North Rhine-Westphalia currently has over 50 registered school partnerships with Israel and the areas administered by the Palestinian Authority (With the use of this term, this page takes no stand regarding the status of these areas under international law or the future borders between Israel and the Palestinian Territories). The country promotes partnerships with schools in the Palestinian Territories under the same program and under the same conditions as school partnerships with Israel.

Overview of NRW schools with contacts in Israel and in the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority Datenbank ILKA (international contacts and partnerships).

Financial support for exchange programs

The State of North Rhine-Westphalia encourages encounters with Israel and the areas managed by the Palestinian Authority to deepen existing and found new school partnerships. Funding can be used for travel grants for exchanges, preparatory visits by teachers or project funds as part of a study day in Yad Vashem.

The district government of Düsseldorf is responsible for granting these funds nationwide. This funding, like all funding programs, is subject to budgetary reservations, i.e. it depends on the necessary funds being made available in that year’s state budget.

Further information, including the application documents, can be found on the website of the district government of Düsseldorf.

Pedagogical Exchange Service (PAD)

In principle, the state grants travel allowances only for participants in the German partner school. Israeli and Palestinian students as well as their accompanying teachers can apply for a travel allowance from the PAD via a request by the German school.

In addition, the PAD offers grants for program or project costs for encounters taking place in Germany.

PAD – department in the secretariat of the Conference of Ministers of Education