Charity
When we come together…
Where people come together to celebrate and enjoy the beautiful moments of life, social responsibility is also given great importance. The WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt commits to this responsibility by regularly allocating a significant portion of its revenue to charitable causes. In the past year, 2023, the district of Mitte in Berlin benefited from a remarkable donation of over €100,000.
In collaboration with our corporate partners, we sustainably support people in need and promote social and cultural projects under the motto "my Berlin, my city," which primarily bring about positive change in the Berlin Mitte district. Since 2003, our commitment has been particularly focused on supporting socially disadvantaged children and the homeless. Together with our corporate partners, we support people in need and are committed to social and cultural projects mainly in Berlin Mitte under the motto "my Berlin, my city." Since 2003, our main focus has been on promoting socially disadvantaged children and the homeless. Additionally, since 2024, a city partnership project between the district of Berlin-Mitte and Addis Ababa-Lideta in Ethiopia has been established.
The heart of our efforts is our own charity project, the "Summer Camp" in the Tyrolean Alps. For 20 years now, this camp has enabled children from socially disadvantaged areas of Berlin to experience the valuable concept of "Healthy Nutrition in Motion." Each year, through this camp, children not only embark on educationally valuable adventures in nature but also learn the basics of a healthy lifestyle and the importance of community and personal commitment. We are proud to make a small but meaningful difference in our society with our strong belief in solidarity and care.
Berlin-Mitte and Addis Ababa-Lideta City Partnership
The district of Mitte sought a partnership with the district of Lideta in Addis Ababa at the beginning of 2021. After virtual exchanges and identifying common challenges, the first in-person meeting took place in July to establish contacts and develop partnership projects. The Coordination Office for Municipal Development Policy and the Black Adult Education Center/Africa Academy of the Mitte District Office coordinate the partnership activities. For more information and the complete travel report, click HERE.
Jenny de la Torre Foundation – Health Center for the Homeless
Dr. Jenny De la Torre Castro founded the Jenny De la Torre Foundation in 2002 to provide medical care for homeless people in Berlin. With the support of the Berlin-Mitte District Office, she found a suitable building and opened a modern health center in September 2006. Generous donations enabled the purchase of the building, allowing the foundation to fully focus on the patients. The foundation is a non-profit organization and operates the health center for the homeless. For more information, click HERE.
Stephanus Schule
The Stephanus School has been an important learning place for children and adolescents with intellectual and multiple disabilities since 1990. The school offers full-day classes from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM in 12 classes, complemented by therapeutic services. Educational professionals provide additional support before and after classes as well as during vacations to promote students' independence and recognition. For more information, click HERE.
35th Anniversary of the Stephanus School – Our Donation for More Movement
On July 11, 2025, the Stephanus School celebrated its 35th anniversary – a significant milestone that we were honored to be part of. As part of this special occasion, we had the pleasure of presenting a very meaningful gift this year: A MOTOmed device.
The MOTOmed is a versatile movement training device designed to loosen muscles, build endurance and strength, enhance mobility, improve coordination, and support overall well-being.
We are truly pleased to make a valuable contribution to supporting the students in their development. Once again, we were deeply impressed by the outstanding dedication of all the staff at Stephanus School.
It is both a joy and a heartfelt mission for us to continue supporting this exceptional school in the future.
Festive Children's Classical Gala at the Konzerthaus Berlin
Every year, the Konzerthaus Berlin opens its doors for the festive “Children’s Classical Gala.” The Zukunft Konzerthaus initiative gives children from underprivileged backgrounds the opportunity to experience the historic concert hall. Over 3,500 children have participated in years, and for many, this is their very first encounter with classical music.
This year, we are inspiring children aged 6 to 12 with “beschenkt” (“gifted”) – a musical theatre performance full of music, dance, and spoken word.
For more information, click HERE.
Support for the Social Commission of the Berlin-Mitte District Office
Together with the Social Commission of the Berlin-Mitte District Office, we implement various projects to assist those in need. These include Christmas vouchers for seniors and refugees, emergency vouchers from the social welfare office, and collaboration at the "Round Table Leopoldplatz." Additionally, we operate soup kitchens in the Protestant congregations of Moabit and St. Petri to provide warm meals to those in need. These projects are part of our commitment to the community. Visit the website here.
Summer Camp Zillertal
At the Anna Lindh School in Berlin's Wedding district, the annual summer camp is already a well-established tradition - it has now been taking place for over 20 years. During the 2024 summer camp, sporting activities were combined with fun, adventure and the art of cooking together to emphasise the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
Participation in this special event was awarded to pupils who had drawn attention to themselves through special commitment and social behaviour in everyday school life and were nominated by their classmates. The programme was peppered with excursions into nature and to cultural sites, such as the picturesque open-air museum with its historical buildings. This year, we hiked together to the Kristallhütte at an altitude of over 2,000 metres and enjoyed the breathtaking view of the mountains and valleys. The rafting tour on the ice-cold Ziller and the rapid descents on the summer toboggan run are among the annual highlights. After the daily activities, the evenings ended on a cosy note with an atmospheric dinner.
After seven unforgettable days, the trip came to an end, leaving behind lasting memories and anticipation for next year. WeihnachtsZauber Gendarmenmarkt GmbH would like to thank all helpers and supporters and is already looking forward to the next trip with the fantastic pupils of the Anna Lindh School.
The “AG Erinnern” of the Theodor Heuss School in New Orleans – A Journey in the Footsteps of the City’s (German) History
Twelve students from the “AG Erinnern” (Remembrance Working Group) of the Theodor Heuss Gemeinschaftsschule in Berlin-Moabit spent a week in New Orleans exploring the city’s French, Spanish, and especially German history. They visited the grand houses of wealthy immigrants and learned about the people who were forcibly taken from Africa and made to work under brutal conditions. On plantations along the Mississippi River, they confronted the history of slavery firsthand.
At the German-American Cultural Center, the students learned how the history of German immigration is preserved — but also noted that the reality of slavery and the existence of Indigenous peoples were insufficiently addressed. This led to intense discussions about historical responsibility: migration is often a matter of survival — then and now. But history must be told in full — including its darker chapters. Only then can true responsibility be taken.
It was a deeply moving and formative journey for the AG Erinnern of the Theodor Heuss School.