HomeGeneral InformationBackground (ICPD, SRHR)Conference GoalSteering GroupSecretariatGerman Government & UNFPACo-hostsSupporting PartnerList of ParticipantsVenueLocationHow to Get ThereAccommodationSurroundingAccessabilityInformation about BerlinConference ProgrammeSatellite SessionsMedia CenterPodcastsReg. /Nat. DiscussionsYouthBlogsForum Small Grants FacilityDownloadsLinksContactFAQSitemap

Surrounding

The Estrel Hotel and Conference Center is located in the quarter Neukölln in the southeastern part of the city of Berlin. It is one of the most exciting and lively boroughs. Its population is 300.000 inhabitants from more than 160 nations. The northern section of Neukölln is very urban and is dominated by Berlin's typical 5-storey apartment blocks. It takes approximately 20-30 min with public transport to the main sites of Berlin.

It has one of the highest percentages of immigrants in Berlin, creating a multi-cultural atmosphere. It has to struggle with a high unemployment rate and Neukölln has become a catchword in the German media when it comes to public debates about German immigration policy and integration. But at the same time it has developed into a culturally productive and vital part of Berlin. Many initiatives and institutions are created in this area benefiting from the diversity of cultures and ethnic groups (please see “Werkstatt der Kulturen”). Furthermore, it attracts young and creative people which are inspired by the cultural productivity.

A social approach to stabilize and further develop districts with increased social inequalities, Berlin implemented a Neighborhood Management program called “Quartiersmanagment” as part of the “socially integrative city program". The initiative seeks to promote future-oriented urban development, to empower residents by providing them with new skills, and knowledge, to promote the image of each district, and to increase local residents’ sense of personal identification with their neighbourhoods.
(For more information: www.quartiersmanagement-berlin.de/English.40.0.html)


Places of Interest:

Opera
Neukölln's refurbished prewar ballroom is easily the most creative opera house in the city, with an actively anti-elitist repertoire pitting children's and experimental shows against rare operas by greats such as Mozart and Schubert.
http://www.neukoellneroper.de/

Werkstatt der Kulturen
The „Workshop of Cultures“ is an institution which portrays the diversity of migrant cultural and art forms. It is an example of the diversity of ethnic groups living in Berlin.  Cultural-, music- and film events are created in closely cooperation with curators of different ethical- and artistic milieus.
Wissmannstraße 32, 12049 Berlin
http://www.werkstatt-der-kulturen.de/

Local Museum
The Neukölln Museum is an establishment of the Office for Culture in Neukölln. The Museum sees itself as a modern, innovative regional museum, as a lively place , where an exchange between the generations and between different cultures is possible. The local people are the focus of its exhibition activities. Changing annual exhibitions inform the visitor about the latest results of the study of Neukölln’s regional history and everyday culture. The annual exhibitions complement our perception of Neukölln like a mosaic. They challenge the spirit of the times critically, combining lessons from history with the posing of questions for the present day.
Ganghoferstraße 3,12043 Berlin, U7 Rathaus Neukölln
http://www.museum-neukoelln.de/home.php

kulturnetzwerk.de Project "Artist and Youth "
Jugendatelier Neukölln, Reiner Will, Richardstr. 36, 12043 Berlin
www.kulturnetzwerk.de

Schloss Britz
The Schloss Britz (Britz castle) is the former manor-house of the historical Rittergut (country estate) and village Britz, now a district of Berlin-Neukölln. Today it is the domicile of the cultural foundation Kulturstiftung Schloss Britz and includes in his originally reconstructed rooms from around 1880 a museum for interiors of the Gründerzeit.

Volkspark Hasenheide
It covers an area of 56 hectares/138 acres;  a wide variety of facilities for recreation and relaxation are provided; there is a monument in the park, erected in 1955 on the Rixdorfer Höhe, this monument by Katharina Singer honors the "Trümmerfrauen", the "rubble women" who played their part in the rebuilding of Berlin after the war.