querstadtein e.V.

We are working intensively on the development of our new focus on climate migration. Through city tours in Berlin and a digital education program, we are drawing attention to the impact of the climate crisis on global refugee and migration movements. The aim is to make the ecological, economic and social consequences of climate change in the countries of origin understandable to a broad audience here in Berlin. The first educational format to be launched is Rose’s city tour, which sheds light on the connection between water, changing weather patterns and migration. Rose places a special focus on the role of women in Kenyan society.

New “Berlin migration stories” complete our program. On Anna’s tour, she talks about fleeing Ukraine as a result of the Russian war of aggression, about what it means to arrive in Berlin and what home is to her. Yauheni, a Belarusian student activist living in exile, offers insights into his immigration experience and discusses the value of a democratic society in relation to the political systems in Germany and Belarus. Maria from Russia talks about her diverse family background and how the war against Ukraine has put a strain on her family’s relationships. Saad gives an insight into Syrian culture and customs along Sonnenallee, which gives him a sense of home. Ragıp introduces the vibrant migrant communities around Kotti, opening up a dialogue on living together and what we need for a peaceful atmosphere in a diverse city.

In the area of “Homelessness & Life on the Street”, Janet adds a new perspective to our program. She is the first female city guide at querstadtein who has been living on the streets herself. She talks about her experiences as a woman in homelessness and the challenges associated with it, such as the omnipresence of violence, and explains why a place in housing alone is not a sufficient solution.

Our open space “Here and Now. Women⁺ Experiencing Homelessness in Berlin!” has established itself as part of the BERLIN GLOBAL exhibition at the Humboldt Forum. Accompanying our open space, which will be on display until June 2025, there will be a supporting program with a reading, tandem tours and other events.

In 2024, we will continue our cooperation with the Joachim Herz Stiftung and the Stiftung Berliner Sparkasse. Thanks to their funding, 90 school classes and other educational institutions will be able to take part in free tours.

With funds from the TransformD funding program of the Deutsche Stiftung für Engagement und Ehrenamt, we are launching a new project entitled “Social cohesion through encounters”, which aims to revise and scale up our educational offerings.

We are delighted to have won the Neukölln Engagement Award. Our city tours in the Neukölln district are honored in the anti-discrimination category.

We say goodbye to our long-time friend, colleague and city guide Klaus Seilwinder at a moving memorial service. He passed away in October 2024 after a long illness and was involved in our organisation until the end. Most recently, he shared his story in a digital city tour. The loss leaves a huge gap and Klaus will always be remembered.

Analog city tours in total: 743 groups

Digital city tours in total: approx. 300 people

At the beginning of the year, Jennifer Fielding takes over as managing director.

Two of our projects are aimed at children and young people: The Joachim Herz Foundation ensures that even more schoolchildren can benefit from our children’s tours on migration and homelessness. The Stiftung Berliner Sparkasse is also sponsoring guided tours for school classes in Berlin, which will be able to take part in our educational program free of charge again this year.

We are preparing an exhibition contribution about “Women* and queer people in housing emergencies” for the exhibition BERLIN GLOBAL at the Stadtmuseum.

New tours are being planned — we are working on a focus on climate migration and postcolonial perspectives on migration and the city of Berlin.

At the end of the year, Katrin Elsemann joins the board. We thank Silvine Gerlach-Höbing for her many years of service as a board member.

Uwe celebrates his 1,000^th tour with long-time companions and accompanied by press reporters.

The MONOM Stiftung supports us with the “Kleine Hilfe” grant, with which we can pay an inflation bonus to all our employees.

Muhammed Lamin’s tour “Kreuzberg behind the Scenes: The Making of a Diverse Neighborhood” is awarded in the 2022 “Aktiv für Demokratie und Toleranz” competition.

Total analog city tours: 537 groups
Total digital city tours: approx. 1100 people
 

Unfortunately, more than half of our tours were cancelled. So instead, we have developed innovative, digital formats in order to continue to reach a large number of people. As part of the digital city tour on the topic of “stories of contract workers”, we take a critical look at the situation of contract workers from Vietnam and Mozambique who came to Saxony, as well at the issues that still affect their children´s generation today. Our new digital tour about “Life on the Streets” is independent of any specific location. At the end of these online seminars there are personal encounters with the city tour guides.

Together with the Berliner Stadtmission and supported by the Deutsche Bahn Stiftung, we are developing the audio tour Stimmen vom Bahnhof Zoo / Voices from Bahnhof Zoo Train Station: At different locations from Bahnhof Zoo to Ku´Damm avenue, Jenny, Erhard, Anton and Blümchen describe their daily lives without their own home.

Two new city tours are starting: Abuhanna shares his views about the vibrant neighbourhood Neukölln. On Muhammed’s tour, you can learn about the upheavals in the European asylum system and how old and new Berliners shape their neighborhoods.

Total analog city tours: 243
Total digital city tours: 332

The bpb funding continues for the third year running – a great opportunity to grow beyond the borders of Berlin: In late April, the project Refugees show their Dresden is launched. Furthermore, with the support of the Berliner Sparkasse Foundation we are able to organize 45 free homeless tours for school classes from Berlin.

querstadtein is awarded  Landmark in the Land of Ideas and shortlisted for the FARBENBEKENNEN-Award initiated by the Senate Chancellery Berlin.

In August the association’s name is officially changed to querstadtein e.V.

Total city tours: 673

As of March, guided city tours are funded as a model project by the Federal Agency for Civic Education. Samer Serawan, Arij Oudeh and Firas Zakri are the first tour guides from Syria to offer tours through Neukölln in English. They are soon joined by Ahmad Oudeh and Hamdi al Kasar. Nafee Kurdis’ tour through Berlin city centre starts in December.

Total city tours: 417.

At the end of the first year, querstadtein can look back upon some 3,000 participants. In March, the first full-time position is created with funds of the Auerbach Foundation. At events discussing the problem of homelessness, the team contributes its expertise; querstadtein becomes a member of the AK Wohnungsnot, a Berlin-based committee on housing problems.

Dieter Bichler joins the city guides with a tour through the neighbourhood City-West. The feedback of the tour participants increasingly shows us that querstadtein succeeds in changing their attitude and behaviour towards homeless people in everyday life.