a small garden reports that a German Reich flag is flying in a leased plot and that evening meetings are taking place at which right-wing rock music is being played. There have been isolated complaints from other members of the association, the board is aware of the problem and wants to be more capable of acting. In a joint process, the goal of the parties receiving consultation is worked out and ways in which this can be achieved. In consultations, drafts for changes to the statutes as well as a change to the house rules are worked out together. At the same time, the other members of the association are informed and transparently involved in the process. After a lengthy process involving various groups of people, those seeking consultation say that they have achieved their goal and that the measures developed will enable them to act in the long term.

Recently, a new coalition of civil society has been founded, which wants to get involved against right-wing extremism. Since the members are so far inexperienced in working in coalitions, they turn to the Mobile Counseling and ask for support. In a process moderated by Mobile Counseling, the coalition develops a self-image that is to serve as a basis for future action. Furthermore, the coalition will formulate initial goals for action and clarify responsibilities. In the future, educational events and panel discussions will be held to draw attention to right-wing structures within the region and raise public awareness of the issue. Since such events are often associated with costs, the Mobile Counseling supports the coalition by referring to funding opportunities and explaining application formalities. The coalition then applies for funding and organizes the first events, which help to make the coalition better known and to establish a local network. The parties receiving consultation state they have achieved the goal (support in setting up and structuring a coalition).

Anti-Semitic graffiti has appeared at a school, and “Jew!” is used as an insult in the schoolyard. The school social worker has noticed this. Fearing a lack of sensitivity on the part of the school administration, she initially and anonymously contacted the Mobile Counseling. Together, they analyzed the problem and made a professional assessment of the situation in order to convince the school administration team of the urgent need for action. After a successful discussion, concrete steps for action were agreed upon and implemented in a first step together with the management team and the school social work: advanced training to raise the awareness of the entire teaching staff as well as offers of empowerment for the students affected by anti-Semitism with external consultants. Subsequently, a long-term concept for dealing with anti-Semitic incidents at the school was developed.

The association WABE e.V. has stood for non-partisan, anti-fascist, and anti-racist politics, education, and culture since 2010. The goals of the association are the promotion of tolerance, democracy, international solidarity, international understanding, and civil society engagement.

Article 2 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is a central basis of the work of WABE e.V. The confrontation with racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination, for instance because of religion, origin, political views, language, or other status, is the focus of the educational and consultation work of WABE e.V.

WABE e.V. was founded as a support association for the Weser-Aller-Bündnis: Committed to Democracy & Civil Courage (WABE), an inter-communal network of the districts and cities of Nienburg and Verden. The municipal network was created to counteract activities of the extreme right with democratic networks and educational processes. Within the framework of the Verden – Nienburg Partnership for Democracy, WABE e.V. has taken over the sponsorship of the external coordination office and specialist department and implements educational projects for the youth.

WABE e.V. is the regional coordinator for School without Racism – School with Courage in the Lower Saxony Network and is the contact for students and schools in the districts of Nienburg and Verden.

WABE e.V. has also been active statewide since 2020 as a provider of the Mobile Counseling Lower Saxony against Right-Wing Extremism for Democracy, with regional offices in Hildesheim, Oldenburg, and Verden, and continues to strengthen the Weser-Aller region with democratic educational projects.

WABE e.V. is recognized by the Verden revenue office as a non-profit organization and an independent youth welfare service agency by the state of Lower Saxony.

WABE e.V.
Holzmarkt 15
27283 Verden
+494231 / 12-456
E-mail: info@wabe-info.de