02.12.2025 - Berlin

Ceremony Marking the 25th Anniversary of the EVZ Foundation

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On December 2, 2025, the Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future (EVZ) celebrated its 25th anniversary at the Jewish Museum Berlin. The event brought together members of the Board of Trustees, representatives from the political and business sectors, as well as partner organizations and civil society actors from the Foundation’s partner countries. Together, we looked back on the founding of the EVZ and the compensation process, paid tribute to the victims of Nazi injustice, and sent a strong message about the importance of active engagement in the culture of remembrance, democracy, and human rights in Europe.

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Meeting with the guests of honor

Der Bundespräsident Frank-Walter Steinmeier sitzt mit Ehrengästen zusammen an einem Tisch und unterhält sich.

Prior to the official program, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and the event’s guests of honor—eleven survivors of NS forced labor—gathered for a discussion.

Der Bundespräsident Frank Walter Steinmeier gibt Barbara Doniecka, Überlebende der NS-Zwangsarbeit und Ehrengast der Stiftung EVZ, die Hand.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier welcomes Barbara Doniecka, a survivor of NS forced labor and guest of honor at the EVZ Foundation.

Ehrengast Roman Schwarzman überreicht Bundespräsident Frank-Walter Steinmeier ein Geschenk.

Guest of honor Roman Schwarzman presents a gift to Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Leokadia Wieczorek, die Ehrengästin aus Polen, spricht.

Leokadia Wieczorek, the guest of honor from Poland, talks about her life story.

Highlights from the anniversary event “NO TIME TO FORGET”

Bundespräsident Frank-Walter Steinmeier spricht zu einer Gruppe von Menschen.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier is the patron of the anniversary year.

Survivors of NS forced labor were invited as guests of honor to the ceremony.

Die Dirigentin steht vor dem singenden Volny Chor.

The Volny Choir was formed in August 2020 in response to the rigged presidential election in Belarus. Volny means “free.”

(from left to right): Dr. Andrea Despot, Chair of the Board of the EVZ Foundation, and Annette Schavan, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the EVZ Foundation, with Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Bündenbender.

Annette Schavan, Chair of the Board of Trustees, during her keynote address on the future of the EVZ Foundation.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier with Charlotte Knobloch, President of the Jewish Community of Munich and Upper Bavaria.

CEO Dr. Andrea Despot with guest of honor Ramon Schwarzman.

Eleven survivors of NS forced labor were invited as guests of honor for the evening; pictured here are Ramon Schwarzman and Anastasiia Gulej.

Following the stage performance, everyone was invited to mingle.

A view of the Glass Courtyard at the Jewish Museum Berlin during the EVZ Foundation’s ceremony.

Foundation board members Dr. Andrea Despot and Jakob Meyer with Anastasiia Guley, guest of honor at the ceremony.

Board Chair Annette Schavan toasts with guest of honor Andreji Moissenko.

“Ma Bistrass!” is an extraordinary photography project that honors survivors of Nazi persecution from the Sinti and Roma communities. The photographs were exhibited as part of the gallery walks highlighting the foundation's history.

Störer

Click here to learn more about the guests of honor's visit to Berlin from December 1 to 5, 2025.

Click here to read Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier’s speech at the ceremony marking the 25th anniversary of the Foundation Remembrance, Responsibility and Future (EVZ). The speech is also available in English, Hebrew, Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, and Russian.