Support our experiential environmental learning mobile "EULe" in outreach activities at refugee shelters and vacant sites

In parts of the Berlin district of Lichtenberg, especially in the district of Hohenschönhausen, there is a lack of sufficient and easily accessible recreational and educational facilities for children and young people. Characteristic there are concrete high-rise housing estates and industrial areas, which are often isolated from other areas by large main roads. In addition, more and more children and young people with refugee background have been accommodated in these very areas in recent years, which has further exacerbated the supply gap. Local children and young people are growing up in a living environment that offers few opportunities for development, although special attention should be paid to these areas with above-average proportions of child poverty. A mobile offer represents a suitable solution approach to address these hard-to-reach areas and target groups, to impart skills and in turn to open up new places of learning, leisure and nature for them.

According to a fixed timetable, the Environmental Experience Mobile will therefore visit these areas near schools and accommodations five times a week, thus creating mobile learning and leisure locations. The mobile has a large repertoire of pedagogical equipment and materials, which enables the implementation of action-oriented modules, such as upcycling, repair & work, research, gardening. Through the joint activities and the flexibility of the techniques and working methods, offers can be designed in a particularly low-threshold and inclusive way - often non-verbally, always in easy language and taking into account the most diverse prerequisites of the participants. In this way, the children and young people are not only provided with meaningful leisure activities, but these are also linked to the teaching and expansion of craft and nature-related skills. Along the way, they practice future-oriented, sustainable actions by learning to appreciate the value of objects and materials through their own creative power and self-efficacy experiences, and by reflecting on sustainable consumption practices under the guidance of the educators. During the vacations, special places in nature are visited and animal-assisted pedagogical interventions are made possible in order to allow children and adolescents, who otherwise have only difficult access to nature, to gain important age-typical experiences and to promote their connection to their environment. Professionals lead all the activities and are supported by pedagogically trained volunteers.

The project thus has an integrative effect on various levels: On the one hand, children and young people learn and expand concrete skills that make it easier for them to access other (educational) and recreational opportunities. On the other hand, they establish friendships with children and young people from their neighborhood, with whom they previously had little contact, on the basis of common interests.

Your Tasks

We are always looking for volunteers who would like to support programs as child care workers. Under the guidance of a leader from the "kein Abseits!" team, you will supervise a program from various subject areas and can also contribute your own ideas and interests. In this way, you not only enable children to spend important time with sports and games, but also contribute to more enriching encounters between people from different walks of life.

What's needed

Anyone can get involved with kein Abseits! Patience and experience in dealing with kids from 5-15 years are of course very helpful. We are looking forward to your flexibility in dealing with unexpected situations, a wealth of ideas for activities and a lot of positive energy and perseverance as well as a certain level of commitment! We also require an extended certificate of good conduct from all volunteers.

Time required

Outreach with the EULe takes place five days a week in the afternoons.

Important notice

On five afternoons of the week, our 2-3 hour EULe outreaches take place. We are looking for volunteers to support one of these outreaches each week. You can find the EULe calendar here: https://www.kein-abseits.de/projekt/umwelt-erlebnis-mobil/

The non-profit association "kein Abseits! e.V." realizes integration and education projects since 2011. In cooperation with Berlin schools, universities and refugee homes, we pursue the goal of enabling integrative encounters. Local and refugee children and adolescents are individually and holistically supported in a combination of sports and experiential educational offers, 1: 1 mentoring and vocational orientation. Thus, the association contributes to more educational justice and a peaceful coexistence. The participants get to know possibilities of participation, improve their self-confidence as well as linguistic and social competences.