In Berlin, many services are organized not centrally, but within districts or neighborhoods. In Germany, neighborhoods are often called "Kiez". You can often find interesting places and social services near you.
How Can I Get to Know People in My Kiez (Neighborhood)?
In most neighborhoods, there are places or events where you can meet other people. There are often special free services and activities for the neighborhood:
Stadtteilzentrum (Neighborhood Center)
These are open places for the neighborhood where you can meet people. You can also find support for settling into your neighborhood. Sometimes there are language cafés or special activities for children.
Quartiersmanagement (Neighborhood Management)
They support community life and social projects in the neighborhood. They renovate youth clubs and improve parks so that you can use them more easily.
Find Your Neighborhood Management
BENN
If you live in accommodation for refugees or there is accommodation near you, there may be a BENN service in your area. They organize events and support you in connecting with your neighborhood. BENN stands for Berlin Entwickelt Neue Nachbarschaften (Berlin Develops New Neighborhoods).
How Can I Turn My Idea for My Kiez (Neighborhood) into Reality?
Whether gardening, cooking, or sports – many things are more fun in a group. If you are looking for people in your neighborhood to help bring your idea to life, you have different options:
- Ask at the BENN office, the Quartiersmanagement (Neighborhood Management) office, or the Stadtteilzentrum (Neighborhood Center) whether they can support your idea. They may also have a space you can use.
- Put up a notice. This is a flyer or paper with your idea and your contact information.
- Use social media groups. Many neighborhoods have local groups where you can find activities or invite others to join.
- There are also online platforms where you can register and connect with your neighbors. For example: Nebenan.de
What Other Services Are Available in My Area?
There are great services and activities in many neighborhoods, for example for learning German, for your children, or related to arts and culture. In Berlin, they are often funded by the state or organized by volunteers. This means that many services and activities are free or very affordable for you.
- You can find events in your area through the event calendar of your district office.
- Here you can find neighborhood festivals in your area: Nachbarschaftsfeste
- Here you can find an overview of free or affordable services and activities for people receiving social benefits: Fairgnügen
- Here you can find social services in your area: Soziales Berlin
- If you have children, there are free services and activities for you and your child at the Berliner Familienzentren.
