Landing
At Rückenwind, Berliners and refugees repair bicycles together.
Bikes for refugees
It's really simple: refugees in need of a bike will contact us.
Little by little we'll invite them to our workshop, choose a suitable bike for them among the donated ones, and repair it together. To do this, our workshop is open on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
We are happy to help you!
Please sign up to our waiting list and we will set up an appointment for you in our workshop. Since many refugees are waiting for a bike, this can unfortunately take up to three months.
Do you feel like working with us and have the time? Excellent! We look forward to volunteer mechanics who want to get bikes into shape with us. Experience repairing bicycles is a plus, but not required.
You are very welcome to donate your bike by bringing it to the workshop at Lenaustraße 3 from Monday to Wednesday and on Friday, between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. We will accept bikes at irregular intervals.
Our goals
mobility
Only those who are mobile can find their way around new surroundings easily, visit new friends and thus arrive. With their own bike, refugees can move around Berlin independently, environmentally friendly and free of charge.
integration
Simply handing out bicycles to refugees is not enough for us, we want to bring Berliners and refugees together. When we screw things together and at our events, we break down prejudices and create a community around bicycles.
sustainability
Our bikes are recycled since we assemble them from used spare parts and frames. In this way we create sustainable mobility and inspire many people to use the most environmentally friendly means of transport.
What we have accomplished so far
2700
Bikes
70
volunteers
45
Action days
Self-Repair Workshop
In our self-repair workshop you will learn how to repair your bike under supervision. With us, people with and without refugee experience work side by side.
opening hours
Unfortunately, we currently do not offer any self-repairworkshop
That's how it works
With the motto "help others help themselves", we support you in repairing your bike. If you have any questions, refugees trained by us as well as our mechanics will be happy to help you. We recycle the majority of our spare parts from used bikes, which we usually give away for a small fee. In case some spare part is still missing, the nearest bike shop is not far away.
Support us
Would you like to join us? Do you still have a bike, a lock, lighting or a helmet? Or would you like to support us financially? We are just as happy about active support as we are about donations in things and money. Here's the best way to do it.
Donate a bike
You are very welcome to bring your bike donation to the workshop at Lenaustraße 3, from Monday to Wednesday and Friday between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. We'll pick up bikes at irregular intervals. You can register the donation here.
Donate money
In order to repair bicycles, we need tools and accessories, among other things. Unfortunately, this is not cheap, which is why we are very happy about monetary donations. If you would like to support us financially, just click here.
Become a sponsoring member
Regular donations help us a lot to keep our workshop operations up and running in a predictable manner. For this reason, we are grateful to our sponsoring members. A sponsoring membership starts at 60 euros per year. Naturally, we don't mind if it's more.
Work with us
Do you feel like working with us and have the time? Excellent! Just come by on Mondays, Tuesdays or Wednesdays at our workshop opening times (4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.) and we will find something for you. We organize meetings via our Facebook group, that you are welcome to join.
Become a team member
Do you fancy organizing events, doing paperwork, picking up donated bikes or realizing your own idea ..? There is always a lot to do with us and we appreciate everyone who wants to helps us. Write to us, we are looking forward to hearing from you!
Start a bike hub
Our cellar is bursting at the seams and our location in Neukölln is too far away for many bicycle donors. Support us by making your basement available as a storage room for donations. Please do not hesitate to contact us.
About Rückenwind
Rückenwind e.V. - We are volunteer helpers and refugees repairing bicycles together in Berlin-Neukölln. Our goal is to make refugees mobile with bicycles, to offer them employment and to bring them together with Berliners.
In our workshop in Neukölln, refugees and Berliners work together on bicycles and get to know each other. Experience as a mechanic or German knowledge is not required, everyone is welcome with us. We are also very happy to receive active or financial support as well as donations in things.
Our story in pictures
Jan. 8, 2015 - The founding
7 young students found Rückenwind in their shared kitchen.
More about us
We have the big goal of building a community around bikes. We have already received awards for our results so far. In order to achieve this goal, there are still many integrative events organized by and with us.
bike tours
Whether leisurely to the Wannsee or sportively at the Velothon, riding a bike is fun and brings people with or without refugee experience together.
Events
At our mechanics-events, parties and at the summer festival, people with or without refugee experience come together.
Awards
We were welcomed by the Federal Chancellor Dr. Merkel and the Berlin Senate for our activities.
What people write about us ...
Here you will find a selection of reports and videos from and about Rückenwind. We have also put together a press kit and high-resolution images for journalists.
Friends and partners
Over time we have worked with a lot of great people, organizations and companies. We received support and implemented joint projects. At this point we want to thank everyone for existing and for past collaborations.
You can find us here
Our workshop is located at Lenaustraße 3, 12047, Berlin (in Neukölln). You can find us in the right side of the building of Refugio, an intercultural project house of the Berliner Stadtmission. Just ring the bell during our opening hours at the workshop and we will open the door for you!