Agora: Multicultural initiatives and stories from the city we love - Berlin

As the co-hosts of Agora, Gaby D'Annunzio and Marie-Theresa Helmschmied are normally the ones asking questions. In the latest episode of the podcast, however, they are on the other end of the microphone. They talk about the journey that brought them to Give Something Back to Berlin and why the organization and giving back to the community are so special for them. Agora podcast brings you stories from our multicultural community. Host: Ragip Zik Guests: Gaby D'Annunzio, Marie-Theresa Helmschmied Videography: Bethania Medina Location: Refugio Berlin More information https://gsbtb.org/ https://gsbtb.org/donate/

In this episode of Agora, Ricarda Bochat of Open Kitchen tells us how food can be a venue for people to connect and share stories about Berlin and beyond. One of the longest standing projects of Give Something Back to Berlin, the Open Kitchen enables newcomers of all backgrounds- as well as locals- to interact, socialise and share recipes through a number of cooking projects. We see cooking and food as an exceptional platform to break down barriers and get to know people and their culture. Agora podcast brings you stories from our multicultural community. Audio-only version of this episode is also available on: Apple podcasts: https://apple.co/3fGnjMX Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3joeAjC Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-569758316 Google podcasts: https://bit.ly/3AloRUm Host: Gaby D'Annunzio Guest: Ricarda Bochat Videography: Böbe Barsi Location: Refugio Berlin Production managers: Gaby D'Annunzio & Ragıp Zık Music: Felix Godden Designer: Ohad Ben Moshe More information https://gsbtb.org/projects/open-kitchen/ https://gsbtb.org/donate/

n this episode of Agora, we chatted to Louis Bazalgette from Rückenwind about how having a bike can help integration. The mission of Rückenwind (meaning tailwind) is to provide refugees with donated bicycles. Those who sign up for a bike are invited to Rückenwind's workshop where they repair their future vehicle with the help of volunteer mechanics. Eventually, they can move around Berlin independently, environmentally friendly and free of charge while making new connections in the city. Agora podcast brings you stories from our multicultural community. The episode is also available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_ng61OLwHA Host: Marie-Therese Helmschmied Guests: Louis Bazalgette Videography: Bethania Medina Location: Refugio Berlin Production managers: Gaby D'Annunzio & Ragıp Zık Music: Felix Godden Designer: Ohad Ben Moshe More information Give Something Back to Berlin: https://gsbtb.org Rückenwind: http://www.rueckenwind.berlin/

In this episode of Agora, we chatted to Viktoriia Koliesnikova. She is a community member of GSBTB from Ukraine who volunteers at our Sprechstunde or consulting hours, helping refugees arriving from Ukraine. At the Sprechstunde, anyone can receive information on residency, education, employment or simply social activities in Berlin. Our colleagues are at the Refugio Café every Tuesday and Wednesday from 12:00 to 14:00 to help you navigate through the jungle of information. No appointment is needed. For more information on the Sprechstunde, visit our website: https://gsbtb.org/activity-calendar/ Agora podcast brings you stories from our multicultural community. Audio-only version of this episode is also available on: Apple podcasts: https://apple.co/3fGnjMX Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3joeAjC Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-569758316 Google podcasts: https://bit.ly/3AloRUm Host: Gaby D'Annunzio Guests: Viktoriia Koliesnikova Videography: Bethania Medina Location: Refugio Berlin Production managers: Gaby D'Annunzio & Ragıp Zık Music: Felix Godden Designer: Ohad Ben Moshe More information Give Something Back to Berlin: https://gsbtb.org Support our work: https://gsbtb.org/donate/ Subscribe to our channel to get updates about the new episodes!

In the new episode of Agora we focus on an important yet rarely discussed issue: the situation of queer refugees. We talked to Hans Kalben, social worker and team lead at the refugee department of Schwulenberatung Berlin, a counselling centre that offers help to gay, lesbian, bisexual, trans* and inter* (LGBTQ) refugees. Agora podcast brings you stories from our multicultural community. Host: Marie-Therese Helmschmied Guests: Hans Kalben Videography: Bethania Medina Location: Refugio Berlin Production managers: Gaby D'Annunzio & Ragıp Zık Production assistant: Bissan Awwad Music: Felix Godden Designer: Ohad Ben Moshe More information Give Something Back to Berlin: https://gsbtb.org JACK Berlin: https://www.jack-berlin.org/ Support our work: https://gsbtb.org/donate/

Daniela Dachrodt introduces JACK, an education centre for female refugees and women in need of shelter in Germany. JACK offers a diverse course program like literacy and German classes to interested women who are denied other access to education. The organisation's goal is to strengthen women's autonomy and social participation. Agora podcast brings you stories from our multicultural community. Host: Marie-Therese Helmschmied Guests: Daniela Dachrodt Videography: Bethania Medina Location: Refugio Berlin Production managers: Gaby D'Annunzio & Ragıp Zık Production assistant: Bissan Awwad Music: Felix Godden Designer: Ohad Ben Moshe More information Give Something Back to Berlin: https://gsbtb.org JACK Berlin: https://www.jack-berlin.org/ Support our work: https://gsbtb.org/donate/

For this episode of Agora, we talked with Iranian composer and visual artists Iman Jesmi. We asked Iman about his sonic experience of living in Berlin and what he noticed about the city soundscape. Based in Berlin as a mentership fellow at Forecast Platform, Iman is interested in the concept of everyday sounds and capturing sonic interactions of people from different cultures and parts of the world. He has recently exhibited interactive artworks and sensory experiences at Radialsystem - he delves into the correlation between sounds and smells in European cities, and how they have shifted through immigration. Agora podcast brings you stories from our multicultural community. Audio-only version of this episode is also available on: Apple podcasts: https://apple.co/3fGnjMX Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3joeAjC Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-569758316 Google podcasts: https://bit.ly/3AloRUm Host: Gaby D'Annunzio Guests: Iman Jesmi Videography: Bethania Medina Location: Refugio Berlin Production managers: Gaby D'Annunzio & Ragıp Zık Production assistant: Stavroula Valachea Music: Felix Godden Designer: Ohad Ben Moshe More information Give Something Back to Berlin: https://gsbtb.org Forecast Platform: https://forecast-platform.com Support our work: https://gsbtb.org/donate/

Ben Osborn joins Gaby D'Annunzio to tell how they built a community of music producers from scratch. The two co-founders chat about the crossroads of music and migration, Berlin life and belonging. The Open Music Lab is an inclusive community that empowers people to make their own music with the vision of building a more equitable music scene. It offers free production workshops to everyone who wants to learn and improve skills in the field of music. Agora podcast brings you stories from our multicultural community. Audio-only version of this episode is also available on: Apple podcasts: https://apple.co/3fGnjMX Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3joeAjC Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-569758316 Google podcasts: https://bit.ly/3AloRUm Host: Gaby D´Annunzio Interviewee: Ben Osborn Music Performers: Ben Osborn & Kimia Bani Creative Direction & Video Production: Dan Gizzie & Giovanni Dominice Production Managers: Gaby D'Annunzio & Ragıp Zık Creative Assistant: Marie-Therese Helmschmied Production Assistant: Lucie Wirz Music: Felix Godden Designer: Ohad Ben Moshe More information Give Something Back to Berlin: https://gsbtb.org Open Music Lab: https://www.openmusiclab.org Support our work: https://gsbtb.org/donate/

Amani Kaskin and Antonina Stasiuk talk about how they can engage people deeply and foster a sense of belonging. Open Hearts Space helps migrants and refugees to build their own support network and thrive in a new environment. All Open Hearts Space activities are free and open to everyone, with priority given to women and children. You can join art workshops, language cafés, and support groups taking place online and in-person at Refugio Berlin. Agora podcast brings you stories from our multicultural community. Host: Gaby D'Annunzio Guests: Amani Kaskin & Antonina Stasiuk Videography: Bethania Medina Location: Refugio Berlin Production managers: Gaby D'Annunzio & Ragıp Zık Music: Felix Godden Designer: Ohad Ben Moshe Many people build the Open Hearts Space community, and we would like to say a special thanks to those that are currently taking care of the activities: Fatima Alhaji Teeb Aljamal Bissan Awwad Hanna Bargheer Toulin Balabaki Tanja Bächle Maria Bither Maximilian Brase Małgorzata Burkot Alessia Cecchini Ewa Cichocka Phili (Philippa) Cumming Carlotta Duken Berit Eisele Anna Fedas Leo Friedmann Angela Gonzalez Gethin Griffith-Jones Maya Kim Rebecca Kirch Alzbeta Knerova Chiara Lioba Marta Łepkowska Elisa Moll Eva Morchen Giulia de Pascale Julia Pelta-Feldman Phoebe Pimlott Alys Randall-Smith Annick Reppelin-Holzgreve Omnia Saad Javier Silva Mora Joanna Simson Lisa Somicheva Amélie Stenglin Lotti Stolze Christoph Thun Alejandro Urrutia Clotilde Vivier Ken Wallingford Agata Waśko Lucie Lou Wirz More information Give Something Back to Berlin: https://gsbtb.org Open Hearts Space: https://gsbtb.org/projects/open-hearts-space/ Support our work: https://gsbtb.org/donate/

Rinky Miri and Fayaz Ghaznavi tell us how the Open Language Cafés are helping to change the way migrants learn languages. This space offers a friendly environment to form friendships and build solidarity networks while learning about different cultures and languages. All Open Language Cafés classes are free and open to everyone. You can join us at Refugio on Tuesdays at 18:00 for English Language and Wednesdays at 17:30 for German Language Sprachcafé. Agora podcast brings you stories from our multicultural community. Audio-only version of this episode is also available on: Apple podcasts: https://apple.co/3fGnjMX Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3joeAjC Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-569758316 Google podcasts: https://bit.ly/3AloRUm Host: Marie-Therese Helmschmied Guests: Fayaz Ghaznavi & Rinky Miri Videography: Bethania Medina Location: Refugio Berlin Production Managers: Gaby D'Annunzio & Ragıp Zık Music: Felix Godden Audio mix: Richard Salazar Muñoz Designer: Ohad Ben Moshe More information Give Something Back to Berlin: https://gsbtb.org Open Language Cafés: https://gsbtb.org/projects/open-language-cafe/ Support our work: https://gsbtb.org/donate/

In this episode of the Agora podcast series, we talked to Fade Abdelnour, one of the founder of the Khan Aljanub Bookshop of Berlin's Schöneberg district. Khan Aljanub is an initiative of the local Arabic-speaking migrant community and a hideout off the busy Postdamer Street. Fadi told us about the founding story of the bookshop, the recent changes in the multicultural literature scene of Berlin, and what they offer to the city. At the end of the interview, Fadi read an excerpt from Minor Detail, the book that earned Adania Shibli a Pulitzer price. "Agora" podcast series is brought to you by Give Something Back to Berlin. We connect migrants, refugees and locals, by developing innovative practices in the areas of social integration, intercultural dialogue and inclusion. Agora explores Berlin's multicultural landscape. We find out how migration has changed our urban landscape, hear stories from our community, and exchange ideas with those who are making a difference. We tackle issues ranging from human rights, diversity, and education, to migrant identity and belonging. Video version of this episode can be found on: https://youtu.be/r6xHSqM99UI Audio-only version of this episode is also available on: Apple podcasts: https://apple.co/3fGnjMX Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3joeAjC Google podcasts: https://bit.ly/3AloRUm Host: Gaby D´Annunzio Interviewee: Fadi Abdelnour Book read in this episode: Minor Detail by Adania Shibli Creative Direction & Video Production: Dan Gizzie & Giovanni Dominice Production Managers: Gaby D'Annunzio & Ragıp Zık Music: Felix Godden Designer: Ohad Ben Moshe More information Give Something Back to Berlin: https://gsbtb.org Khan Aljanub: https://khanaljanub.com Support our work: https://gsbtb.org/donate/

In this episode of the Agora podcast series, we talked to Tom Young, founder of the Open Music School and Programme Manager at GSBTB. The Open Music School is a musical skill-sharing community with a solid music education programme. Tom told us about the Open Music School's ambition bring diversity to the music scene by making education accessible and completely free for everyone. By offering weekly free music classes and regular thematic events, the Open Music School creates welcoming and inclusive spaces for learners and volunteer instructors. The interview is followed by an oud performance by Oudai Amer, a Syrian musician based in Berlin. Oudai has instructed and performed at Open Music School's Arabic music workshops. "Agora" podcast series is brought to you by Give Something Back to Berlin. We connect migrants, refugees and locals, by developing innovative practices in the areas of social integration, intercultural dialogue and inclusion. Agora explores Berlin's multicultural landscape. We find out how migration has changed our urban landscape, hear stories from our community, and exchange ideas with those who are making a difference. We tackle issues ranging from human rights, diversity, and education, to migrant identity and belonging. The episode is also available on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0cRvLFHL0k&t=1s Host: Gaby D´Annunzio Interviewee: Tom Young Music Performer: Oudai Amer Creative Direction & Video Production: Dan Gizzie & Giovanni Dominice Production Managers: Gaby D'Annunzio & Ragıp Zık Creative Assistant: Marie-Therese Helmschmied Production Assistant: Lucie Wirz Music: Felix Godden Designer: Ohad Ben Moshe More information Give Something Back to Berlin: https://gsbtb.org Support our work: https://gsbtb.org/donate/ Open Music School: https://www.openmusicschool.org/ Refugio Berlin: https://www.refugio.berlin

In this episode, we interviewed Deutsche Wohnen & Co Enteignen, a Berlin-based grassroots initiative aiming at expropriating large housing corporations in order to give all Berliners access to fair housing. Tune in and find out how the current housing crisis has particularly affected vulnerable and migrant populations in Berlin and Germany. Rosa Silva joins Marie-Therese Helmschmied and tells us how the campaign started, its different demands and next steps, including the soon-to-come referendum. "Agora" podcast series is brought to you by Give Something Back to Berlin. We connect migrants, refugees and locals, by developing innovative practices in the areas of social integration, intercultural dialogue and inclusion. Agora explores Berlin's multicultural landscape. We find out how migration has changed our urban landscape, hear stories from our community, and exchange ideas with those who are making a difference. Join us while we tackle issues ranging from human rights, diversity, and education, to migrant identity and belonging! A video version of this episode is also available: https://youtu.be/Y_TaI1YF2jA Host: Marie-Therese Helmschmied Interviewee: Rosa Silva Creative Direction & Video Production: Dan Gizzie & Giovanni Dominice Production Managers: Gaby D'Annunzio & Ragıp Zık Creative Assistant: Marie-Therese Helmschmied Production Assistant: Lucie Wirz Music: Felix Godden Designer: Ohad Ben Moshe More information Give Something Back to Berlin: www.gsbtb.org Support our work: https://gsbtb.org/donate/ Deutsche Wohnen & Co Enteignen: www.dwenteignen.de/informations-in-english (English) / www.dwenteignen.de (German) Refugio Berlin: www.refugio.berlin