Brandenburg is one of the sixteen federated states (Bundesländer) of Germany. It lies in the northeast of the country covering an area of 29,478 square kilometers and has 2.48 million inhabitants. It’s capital and largest city is Potsdam. Brandenburg surrounds but does not include Germany’s capital and city-state Berlin. Averaging at a population density of 84 inhabitants per square kilometres, Brandenburg’s population density is much lower than German average (230 inhabitants per square kilometers), rendering it the penultimate federal state on that list.
Brandenburg is one of the federal states that were re-created in 1990 upon the reunification of the former East Germany and West Germany. Today the state ranks among the regions suffering most from structural weaknesses in the labour market and adverse demographic developments, particularly in the rural and sparsely populated areas that are further away from the metropolitan territory surrounding Berlin.
Day 1: Thursday 08 June 2017.
09.30–11.30: Venue: Social Impact Lab Berlin
• Introduction & presentation regarding the status quo of social entrepreneurship in Germany and Brandenburg (Thorsten Jahnke & Florian Birk from Social Impact).
• Presentation & discussion on state support for social entrepreneurship in Brandenburgwith Mr. Jörg Jurkeit (Ministry of Labour Affairs Brandenburg, Department for Women and Labour Market, Entrepreneurship and Start-Up Support);.
• Presentation of the Leibniz Institute for Research on Society and Space & discussion on Social entrepreneurship in rural Brandenburg by Dr. Tobias Federwisch.
12.30 – 13.30: Lunch break at Lobetaler Bio: German Brotzeit.
13.30 – 15.30: Venue: Lobetaler Bio
Sustainable development through social Innovation, inclusive entrepreneurship & organic farming.
• Guided tour through the premises of the producer of organic edible products and discussion with the Managing Director of the Hoffnungstaler Stiftung Lobetal, Mr. Thomas Keller.
16.30 – 18.30. Visit UNESCO World Natural Heritage site Buchenwald-Grumsin; Altkünkendorf
Introduction to the community development project, a tourist and education centre for the UNESCO World Natural Heritage at Altkünkendorf (photo above).
• Meeting & discussion with Mr. Hans-Jürgen Bewer (mayor of Altkünkendorf, project manager and former Dorfkümmerer) and Mr. Frederik Bewer (mayor of Angermünde) on the (demographic) situation in the region and project development.
19.00: Dinner (Restaurant zum Großen Stein, Oderberg) and accommodation (Landhof Liepe, Liepe).
Day 2: Friday 09 June 2017
Promoting employment opportunities for low-skilled, long-term unemployed people in the Uckermarck, one of the most disadvantaged regions in Brandenburg and all of Germany.
Joint discussion with:
• MUG Brandenburg e.V.;
• Jobcenter (Public Employment Service);
• Amt für Kreisentwicklung, wirtschaftliche Infrastruktur und Tourismus (Agency for Local & Economic Development &Tourism).
11:30 – 12.30: Lunch break in Schwedt
14.00 – 16.00: Visiting the education initiative: Zuckermarcke.V. in Wallmow
Discussion with representatives of the initiative on their concept and the impact there of on community life and demographics.
• Heike Reinhold: Executive at Zuckermarcke.V. and responsible for the German-polish exchange;
• Mandy Möhwald: Co-ordinator of the office of Zuckermarke.V., responsible for project development and co-founder of the initiative.
• Jana Franke- Frey: Executive at Zuckermarcke.V.
17.00 – 18.30: Discussion with Ökonauten EG (photo above) in Hennigsdorf
Meeting with Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) co-operative and support service for young farmers Ökonauten EG; Visiting a farm development project (and discussion with farmer) in Hennigsdorf.
• Ms. Vivian Böllersen (Farmer)
• Mr. Rene Tettenborn (Ökonauten EG)
19.00: Airport and/or dinner in Berlin