Berlin/Stuttgart, February 27, 2025 – Trust in state institutions is declining. Right-wing extremist parties are gaining ground and society is increasingly divided. This year, the Robert Bosch Stiftung is focusing its work on social cohesion. Under the motto “Our Democracy Depends on Us,” it is offering support totaling around 11 million euros for numerous projects in Germany where people are actively involved in society.
“Dialogue is the basis of the liberal democratic order,” says Bernhard Straub, Chief Executive Officer of the Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH. “As a foundation, we are committed to the idea that controversies can be resolved through debate and that people can always change their perspective, learn to accept differences and find compromises. In this spirit, we want to draw attention this year to successful examples of our support in order to share experiences, inspire others and encourage them to follow suit. We are convinced that each and every one of us bears responsibility for our democracy.”
Examples of democracy in action
In its work, the foundation supports innovative formats for citizan participation and local projects in which people come together in everyday spaces such as sports clubs or hairdressing salons and are encouraged to respect the opinions of others. The foundation will also continue to expand its support for democracy education for schoolchildren and teachers in the coming years. For the first time, it will award a theme prize for democracy education as part of the German School Award on September 30, 2025.
