Aktion Zivilcourage e.V.

Aktion Zivilcourage e.V. is a non-partisan, non-profit registered association based in Pirna, Saxony, Germany. It was founded in 1998 as a youth initiative responding to far-right violence and electoral successes in the Sächsische Schweiz district, and it has since grown into a nationwide provider of political and civic education. The association works with children, young people, pedagogical professionals, local government officials, volunteers and municipal decision-makers, offering workshops, training courses, networking events and digital learning formats. Its work is organised around four main target groups: the next generation, public responsibility holders, engaged volunteers, and the DemocracyCampus digital education platform. The organisation is recognised by the Federal Agency for Civic Education as a nationwide provider of political education and as a provider of free youth welfare in Saxony. It has received numerous awards, including the Phineo Wirkt-Siegel, the Theodor-Heuss-Medaille and the Bernhard Vogel Education Prize. With around 40 full-time staff and locations in Pirna, Sebnitz, Dresden and Berlin, Aktion Zivilcourage e.V. continues to strengthen democratic culture and civic engagement, with a particular focus on structurally weak and rural regions of eastern Germany.

The origins of Aktion Zivilcourage e.V. trace back to a youth initiative in the late 1990s in Pirna, Saxony. In response to high electoral results for far-right parties in the former district of Sächsische Schweiz and growing violence among young people, committed young people founded a platform for dialogue and democratic engagement. They believed that fear and violence were not good advisors for the future. Instead of violence, the founders placed dialogue at the centre, bringing together committed citizens of Pirna, the then mayor, the district administrator, the police, the local court and many other associations. This created a strong alliance that has long-term and sustainable commitment to democracy. In 1998, Aktion Zivilcourage was founded, and in 2003 it was registered as an association at the Pirna local court, subsequently receiving recognition as a non-profit organisation. Over the years, the association expanded its activities and locations, with additional offices in Sebnitz, Dresden and Berlin. It became a nationwide provider of political education, recognised by the Federal Agency for Civic Education and as a provider of free youth welfare in Saxony. The organisation has received numerous awards, including the Theodor-Heuss-Medaille in 2009, the Bernhard Vogel Education Prize in 2019, and the Phineo Wirkt-Siegel in 2013 and 2025. Today, Aktion Zivilcourage e.V. employs around 40 full-time staff and continues to strengthen democratic culture and civic engagement across Germany, with a special focus on rural and structurally weak regions of eastern Germany.

• 2025

  Awarded the Phineo Wirkt-Siegel for the project 'Goodbye Hatespeech' and the Innovation Prize for Further Education of the Saxon State Ministry for Education.

• 2024

  Awarded the 'Gegen Vergessen – Für Demokratie' prize, HanseMerkur Prize for Child Protection, Power for Democracy Award, and 3rd place in the Ferry Porsche Challenge.

• 2023

  Second place in the Innovation Prize for Further Education of the Free State of Saxony and Media Education Prize Saxony for 'Goodbye Hate Speech'.

• 2020

  Winner in the engagement competition 'MACHEN!2020'.

• 2019

  Awarded the Bernhard Vogel Education Prize 'Chancen schaffen – Chancen nutzen'.

• 2017

  Named Association of the Year by Ostsächsische Sparkasse.

• 2013

  Awarded the Phineo Wirkt-Siegel for special effectiveness in civil society work.

• 2011

  Received 'Aktiv für Demokratie und Toleranz' award for the campaign 'Die Sächsische Schweiz ist BUNT' and the special prize of the Gustav-Heinemann-Bürgerpreis.

• 2009

  Awarded the Theodor-Heuss-Medaille together with former Mayor of Pirna Markus Ulbig.

• 2008

  Awarded the Pfarrer-Georg-Fritze-Gedächtnispreis.

• 2004

  Established as a non-profit association.

• 2003

  Registered as an association at the Pirna local court and recognised as a non-profit organisation.

• 1998

  Aktion Zivilcourage founded as a youth initiative in Pirna, Saxony.

Non-partisan, non-profit civic education provider focusing on strengthening democracy and civil society, especially in rural and structurally weak regions of eastern Germany.

• DemocracyCampus

  Digital education platform offering online seminars, webinars and self-learning modules on topics such as civic courage, diversity and conflict resolution.

• Ich bin wählerisch!

  Project for political education and voter motivation.

• Goodbye Hatespeech

  Project against hate speech, awarded the Media Education Prize Saxony in 2023 and Phineo Wirkt-Siegel in 2025.

• Couragierte Kinder

  Project for children promoting courage and democratic values, awarded the HanseMerkur Prize for Child Protection in 2024.

1. 1Aktion Zivilcourage official websiteaktion-zivilcourage.de
2. 2Geschichte & Leitbild - Verein - Über Uns - Aktion Zivilcourageaktion-zivilcourage.de
3. 3Team - Über Uns - Aktion Zivilcourageaktion-zivilcourage.de
4. 4News - Über Uns - Aktion Zivilcourageaktion-zivilcourage.de
5. 5Aktion Zivilcourage (Verein) - Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
6. 6Wikidatawikidata.org