Active for the Sorbian Future

The Domowina – Župa Dolna Łužyca | Lower Lusatia Regional Association is committed to preserving, maintaining and passing on the Sorbian/Wendish language and culture in Brandenburg. With numerous associations, youth groups and initiatives, it forms a strong network that keeps the cultural diversity of Lower Lusatia alive.

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Župa Dolna Łužyca | Regional Association Lower Lusatia 

The Domowina Regional Association Lower Lusatia operates within the traditional settlement area of the Sorbs/Wends in Brandenburg and is committed to preserving, maintaining and passing on Sorbian/Wendish culture and language in Lower Lusatia. With around 2,600 members, we regard ourselves as the Regional Association Lower Lusatia acting as an umbrella organisation under the wider umbrella of Domowina.

The diversity of our member groups ranges from Wendish/Sorbian Spreewald fishermen and ensembles to support associations and museums, as well as numerous heritage, traditional costume and customs associations. Particularly encouraging is the large number of Domowina youth groups, which play an active role in shaping the Wendish/Sorbian future.

 

The Domowina – Župa Dolna Łužyca | Regional Association Lower Lusatia was founded on 31 May 1991 and has since operated as an independent registered association. The Association advocates the implementation of constitutional provisions such as Article 25 of the Brandenburg State Constitution and the “Law on Settling the Rights of the Sorbs (Wends) in the State of Brandenburg”. Particular emphasis has been placed on opposing the destruction of Sorbian villages through lignite mining.

The Domowina Regional Association is based at the Serbski dom | Wendish House in Chóśebuz | Cottbus.


News


Regional Spokesperson

Heike Apeltowa | Apelt
Regional Representative in Lower Lusatia
0355 48576-428
heike.apeltowa@domowina.de
  • Represents Domowina in Lower Lusatia, focusing on the promotion of Sorbian affairs and culture in the districts of Dahme-Spreewald, Oberspreewald-Lausitz and the city of Chóśebuz | Cottbus
  • Responsible for the board of the Regionalverbandes Niederlausitz
  • Contact person for Sorbian associations, organisations as well as friends and supporters of Sorbian culture
  • Advises councils and local authorities on projects to protect and promote Sorbian language and culture
  • Supports municipalities in considering Sorbian concerns in local planning
  • Identifies needs for action in implementing legal provisions to safeguard Sorbian identity in Lower Lusatia
  • Analyses and forwards regional concerns to Domowina’s Main Office in close cooperation with the Regional Board
     

Committees / Representation of Domowina:

  • Member of the “Bramborski źeń | Brandenburg Day” Board of Trustees for the Regional Association Niederlausitz e.V.
  • Represents Domowina in school boards in Brandenburg, including:
    • “von Houwald” Primary School, Tšupc | Straupitz
    • “Mina Witkojc” Primary and Comprehensive School, Bórkowy | Burg
  • Member of the Sorbian Committee of the City of Grodk | Spremberg
  • Member of the Working Group on Sorbian Monuments of the City of Chóśebuz | Cottbus
Lorenz Krauße
Regional Representative in Lower Lusatia
0355 48576-427
lorenz.krausse@domowina.de
  • Represents Domowina in Lower Lusatia, focusing on promoting Sorbian interests and culture in associations and youth groups, as well as in the district of Sprjewja-Nysa | Spree-Neiße
  • Contact person for Sorbian associations, initiatives, interest groups, and supporters of Sorbian culture
  • Advises councils and municipal representatives on Sorbian concerns
  • Supports municipalities and districts in projects protecting and promoting Sorbian language and culture, ensuring recognition in local planning
  • Identifies needs for implementing legal provisions safeguarding Sorbian identity
  • Analyses and forwards regional concerns to Domowina’s Main Office in close cooperation with the Regional Board
     

Committees / Representation of Domowina:

  • Member of the Committee for Sorbian Affairs of Sprjewja-Nysa | Spree-Neiße
  • Member of the Regional Advisory Board of the LEADER regions “Błota+ | Spreewald+” and Spree-Neiße-Land
  • Advisory Board of the Biosphere Reserve Błota | Spreewald
  • Active support of Sorbian interest groups (Serbske koło Drjowk | Drebkau, Naša gromada in Bórkowy | Burg, Sorbisches Fenster in Gołkojce | Kolkwitz)
     

Volunteering:

  • Municipal councillor in Hochoza | Drachhausen
  • Chair of the Hochoza-youth group
  • Member of the Volunteer Fire Brigade Hochoza | Drachhausen