Benefit soccer tournament: Kreuzberg and Nicaragua celebrate 25 years of partnership!

Benefit soccer tournament: Kreuzberg and Nicaragua celebrate 25 years of partnership!

Wiener Straße 59 A-G, 10999 Berlin, Deutschland - The city partnership between the Berlin district of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and the district of San Rafael del Sur in Nicaragua has existed since 1986 and has established itself over the years as an important link between the two regions. San Rafael del Sur, located in western Nicaraguas, about 46 kilometers southwest of Managua, has around 42,000 inhabitants. As part of this partnership, the Association for the Promotion of the Kreuzberg City Partnership - San Rafael del Sur e.V. (Stäpa) is organizing various events.

A highlight of the year is the benefit football tournament "Copa San Rafael del Sur", which will take place this year on July 19, 2025, the Nicaraguan National Day. From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., twelve Berlin leisure football teams can take part in this event, which will be held in the sports field in Görlitzer Park, Wiener Straße 59 A-G, 10999 Berlin. Each team pays a entry fee of 65 euros, the proceeds of which flow into projects in San Rafael del Sur.

enrichment by local festivals

The benefit tournament is not only a football event, but also a club and family festival. On the edge of the square, visitors can expect coffee, drinks, cakes and grill specialties. Helpers and teammates are still sought for organizing the event. Interested parties can contact the email address ulfknecht@aol.com, while the registration deadline for football-loving participants runs by June 30, 2025.

The twin city of San Rafael del Sur is part of a broad movement of German city twinning, which were created primarily after the Second World War to promote exchange and heal wounds in Europe. According to information from InfoBuero-nicaragua.org, there are over 5200 city twinning in Germany, of which there are many with European countries. In the 1980s, partnerships for Nicaraguan cities, such as that of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, were justified to enable direct solidarity and support.

challenges and commitment

The cooperation between German cities and Nicaraguan municipalities has been challenged over the years by political circumstances. Due to repressive laws of the Nicaraguan government and changed political framework, tensions in the partnerships occur. Despite these obstacles, Town Partnership Association continues to maintain dialogue and to support civil society in Nicaragua. An example of this is the audio guide "Sustainable but colonial?!", Which addresses the connections between coffee and colonialism.

In addition, the Stäpa has launched an important project that deals with the topics of international partnership work, global solidarity and human rights and has created a digitally available manual. This also shows the commitment of these partnerships in times of political challenges.

The city of Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg is not only committed to sporting activities, but also uses the city partnership to build social and cultural bridges and to draw attention to the contradictions and challenges in Nicaragua. Media inquiries can be made at press@ba-fk.berlin.de or by phone at (030) 90298-2843.