K I E Z S P I N N E

Welcome to the organisation of „Kiezspinne Frankfurter Allee Süd” (neighbourhood network of Frankfurter Allee South)!

The “Kiezspinne” is a public organisation with about 100 members including several separate organisations. This organisation was founded as a community of neighbourhood interests in the area surrounding Frankfurter Allee Süd (FAS). The name of “Kiezspinne” (FAS) refers to the main goal: Our organisation is creating a net between various initiatives, projects, supporters, public institutions and committed neighbours in the neighbourhood of FAS. Furthermore we maintain contact with partners in politics, administration and economy in order to be able to get things moving for our neighbourhood.

Looking at our history

On April 22, 1993 our organisation was founded and at the beginning had to use the facilities of other organisations in the area. In 1995 we had a tent at our disposal as a temporary solution. In 1997 the basement of the Mildred Harnack School covering 90 square metres was renovated to be used as a meeting place for the neighbourhood. Between 1999 and 2003 more and more rooms in the unused school building in Schulze-Boysen-Straße 38 were included in the project. When the building was knocked down in 2003, we were temporarily located in the Hermann Gmeiner School. On October 22, 2005, we opened our newly built community center called “ORANGERIE”.

The “Kiezspinne” in the Community Center

Our work is supported by members of the board, the executives, the employees and volunteers participating in the following projects:

• “Bürgertreff” (meeting of citizens / community meeting)
• “Selbsthiflegruppe SYNAPSE” (self-help group SYNAPSE)
• “Seniorentreff” (meeting of senior citizens)
• “Medienkompetenzzentrum” (media training center)
• intercultural projects (including “Katjuscha”) and “Interkultureller Freiwilligendienst IFD (intercultural voluntary service IFD)

At additional locations:

• students’ club “Lichtpunkt”
• “Kinder – und Jugendhaus NAPF” (House for children and youths NAPF)
• “Stadtteilwerkstatt” (neighbourhood workshop)
• HilDie

We are always interested in long-term and short-term projects. Current short-term projects are the “Klimabüro” (climate office) and the project “Gemeinwesen und Schule” (community and school). Apart from that, there are numerous groups of interest which are located in the Kiezspinne. Some of them are “Prosa- und Poesiekreis” (Prose and Poetry Circle), the “IG Heimatgeschichte” (local history circle , the “Fotozirkel” (Photo circle) and the seniors’ singing club.

Our organisational structure has not only executives, but also includes the areas of personnel, financing, public relations secretary, service, renting out rooms and reception.

Our Community Center “ORANGERIE” has offered opportunities since 2005 for a wide range of activities of activities of neighbourhood work and self-help. Every month some 4,000-5,000 visitors take advantage of various offers of different genres like

• further education
• consulting
• children, youth and family
• art and handicraftswork
• generation 60+
• health self-help
• culture, leisure time and lifestyle

In order to strengthen community structures, it is inevitable to cooperate with organisations and initiatives. Among the more than 100 members there are beside the citizens also local and countrywide groups and organisations. At the moment we have:

• “AWO Berlin – Kreisverband Südost e.V.” (country group south east)
• “Carneval Club Lichtenberg”
• “Interessengemeinschaft der Bürger FAS (community of interests)
• “Julateg Finsolf e.V.”
• “Volkssolidarität Gruppe 21 (people’s solidarity group 21)
• “BRC Semper 1925 e.V.”
• “Kinder- und Jugendhilfeverbund gGmbh” (Organisation to help children and youth)
• “Deutsch-Pakistanische Gemeinschaft für Kultur und Demokratie e.V. (German-Pakistani community for culture and democracy)
• “Interkultureller Integrationsverein TAMGA e.V.” (International club for integration)

In order to realize common ideas and projects in the neighbourhood, neighbours have created platforms like the Forum of FAS and the Community Center of the Neighbourhood.In this way we have managed in the last years to solidify our connections to our citizens in the area of Frankfurter Allee. The annual neighbourhood festivities which are getting more and more popular among the residents of FAS. confirm that. Due to the sponsoring by the property groups of Howoge and Vorwärts, they have become major events. But it is not only because of the festivities that the contact to the residents has been created and expanded, but also through dealing with serious problems of the people in the residential area. Here, too, we are always the first one to help. We take part in district conferences and in neighbourhood walks with local politicians. At these meetings we deal with these problems directly and strive towards eliminating mishaps.

Our projects, like the Bürgertreff (citizens’ meeting) offer something appropriate for every age group, no matter whether it is literature, art, music, education, or one’s own hobby.

If you have trouble with the authorities, you can come to our social advice office. They will provide you with orientation, advice and support in all areas of life.

The self-help group “SYNAPSE”, which is a meeting place for people with health and psycho-social problems, provides you with information, consultance and support.

The “Seniorentreff” (senior meetups) is a meeting place for people with a lot of life experience and those who want to learn from them, a meeting where everyone feels at home and can identify with others. You can choose between a wide range of groups dealing with mind and body wherever fun and common activities are in the foreground.

The media training center "DIE LÜCKE" to provide media pedagogical offers for children, teenagers and young people.

Intercultural projects, the “Kiezspinne” wants to present itself as a meeting place also for people of different cultures, religions and lifestyles. Migrants of different backgrounds use the offers of our house and also contribute with their activities. Their commitment in the project “intercultural voluntary service” covers the range from private tuition for migrant students, realized by the initiative “Katjuscha” (say: Katyoosha) up to consulting and cultural activities.

In the student’s club “Lichtpunkt” (Point of light) children from 10-13 can tinker, listen to music and get help and advice. This students’ club has existed for many years in the district of FAS.

The project of “Stadtteilwerkstatt” (district workshop) started on June 1^st, 2006. Here all district residents can make themselves familiar with techniques how to work with metal, wood, to do printing and create something on their own. While doing so, they are mentored by artists and handicraftsmen.

The “Kinder- und Jugendhaus NAPF” (House for children and youth) has been a project of the “Kiezspinne F.A.S. e.V.” since January 1^st, 2005 and an assembly point for children and youth from the district, putting emphasis on the public accessibility of working with children and youth.

Our internal cafeteria service is responsible not only for the daily substance of our working staff and many residents and also plays an important role in all festivities and celebrations that take place in our Community Center.

Within the “Kiez service” (district service) we offer a companionship service, household help and handicrafts help, a sewing room and our own library.

Our house has rooms for any type of events. The rooms are suitable for conferences, company meetings, club meetings, family parties, weddings and birthday celebrations. A terrace and a lawn behind the house give you the chance to do it in the open air.

We are looking forward to seeing you soon in our Community Center “ORANGERIE” – a house for everybody.