Grand-Mère Stiftung gGmbH

The Grand-Mère Foundation is a nonprofit organization established in early 2025 by the German-French cabaret artist Emmanuel Peterfalvi, better known by his stage name “Alfons.” It was named in memory of Erica Wahl, his grandmother (French: “Grand-Mère”), who survived Auschwitz and remained committed until the end of her life to fighting hatred and promoting tolerance, international understanding, and democracy.
The foundation takes this commitment as its model to champion precisely these values: It strengthens social cohesion in Germany’s diverse society and advocates for a democratically resilient society—supported by citizens who act with integrity and a sense of responsibility.
Young people—the future of our society—are at the heart of our work. We reach them primarily through schools: a place where different perspectives come together in everyday life. We embrace this unique opportunity for dialogue and learning, before social and institutional filter bubbles become further entrenched.
Through our operational programs, which we implement in cooperation with qualified partner organizations,
• we support personal development and strengthen judgment,
• we foster a sense of personal relevance in relation to political issues and encourage self-reflection,
• we motivate young people to take initiative.
In doing so, we combine emotional experience with knowledge transfer and create space for open dialogue on equal terms. We are guided by the conviction that a democratic mindset does not arise solely from expertise. It arises from human interaction and emotional connection.