My First Steps into Volunteering in Berlin

It’s been six months since I moved to Berlin, and honestly, I’m still feeling my way around. Finding a routine, making friends… it’s a process. But one thing I really want to do is get more involved in the city, contribute in some way. That’s why I was talking to Alice the other day – she’s a really friendly face I’ve met at the Kiez [neighborhood] cafe.

The conversation started with the usual, “Hallo! Wie geht’s dir?” (Hello! How are you?) and “Mir geht’s gut, danke. Und dir?” (I’m doing well, thanks. And you?). We quickly moved into the topic of volunteering. I was thinking about getting involved in a local initiative, and it felt a little overwhelming at first. I didn’t even know where to start.

That’s when Alice suggested the organization that distributes food to homeless people, die Organisation, die Lebensmittel für Obdachlose ausspendet. (the organization that distributes food to homeless people). It sounded really important, but also… a huge commitment. I asked her, “Ich habe mich gefragt, ob man dort auch mit einem kleinen Beitrag helfen könnte, vielleicht mit dem Packen?” (I was wondering if I could help there too, maybe with packing?). She said, “Ja, das wäre super! Die brauchen immer Leute, die helfen können.” (Yes, that would be great! They always need people who can help).

It’s funny, the little things feel so significant when you’re new to a place. I still feel a bit like an outsider, and just knowing I could do something concrete, something to make a small difference, was really encouraging. I’m really trying to learn more about the soziales Leben [social life] here, and this seemed like a perfect way to start.

But then I started thinking about the logistics. I heard they give eine Einweisung (an introduction/training) fairly quickly, which is good – I definitely don’t want to just jump in and mess something up. I actually said to Alice, “Ich finde es wichtig, dass man genau weiß, was man macht, bevor man anfängt.” (I think it’s important that you know exactly what you’re doing before you start).

And she was right, of course. There’s this whole thing about die Regeln (the rules) being really strict, which makes sense, I guess, when dealing with vulnerable people. I realized I needed to understand those Richtlinien (guidelines) properly. We talked about it and she said, “Ja, ganz genau! Die haben ja relativ strenge Richtlinien.” (Yes, exactly! They have pretty strict guidelines). It’s a good reminder to do my research. I was struggling with the concept of “Verantwortung” (responsibility) too – a big one here, it seems.

I told her I was planning to get in touch next week to find out when I could help. “Ich denke, ich werde mich nächste Woche melden und mich erkundigen, wann ich helfen kann.” (I think I’ll contact them next week and ask when I can help). Alice gave me some advice: “Super! Viel Erfolg! Danke, dir auch!” (Great! Good luck! Thanks to you too!).

It’s a little daunting, to be honest. I’m still picking up the language – I had a small misunderstanding earlier when I tried to ask for directions and accidentally said “Ich möchte ein Ferkel” (I want a pig!) instead of “Ich möchte ein Fahrrad” (I want a bicycle!). It’s hilarious now, but it shows you how easily things can go wrong when you’re not fully confident.

But I’m determined to make this work. I’m starting small, and hopefully, this volunteering experience will not only help those in need but also help me feel more connected to Berlin and its community. I’m going to keep practicing my German, learning about the city, and, most importantly, being open to new experiences. Auf Wiedersehen (Goodbye) for now!