About Us
Sofia Platform
Sofia Platform Foundation is a non-governmental organization working to enhance the democratic political culture and to inform the debate on communism, transition, and democracy. The organization does so by means of civic education, capacity building for the local level and dealing with the history of the recent past.
Civic Europe
Civic Europe is an incubator for locally rooted civic initiatives, organizations, and individuals in Central, Eastern, and Southern Europe realized by Sofia Platform Foundation and MitOst, funded by Stiftung Mercator. It supports locally rooted organizations and projects in two ways: through the Idea Challenge on the one hand and Capacity Building on the other. The Idea Challenge funds and mentors up to 20 ideas per year. The Capacity Building program fosters the capacities and ecosystems of locally rooted organizations and individuals who want to make a change in their communities. It supports individuals and organizations working in the fields of civic education and civic engagement in Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland, and Romania.
MitOst
MitOst e.V. connects motivated people in a diverse and open network in Europe and its neighboring regions. MitOst supports cultural exchange and civil society engagement through its projects. The goal of the association is a lively civil society that goes beyond cultural, linguistic, and political borders.
Stiftung Mercator Foundation
Stiftung Mercator is a private and independent foundation. Through its work it strives for a society characterized by openness to the world, solidarity and equal opportunities. In this context it concentrates on strengthening Europe; increasing the educational success of disadvantaged children and young people, especially those of migrant origin; driving forward climate change mitigation and promoting science and the humanities. Stiftung Mercator symbolizes the connection between academic expertise and practical project experience. One of Germany’s leading foundations, it is active both nationally and internationally. Stiftung Mercator feels a strong sense of loyalty to the Ruhr region, the home of the founding family and the foundation’s headquarters.