Record year 2024: 12 projects connect Prenzlau to Barklinek and Uster!

Record year 2024: 12 projects connect Prenzlau to Barklinek and Uster!

Uckermark, Deutschland - Last year, 2024, the Association for City Partnerships in Prenzlau experienced an eventful and fertile year with a total of twelve projects in four partner cities: Barklinek in Poland, Uster in Switzerland, Varėna in Lithuania and numerous overarching activities. This was one of the most active years in the club's history, as reported to the Nordkurier . The annual report will be presented on June 26th in the city council, which will give further insight into the successful work of the association.

A special highlight was the first lake gang around Lake Lake Lake in March, in which over 120 participants, including 41 from Barllinek, were linked to new contacts. The Prenzlau city festival in June 2024 also brought international flair: six alphorn players from Uster gave a spontaneous concert in the Marienkirche, which underlines friendly coexistence.

town twinning as a bridge builder

city twinning that were launched after the Second World War are more than just formal relationships between cities. They promote the exchange between citizens from different countries and are considered a long-term instrument of municipal foreign policy, such as the Federal Center for Political Education . In Germany there are thousands of these partnerships that contribute to European integration and strengthen the feeling of community through joint activities.

The practical work of the clubs is supported by prudent household management and targeted funding. In this way, the financial situation of the association remains stable. Chairman Susanne Schütte has also announced that the existing cooperation with Barklinek, Uster and Varėna continues and new projects as well as smaller exchange formats are planned in schools and clubs.

challenges for the future

But the city twinning work faces challenges: the establishment of new partnerships is made more difficult by limited financial resources and the fact that many German municipalities already have existing partnerships. At the same time, motivation for international commitment to the younger generation must be promoted, since many young people no longer feel the feeling of the importance of such encounters. According to the German Cities and Community Association , the sustainable further development of city twinning is more important than ever.

Internationality and the exchange are not only a question of the past, but also of the future. The city twinning movement could be revitalized through new formats and creative approaches in order to meet the peaceful coexistence of the peoples. In times when trips and international relationships change, it is important to find fresh ways to beat bridges and to consolidate the lived friendship.