The Path to engagiertes.berlin

engagiertes.berlin is more than just a platform—it is the result of a collaborative process. The idea arose from a clear need: In Berlin, thousands of people and small initiatives are working for the common good. But anyone starting out quickly runs into obstacles: 


Where can we find a space? How do we apply for funding? Who can advise us? 


These questions were on our minds—so we listened. In workshops, interviews, and online surveys, volunteers from across the city shared their experiences. Together with them, we identified what’s missing, what’s frustrating, and what’s needed. 
The results were clear: We need a platform that doesn’t know everything, but helps people find what they need. A digital guide— accessible, easy to navigate, and practical .


This led to the creation of engagiert.berlin—developed by renk e.V., with funding from the Senate Department for Culture and Social Cohesion.

Here, we didn’t just talk about volunteers—we talked with them. The platform isn’t designed for institutions, but for the people who make a difference in this city every day—often without a big budget, but with a lot of passion. 

Our goal: to make volunteerism in Berlin more visible, accessible, and inclusive. For everyone who wants to get something started—no matter how small the beginning may be.

To mark the launch of engagiertes.berlin, we spoke with volunteers, initiatives, and organizations about what a good volunteer platform should offer. We’ve summarized the key takeaways from these initial discussions for you here.

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In our second workshop, we discussed the platform with dedicated individuals from Berlin—with a special focus on the needs of small initiatives and new volunteers—who are, after all, the platform’s true users. We’ve summarized the participants’ key insights and requests here for you.

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At re:publica 2025, we discussed the shortage of space and tested an initial prototype of the space platform on engagierte.berlin. The feedback shows that digital solutions can create access—if they are tailored to the community’s needs.

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