International Sonnenberg Association e.V.
What is the ISA?
The International Sonnenberg Association e.V. (ISA) was founded in 1958 and has since been committed to fostering peaceful and equal dialogue among people from different countries and cultures. It is a non-profit association registered in Germany and sees itself as an international network that keeps the spirit of Sonnenberg alive across national borders.
Historical Roots
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The origins of the ISA date back to 1949. In the aftermath of the crimes of National Socialism and the consequences of the Second World War, Danish and German teachers came together on the Sonnenberg in the Harz Mountains. Their aim was to find new and effective ways of promoting international understanding and safeguarding peace. Over the years, these encounters developed into an international movement, which ultimately led to the founding of the ISA in 1958.
Development and International Networking
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Through regular meetings, conferences, and seminars held at the Sonnenberg, a steadily growing international circle of supporters and participants emerged over the decades. At times, up to 5,000 members from 24 countries felt connected to the Sonnenberg spirit.
The ISA was founded to make this international profile visible, to strengthen it, and to bring it together within an organizational framework.
Tasks and Ways of Working Today
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Even without a central conference venue, the ISA continues to coordinate international educational and exchange activities to this day. It supports cooperation between partners in different countries, coordinates international activities, and assists with funding applications, for example within the framework of the European Union.
Regular exchanges of information, ideas, and experiences ensure that international perspectives are maintained and further developed in the joint work.
Key Areas of Focus
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At the heart of the ISA’s work are international conferences, seminars, and projects for young people and adults addressing current political and social issues. Particular emphasis is placed on active participation: learning, discussing, and acting together foster understanding, trust, and sustainable international relationships.
Significance of the ISA
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To this day, the ISA stands for the conviction that international understanding requires active structures, personal commitment, and lived cooperation. It contributes to carrying forward and internationally anchoring the Sonnenberg spirit—as an idea of dialogue, democracy, and peace—even without permanent institutions.