Reaching out
Over the past few weeks, after the event storm passed, we decided to connect with local organizations in order to see how we can learn, share experiences, collaborate and support.
Hangar 1 has an open borders policy. We try to engage with like-minded organizations, attend their discussions and workshops, and eventually, if we click, create collaborations.
This is how, for example, we met the people from Among Us who helped us at the event. Around two weeks ago, Project Frau Co-Create reached out and invited us to an informative evening workshop. We loved what they were promoting, so we headed to Holzmarkt 25, their meeting point, to see for ourselves. What we found, was amazing. A group of powerful ladies from many nationalities, established Berliners, newcomers from Syria and more; sharing experiences and trying to come up with a multi-disciplinary project with a message we loved: empowering women.
This past Monday, we met them again. Roxy, one of the volunteers, agreed to moderate a design thinking workshop in order to come up with ideas and products to continue this project and define it more. We learned so much! By collaborating with individuals on a whiteboard, sharing our opinions, ideas, and concepts and then choosing the most important ones, we were able to come up with the concept that will most likely lead the way of the project.
“To tell inspiring stories through creative expressions by using inter-disciplinary skills to empower women within a supportive community”
Hangar 1 hopes to keep up the good relationship and work with them, and we look forward to contributing so that this project comes to light. More news coming soon.
In the meantime, you should check out The Kollectiv
We are on an ever-expanding path of growth and networking. Hangar 1 is learning and evolving through the feedback and nurturing that reaching out to other organizations provide. It is from others that you learn the best experiences, and from having an open heart and mind. Listening is key; engaging at a level that is realistic, respectful and comes from both sides of the equation is fundamental. Collaborations should be balanced, and should respect the limitations of each organization, but it’s through them that we one is able to get into a learning curve that’s much more worthy than any closed-doors policy.
For example, two of Hangar 1’s most trusted members, Ahmed and Don, our tech guys, have decided to volunteer at Frauenloop. This organization, founded by the amazingly powerful Nakeema, is an integration initiative that helps women EU residents and newcomers to learn computer programming skills and change to digital careers.
On Sunday, they held their first Hackathon and of course, some Hangar 1 members decided to take part. While our tech guys volunteered at teaching the different groups; some of us decided to participate as students. The 7-hour workshop went really fast. The teachers were wonderful and helpful. They were really funny as well! We learned a lot, had fantastic fun and took home more than web programming lessons: we discovered a wonderful organization staffed with bright people, willing to help others while staying humble. This is what it is all about!
Find out more about Frauenloop here
Photos by Kimberly Lauren Bryant (during the Project Frau Co-Create workshop)
Words by María Paula Fernández
