IZ - Diversity Dialogue Education
IZ - Verein zur Förderung von Vielfalt, Dialog und Bildung (Organization for supporting Diversity, Dialogue and Education; until 2018: "Interkulturelles Zentrum") is an independent non-profit organization based in Vienna/Austria aiming at the enhancement of intercultural relations both on national and international level. IZ promotes the development of communication between people of different cultural origin and educates people to carry out practical, intercultural work.
Since 1987 IZ has been supporting international school partnerships, cross-border co-operation in the field of education, international youth work, as well as intercultural education and diversity management in Austria and abroad. Interkulturelles Zentrum was awarded the World Aware Award for Global Education by the Council of Europe twice: in 2000 and 2005. In 2007 IZ became National Agency for the EU- Programme "Youth in Action”. Since 2018, IZ is also responsible for the European Solidarity Corps in Austria as well as the European Solidarity Corps Resource Centre. Further information: www.iz.or.at
IZ in cooperation with the Open Society Foundations has been involved in the development of the Caucasus Network for Children (CNC) since the very beginning.
The project has also been supported by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Education, Arts and Culture in the frame of the so called Caucasus Education Initiative. IZ on behalf of the Ministry has worked on the implementation of the Initiative since 2008.
In December 2013 IZ has been invited to become an Associated Member of the Caucasus Network for Children.