Members of Simferopol community “Circle of Friends Simferopol-Heidelberg” Elena Kruglova and Dmitriy Pritulenko visited Heidelberg, the German sister-city of the Crimean capital. The trip to Germany began with meeting partner organization “European MOE Initiative” (InMOE) in Berlin. Lena and Dima took part in the report-election meeting and discussed implementation of the joint project on Human Rights (Speak Up for Human Rights! Use New Media!) which is going to take place in Simferopol, Minsk and Berlin.

On their way to Heidelberg, the Crimeans visited Darmstadt to look at another social project being done. The project idea is to preserve an old farm located within the city limits and develop environmental management. Today the farm is used for crop cultivation, poultry and livestock farming, vegetable growing; people bake homemade bread there. New houses for people with disabilities are under active construction. In the future we are planning to work together and send volunteers from Simferopol to participate in this project.
Heildelberg is a cozy and always welcoming city of students and tourists. This year marks twenty years since Simferopol and Heidelberg became sister-cities. Also, at this time Heidelberg was visited by the official delegation from Simferopol headed by the mayor.
“The Club of Young Leaders” at Heidelberg Center has been holding Christmas Fair in Simferopol for many years, so it was very interesting for us to visit the opening of the traditional Christmas markets in Germany. The visitors met a fair organizer from Japan who was interested to take part in preparation of a similar event in Simferopol. The Crimeans also met the originators of partnership in the early 90s, led by Frau Hannelore Jochum. The Germans presented ornaments for future fairs in Simferopol and a collection of personalized Christmas mugs. We invite you to drink tea from these mugs in Heidelberg Center.
One of the oldest universities of Germany is located in Heidelberg. “We were lucky to speak with the students of such a renowned educational institution,” Dmitriy Pritulenko says. “Our idea is to invite young people from our sister-city to participate in annual volunteer camps held in Simferopol in the facilities of Heidelberg Center”. The connecting link here can be German organization “Bauorden” that was also represented at the meeting.