New elections in the Kosmosviertel: Take an active role in shaping your neighborhood!

New elections in the Kosmosviertel: Take an active role in shaping your neighborhood!

On September 9, 2025, new elections for the district council and the action fund jury took place in the Kosmosviertel. Residents aged 16 and over were invited to actively participate in the further development of their living environment. According to information from berlin.de The neighborhood council is a central body in neighborhood management (QM), which consists of residents as well as the neighborhood's institutions and sponsors.

The members of the neighborhood council meet every month to discuss current developments in the Kosmosviertel. The members develop ideas and strategies in close coordination with the district management and administration. Particularly noteworthy are the district council's successes since 2016, such as the renovation of the green spaces, the further development of the elementary school and the construction of the WaMa neighborhood shop, all of which have sustainably improved the quality of life in the district.

Active participation and participation

The district councilor for urban development, Dr. Claudia Leistner appeals to residents to take an active part in shaping their living environment. The neighborhood management is looking for committed neighbors for the neighborhood council and the action fund jury. The latter decides on applications for neighborhood projects that can receive funding of up to 1,500 euros. The jury meets about eight times a year to discuss the submitted ideas.

A quota lottery process was developed for the election event on September 9, 2023 to ensure balanced representation of all age groups and an equal number of women and men. Non-elected members can also take part in the meetings of the district council, but cannot vote. Neighborhood management is supported by the federal-state “Social Cohesion” program, the aim of which is to improve the quality of life and equal opportunities in socially disadvantaged areas.

Neighborhood management as a key to improvement

Neighborhood management is a central instrument in the “Social City” urban development funding program. The focus is on activating the networking of residents and promoting citizen participation and commitment. This is evident in the efforts to improve living and housing conditions in socially disadvantaged neighborhoods. The Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety has commissioned a study that deals with the further development of neighborhood management. The aim is to take future tasks and requirements into account and to strengthen neighborhood management as a link between the neighborhood and the community network-democracy-and-participation.de reported.

In summary, it can be said that the active participation of residents in the neighborhood committees not only contributes to improving the quality of life, but also strengthens the community in the Kosmosviertel. In times of social change, it is more important than ever to promote this commitment and to exploit the opportunities for participation.