exchange between Düsseldorf and Nir HaEmek:Sharon Nir-Inbar
As part of our scholarship program “Network Israel – Solidarity with Democratic Civil Society in Israel” funded by the Remembrance, Responsibility and Future Foundation (EVZ), we welcome 15 scholarship holders in different partner organisations in Germany. By that we strengthen the civil exchange, Sharon is a great example for that.
Sharon traveled to Düsseldorf with a clear goal: to lay the foundation for a future youth exchange between WIZO Nir HaEmek and WIZO Düsseldorf. Supported by the Netzwerk Israel Fellowship, she visited WIZO Düsseldorf to work on this project. She was warmly welcomed by the dedicated members of WIZO—Miel, Efrat, and Irit—who embraced her and actively supported the idea of a future youth delegation.This encounter created space for dialogue, shared visions, and concrete next steps in their collaboration.
For Sharon, this wasn’t her first visit to Düsseldorf: 34 years ago, she was part of a youth delegation within the city partnership between Haifa and Düsseldorf. This year, she returned in a new role—as an educator specializing in sustainability and Holocaust education. Her mission is to empower young people to act responsibly and ecologically, while deeply engaging with Jewish identity and history.
Participating in the exchange program gave Sharon fresh inspiration and international perspectives through close collaboration with WIZO Germany. The exchange laid the foundation for a planned youth delegation next year and marked an important step toward strengthening German-Israeli cooperation and exploring new educational approaches.
“We are an international women’s organization committed to supporting vulnerable people in Israel, regardless of their background or religion,” is how the women of WIZO describe themselves.
In six local chapters across Germany, they volunteer to support society in Israel. WIZO empowers and supports people in need, irrespective of religion or origin. Through their voluntary engagement, they make a vital contribution to peacebuilding and to shaping Israel’s multicultural society. They advocate for initiatives that promote resilience and gender equality within the Israeli population.
This spirit also shapes the collaboration with partners like Sharon—founded on mutual respect and a shared commitment to driving social change.
In addition to the exchange with WIZO Düsseldorf, Sharon’s visit to Germany was also the starting point for a new educational cooperation with the teacher Tomer Goldfarb from a Düsseldorf secondary school. The focus is on the topic of “water diplomacy” – a forward-looking teaching project that deals with the challenges of cross-border water resources such as the Jordan and the Kishon River. It is based on the EcoPeace education program, which specifically places ecological education at the service of dialogue and conflict prevention.
The collaboration with the school goes beyond technical exchange: it is about building bridges. When students learn together about water scarcity, environmental protection, and cross-border responsibility, they create a shared space for reflection, tolerance, and a vision for a more just future.
“More than 30 years ago, I came here as a student as part of a youth exchange between Haifa and Düsseldorf. Now I’ve returned as a teacher – to prepare the ground for the next generation. It was deeply moving and inspiring,” Sharon reflected.
As a farewell gift, she presented her hosts with a jar of honey from the school’s beekeeping project at WIZO Nir HaEmek – a symbolic gesture for a new, sweet connection.
Her conclusion: “This is only the beginning.”
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