The Circle of Friends advocates for:

• recognizing the high importance of German schools abroad for Germany's reputation in the world, ensuring continued financial support for the schools,
• providing children of German expatriates with quality education abroad,
• contributing to social development in developing and emerging countries by offering qualified education to local children, fostering positive elite formation, as many local children only receive educational and advancement opportunities this way,
• immersing local children in 12 years of bilingual and bicultural education that equips them with profound knowledge about Germany, its language, culture, and economy, fostering life-long connections,
• promoting the learning of the German language and facilitating emotional ties to Germany through schools, which benefit bilateral political and economic relations,
• supporting vocational school departments in over 30 countries, enabling vocational education abroad and enhancing professional training development in host countries,
• and positioning German schools abroad as exceptional mediators for bilateral relations with Germany.

Support from the Circle of Friends

German schools abroad, which cannot achieve their full academic performance due to lacking financial resources, receive swift, efficient, and straightforward support from the FDA. The Circle of Friends provides assistance considering economic, political, and cultural factors, aligning with assessments from local German businesses, chambers of industry and commerce abroad, and German embassies.

The Circle of Friends ensures targeted use of membership fees and donations entrusted to them and promptly redirects purpose-linked donations from companies and individuals to specific German schools abroad.

Since its inception in 1960, the FDA has supported over 150 schools through grants for furnishing classrooms and student libraries, teaching and educational materials (such as computers, language labs), films and other visual aids, transportation means, musical instruments.

Operational Approach

The Circle of Friends of German Schools Abroad closely collaborates with the Federal Foreign Office, German diplomatic missions, the Central Agency for Schools Abroad, and German chambers of industry and commerce abroad. It fosters personal connections between the German economy or individuals and German schools abroad, as material assistance alone is often insufficient. Personal connections with Germans abroad play a significant psychological role. It is financed through contributions from its members, encompassing both natural and legal persons, and via unrestricted or purpose-linked donations, without deducting administrative costs. Contributions and donations fully benefit the German schools abroad.

Non-Profit Status

The Circle of Friends of German Schools Abroad is recognized as a non-profit organization by the Berlin Tax Office for its educational and training promotion, authorized to issue donation receipts for submission to tax authorities. Please consider supporting the Circle of Friends of German Schools Abroad either through membership or donations.