Beskrivelse af organisationen

The Berliner Stadtmission was founded in 1877 and is part of the working group
European City Missions (AGES). She faces the challenges in the areas
poverty, homelessness, illness, old age and a lack of educational opportunities. Specifically, we work here on site in the focus on families, seniors, the disabled, people in special life situations and in com-munity-oriented, integrative work with children and young people.
The staff includes social workers, educators, therapists and evangelical pastors.
The motivation and guideline of our work is the Christian image of man, which is shaped by
charity, respect and tolerance for the individual. It is particularly important to us that
to inspire the next generation and win young people for this job. International exchange is helpful and important to build up a network of social aid and the ability to meet actual global challenges.
We want to help make Europe more social and solidary. We are convinced that every person has a God-given dignity and so we want to offer people help and support to lead a life that is as self-determined as possible. We do not believe that "every man is the architect of his own fortune", but that hardship often affects people through no fault of their own and that injustices in education and participation can negatively affect lives.
We want to educate and sensitize young people for social behavior and thinking in one
globalized world.

Volunteer work is possible in the following areas:

Refugee aid:
Flight experiences are always problematic and often traumatic. It is all the more important to create an environment of solidarity, security and self-efficacy in the country that offers asylum.
For years, the issue of flight and dealing with the people affected has been a major political, social and ultimately human task in Europe. We want to take on our part of the responsibility and help so that integration can succeed.

Typical tasks in refugee aid:
- Management of the washroom
- Accompanying the residents to offices / kindergardens / doctors
- Design of the children's program
- Preparation and implementation of projects
- office work
- Participation in integration campaigns such as cooking courses and city tours

Children and adolescents:
Children need adults in order to be heard and noticed. When that happens, the growing person can develop self-confidence, confidence in life and motivation. Children are the next generation in Europe and an investment in this generation is always an investment in the future of Europe.
We give the children freedom and time for experiences, discoveries, insights and for their social learn-ing processes. That is why the questions and interests of children are important to us. We take up the-se and give impulses for further development. To strengthen democracy, for example, we have set up a children's and youth parliament, see here:
https://www.berliner-stadtmission.de/fluechtlinge/kinder-und-jugendparlament

Typical tasks when working with children and adolescents:
- Support with indoor and outdoor activities
- Help the children with their homework
- Have an open ear for worries and problems of children
- Prepare and carry out events
- Create new offers and support them with exercise programs
- Support for educators / social workers
- Accompaniment to doctors
- Accompanying to leisure activities after school
- Doing small purchases with the young people

Homeless:
The problem of homelessness in Berlin has developed in recent years from a German to an internatio-nal and above all European problem. Over 50% of our guests come to us from Central European count-ries. It is a great challenge to support these people, as they mostly have no claim to the German sys-tem of rules and therefore remain in the inhuman conditions of homelessness for longer and longer. Many of these guests are seriously addicted and in poor psychological condition. There are always lan-guage barriers. We have been looking specifically for employees with appropriate language skills for years.

Typical tasks when working with the homeless are:
- Preparation of food and drinks
- Distribution of food and drinks
- Opportunities for talks
- Accompaniment for appointments to the doctor or citizens' office
- Support the medical team
- Issuing of clothing donations and bags
- Welcome and briefing of the guests in the sleeping quarters

In the area of homeless assistance, the work can also take place in the late evening.
For safety reasons, complete vaccination protection is necessary. Missing vaccinations will be made in Berlin and paid for by us.

Komm & Sieh:
Komm & Sieh is the integration company of the Berlin City Mission. At least 40% of ours Employees are people with a recognized severe disability.
Komm & Sieh uses donations in kind of all kinds in a sustainable and socially integrative way. To Komm & Sieh includes shops, clothing stores and a textile port.

Typical tasks at Komm & Sieh:
- Receipt and sorting of incoming donations
- Contact with donors
- Preparation of donations for onward transport
- Distribution of clothes, shoes and bags to the needy
- Contact with guests and customers
- Customer advice in the Komm & Sieh stores
- Participation in the design of the shops