The federal and state governments have to secure Sorbian Foundation in the long term!

The federal and state governments have to secure Sorbian Foundation in the long term!

Lausitz, Deutschland - On Friday, the Prime Minister of Brandenburg and Saxony, Dietmar Woidke (SPD) and Michael Kretschmer (CDU), signed a joint letter to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in which they demand a long -term securing of the foundation of the foundation for the Sorbian people. The current funds come from the federal government, Saxony and Brandenburg, but are without a legal basis. In view of the financing agreements that expire until the end of the year, the need for stable financial support becomes particularly clear. The foundation, which has ensured the preservation and promotion of Sorbian culture and language for over 30 years, to offer its small but lively community of around 60,000 sorbs home.

The foundation itself was founded on October 19, 1991 in Lohsa and has the task of developing and spreading the Sorbian language and culture. A state contract from 1998 gave her legal capacity, which contributes significantly to the promotion of Sorbian identity. It organizes cultural events, competitions, exhibitions and is also the publisher of films and recorders, which makes the cultural heritage visible. According to the foundation, it is a constant struggle to preserve the Sorbian language and culture in a world where they are increasingly under pressure

financing agreements and current challenges

The fourth agreement is currently underway to support the foundation, which came into force in 2021 and provides for an annual financing of around 23.9 million euros. The federal government bears most of the costs. The shares are distributed as follows: 3/6 by the federal government, 2/6 from the Free State of Saxony and 1/6 from the state of Brandenburg. Woidke and Kretschmer have emphasized how important this support is not only for the sorbs, but also for the cultural identity of Saxony.

The chairman of the Domovina, Dawid Statnik, has been expressing concerns about the lack of planning security in terms of financing for years. This uncertainty could endanger the numerous educational and cultural projects that are essential for securing the Sorbian language. From 2015 to 2020, the foundation also received special funds for digitization projects in order to process and make the culture of Sorbs in a contemporary way.

Sorbian identity and the European Charter

In a larger context, the Sorbian language also plays a role in the debate about the Charter of Regional and Minority languages. This charter was decided in 1992 and protects the Upper and Lower Sorbian, Low German languages ​​in Germany and the Romanes. The promotion and recognition of these languages ​​in public life are crucial to preserve the diversity of Europe. However, it has been shown from recent years that, despite all efforts, regional languages ​​such as Sorbian are less and less heard. The annual discussion about means and resources for the Sorbs symbolically stands for the greater challenge to preserve cultural identity in today's world.

Overall, the Sorbs are faced with the great challenge of not only maintaining their language and culture, but also bringing them close to a broader public. The measures that the foundation takes, and the use of regional politics are crucial in order to keep the Sorbian heritage alive for future generations.