{"id":1718,"date":"2025-07-26T18:51:33","date_gmt":"2025-07-26T16:51:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ibz-bielefeld.de\/?page_id=1718"},"modified":"2026-10-15T12:27:14","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T10:27:14","slug":"ueber-uns","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ibz-bielefeld.de\/en\/ueber-uns\/","title":{"rendered":"Who are we?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Our story \u2013 How it all started<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The International Meeting Centre (IBZ) Friedenshaus e.V. has its roots in 1981. At that time, committed people from Bielefeld \u2013 with and without migration experience \u2013 joined forces to create a place where understanding, togetherness and real encounters become possible. An idea that arose at a time when prejudice and isolation often set the tone. All the more courageous was the step: A house that welcomes diversity and connects people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Early on it was clear: The IBZ should not be a place \u2018for guests\u2019, but a place <strong>for all<\/strong>, who live in Bielefeld. A temporary home, a space for exchange, a place where new ideas can emerge, regardless of origin, language or religion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>From Logierhaus to a lively cultural and meeting centre<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 1982, the IBZ moved to the \u2018Alte Logierhaus\u2019. The building used to house female workers from different parts of Europe \u2013 a suitable place to build on it and continue diversity. Gradually, the house grew and became the common home of various social initiatives and associations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Working groups, political discussions, language courses, children's and youth activities, international festivals, theatre projects, exhibitions and much more were created here. Always supported by the idea: <strong>The meeting changed. Exchange strengthens. Diversity is enriching.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A place that has grown with its tasks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over the decades, the IBZ has continued to develop. New social issues arose, new groups found their place, new challenges were tackled together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether it is anti-racism work, intercultural education, support for refugees, political events or cultural projects, the IBZ has been and is often active where it is most needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One thing has always been central: Strengthening people, breaking down barriers, enabling encounters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>More than one house \u2013 one attitude<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To this day, the IBZ stands for an open and respectful coexistence. For the conviction that diversity is not a problem, but a gain. And for the experience that integration succeeds when people meet, learn from each other and take responsibility together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many projects, ideas and impulses that started in the IBZ have had a lasting impact on Bielefeld \u2013 culturally, socially and politically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>It's not where someone comes from, but where we want to go together.<\/strong> Welcome to the IBZ!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our history \u2013 How it all started The International Meeting Centre (IBZ) Friedenshaus e.V. has its roots in 1981. At that time, committed people from Bielefeld joined forces \u2013 with and without migration experience \u2026<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4844,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-parts\/About Sections.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"ibz_department":[],"class_list":["post-1718","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ibz-bielefeld.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1718","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ibz-bielefeld.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ibz-bielefeld.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ibz-bielefeld.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ibz-bielefeld.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1718"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/ibz-bielefeld.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1718\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5612,"href":"https:\/\/ibz-bielefeld.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1718\/revisions\/5612"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ibz-bielefeld.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4844"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ibz-bielefeld.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1718"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"ibz_department","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ibz-bielefeld.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ibz_department?post=1718"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}