For the last 13 years, we have worked together to build a community in Berlin where people support one another, share skills, and shape a more inclusive city. This kind of trust and mutual understanding develops gradually through regular encounters and shared experiences.
80+ free events every month
200 volunteers monthly
660 participants weekly
150+ weekly participants in the German language café
25 volunteer-organized workshops in the Community Hub in 2025
64 guitars currently in use in the Open Music School
260 canvases used in the Open Art Space in a year
3 broken dishwashers in Open Kitchen
"For three years, I’ve been sharing yoga with the Hejmo community, and with each meeting, I feel deeply grateful to be part of it. It’s a space of connection, respect, and growth. Here, I feel at home and in family."
Marcia, Yoga Volunteer
Our impact is more than participation numbers and events. It’s in the friendships between people who otherwise would never have met; it’s in the newfound appreciation for a new tradition or culture; it’s in the care our community shows each other every day.
To work on something together creates connections between people who might otherwise remain isolated. We bring people together around activities and goals they can shape collectively. This could be writing a song together, sharing a meal, or teaching each other how to knit.
Seeing familiar faces, being recognized, and knowing that there is a place to return creates a sense of belonging, trust, and stability. Our activities run every week. We offer dependable activities and welcoming spaces consistently to build long-term relationships.
Creative activities make it easier to connect with others. They offer people a way for self-expression, to share experiences, and communicate beyond language, age, or social background. Without social pressure, we create spaces where people can be creative together.
“People feel welcome and open to try new things and are not afraid to make mistakes. If you make a mistake, take a different canvas or try a new thing—no one questions you or stops you! That’s important and builds a feeling of safety and comfort.”
Swathi, Participant Open Arts Space
At Hejmo, people can learn a new skill, no matter who they are, where they come from, or what their income is. Music lessons, language classes, or art workshops are out of reach for many people because of financial, cultural, or language barriers. We create free, welcoming spaces where people can try something new, meet others, and share their skills in a supportive community. Our activities help people build confidence, express themselves, and connect with others. They create opportunities to meet across differences, reduce isolation, and strengthen a sense of belonging in the community.
In our program, people who never imagined themselves as teachers step into the role and discover that their knowledge, experience, and creativity have value. Taking on this role changes how people see themselves. They begin to trust their voice, speak up in meetings, organize events, and ask for what they need. Small successes – a well‑attended class, a shared meal, a new friendship – build confidence that reaches far beyond the workshop.
When a migrant or refugee leads a music lesson, language class, or creative workshop, the perspective changes: they are no longer seen as someone receiving support, but as someone contributing, guiding, and shaping the community. This challenges one-sided ideas of integration and shows that integration is not about adapting to a society from the outside, but about creating a shared space in which everyone can teach, learn, and belong.
For us, community care means looking out for one another and creating spaces where everyone feels welcome, valued, and supported. People come not only to learn, but also to share a meal, exchange experiences, ask for help, or simply spend time together. These everyday connections can reduce isolation, strengthen trust, and help people feel at home. In this way, care becomes something we build together through small acts of solidarity, shared responsibility, and the belief that everyone has something to contribute.
To learn more about our work, download our 2025 impact report.
Help us create these spaces for learning, connection, and care.
Donate to our programs, book a workshop with us, or visit our shop.