June 2017

Dear friends and members of VISIONEERS,

We have once more a lot of news to report: Learn more about our volunteers in Costa Rica, the move to our new office, the interreligious pilot-workshop as well as the many great events that we have planned for you in the coming months...

Volunteer work in Costa Rica.

Our weltwärts-Volunteer Henrik is completing his one-year volunteer service with Hábitat para la Humanidad in San José. This globally-engaged non-profit organization concentrates on assignments including: making possible a proper home for poorer citizens and helping in relief projects after a recent disaster. The latter includes minimizing risk surrounding such disasters. For that, environmentally-sound and sustainable measures are adopted. Through Henrik’s report on his experiences, you can learn much more about his life and his work in Costa Rica.

Our weltwärts-Volunteers Francie and Laura support our partner project Uno+ in Costa Rica. Uno+ offers children support that oftentimes is not available within their schools or homes. Homework encouragement, guided tutorials, artistic- and recycling-workshops make it possible to start life successfully such that they have a fair chance later on in life. Their impressions of their first months in Costa Rica were summarized for your interest in a blog article and video.

Moving to the new office with support from Daimler AG.

The IT-team from Daimler AG supported us actively with the move to the new office. We painted, drilled and built together, whilst also eating and having fun. VISIONEERS wants to cordially give thanks for the significant help!

For the new office, we still need:
 

• Two lamps
• Desk chairs
• A small table for the kitchen
• Electric hot plates
• A small, white wardrobe
• Kitchen towels
• White paint

Should you have any of these things available to donate at home, please do write us at: info@visioneers.berlin. We are always glad to receive your donations and want to thank you cordially for your kind support.

First interreligious pilot-workshop.

"What does religion mean for me? What does religion mean for society? And what does religion mean for history?"

We want to tackle these questions with German and Israeli youth alongside young refugees in Berlin. In our interreligious pilot-workshop, which we launched together with the Friedenauer Gemeinschaftsschule in Berlin, the resolution of these questions was for the first time made possible within the framework of a welcome-class. VISIONEERS wants in the future to support the completion of these interreligious workshops and promote greater tolerance for and understanding of international vantage points. Christians, Jews and Muslims should meet as equals and learn from one another. In the end, any religious radicalism and extremism should be stemmed. Through the workshops, VISIONEERS wants to intervene and offer a launch pad in Berlin, which prevents young people from sliding down and falling prey to jihadism or the radical right scene. Through the prevention work, any young people, who have violent thoughts or concrete plans as such, should be advised against. We look forward to the future completion of our new project.

Waffle-Sale with Wayfair.

On June 15, our six diligent American helpers alongside our intern Maria organized a Waffle-Sale at Wayfair. Through the Waffle-Sale, donations were gathered. We thank you for your generous support with this initiative.

Approaching events.

Volleyball and picnic with plista on June 29.

On June 29, there’ll be in Gleisdreieck (Beach 61) a big volleyball tournament with an accompanying picnic from 2 to 5 pm. Come by and enjoy the sun with us!

Mentoring Farewell Dinner on July 3. 

Over a year ago, our first mentoring round started. Since then, the program has developed quite a bit and the mentors have accompanied and supported the individual evolution of their mentees. For the recognition of the first “mentoring year", we want to thank everyone involved through a small, Arabic-influenced dinner together. The Mentoring Farewell Dinner will happen on July 3 at 6 pm in the VISIONEERS office.

VISIONEERS English Summer Camp.

Perhaps you still don’t have firm plans for the summer? And you want to improve your English?
From July 31 to August 3, the VISIONEERS English Summer Camp will take place in the Haus am See in Gussow (in Brandenburg).

We look forward to the advancement of VISIONEERS projects locally and abroad and remain excited for what lies ahead. We wish you many nice, warm summer days. Your Laura