Germany: ESC: Urban Connection & Community Empowerment at Staakentreff Brunsbütteler Damm

About the local hosting organization

Based on a humanistic worldview, the community association Heerstraße Nord e.V (= Gemeinwesenverein Heerstraße Nord e.V.) wants to work together with the people who live in different district regions in Berlin-Spandau to participate in social policy in the social space in order to achieve a sustainable improvement in living conditions and the living environment. The focus of our work is on cross-milieu, cross-cultural and cross-religious citizen participation in order to include all social perspectives in the living space. we target generally on all people living in the area, specially Seniors, Youth and families. We work on the basis of basic social principles of democracy in the community. We promote resource-oriented civic engagement through co-design by local citizens. We organize dialog forums, networking and cooperation in the social space. We also see our role as a link between the people living here and the actors in the district, the state decision-makers in administration and infrastructure, and urban development as a whole. Auf dem Hintergrund eines humanistischen Weltbildes wollen wir gemeinsam mit den hier lebenden Menschen sozialpolitische Teilhabe im Sozialraum wahrnehmen, um nachhaltig eine Verbesserung der Lebensverhältnisse und des Lebensumfeldes zu erreichen. Im Vordergrund unserer Arbeit steht die milieu-, kultur- und religionsübergreifende Bürgerbeteiligung, um inklusiv alle gesellschaftlichen Perspektiven im Lebensraum einzubeziehen. Wir wirken auf der Basis gesellschaftlicher Grundprinzipien der Demokratie im Gemeinwesen. Wir fördern ressourcenorientiert bürgerschaftliches Engagement über Mitgestaltung durch die Bürger:innen vor Ort. Wir organisieren Dialogforen, Vernetzung und Kooperationen im Sozialraum. Wir sehen unsere Rolle auch als Bindeglied zwischen den hier lebenden Menschen und den Akteur:innen im Stadtteil, den staatlichen Entscheidungsträger:innen der Verwaltung und der Infrastrukturausstattung, sowie der Stadtentwicklung insgesamt.

Presentation of the programme

The Staakentreff Brunsbütteler Damm (SBD) is a neighborhood center in Berlin-Staaken that acts as a vital hub for local engagement and social connection. It is a space where residents are encouraged to bring their ideas for neighborhood life to reality. The center offers a wide range of grassroots activities, including social counseling, creative workshops, and intergenerational meetups. Volunteers at SBD work in a dynamic urban environment where the focus is on "helping hands" (Helfende Hände) and community-led initiatives, helping to maintain a supportive social fabric in the local district.

About the accomodation

For volunteers who will participate in the project for up to one year, we organize accommodation where each will have a single room. This can be either in a free room in a neighboring shared apartment or in private accommodation with families. Each volunteer receives both food and pocket money. They will also get a monthly ticket for the AB area in Berlin.

About the leisure activities

Volunteers will join Eu seminars, learn their rights and responsibilities while sharing experiences with peers. Initially, we focus on community integration, enrolling them in a basic German language school for two months. We then strongly encourage participation in European Solidarity Corps' German language courses. Volunteers actively engage in events, workshops, and citizen initiatives, gaining insights into our operations. Emphasizing skill development, we encourage each volunteer to explore new abilities and realize one of their personal idea in The Staakentreff Brunsbütteler Damm.

Requirements

The Participant profile: We welcome individuals of any gender, educational background, or nationality. We are seeking motivated, open-minded, and empathetic young people to join our team. While proficiency in German or English is advantageous, it is not mandatory. A motivation letter specifically addressing our project is required. Additional points in favor include prior experience working with older adults or children and organizing events. Musical proficiency is a bonus, but the foremost criterion is motivation. Share with us why you aspire to be part of our project, what unique qualities you bring with you?Deadline: 25/07/2026 01:11