Children in beekeeper hats demand: Save our social projects!

Children in beekeeper hats demand: Save our social projects!

Today, on July 8, 2025, around 1,500 people gathered in front of the Red Town Hall in Berlin to raise their voices for the preservation of social and educational projects. Among the participants there were numerous primary school children who drew attention to themselves with yellow beekeeper hats and creative signs such as “Our social workers are irreducible” and “Save our bee project”. The protest was by Joint welfare association organized and had the aim of protesting against the planned cuts in the education budget for 2026/2027.

One concern of the demonstrators was uncertainty about funding for social projects, which many in the city consider essential. According to nature-work educator Arezki Keddam, there are serious concerns about the financing of the bee project and the impending loss of many jobs in the field of nature and work education. The projects are from Pestalozzi-Fröbel House whose representatives emphasize that the uncertainties endanger the continuity and quality of social-educational work.

Are there a threat of massive cuts?

Education Senator Katharina Günther-Wünsch (CDU) has announced that no funding for external projects is planned in the draft budget for 2026/2027. This not only causes concern among children and parents, but also among professionals who fear for their jobs. Finance Senator Stefan Evers (CDU) called on the demonstrators to be patient until the final budget draft is available. Discussion on these matters will resume in a week after the summer break.

He is an advisory voice in this discussion ver.di, which supports the Paritätischer Wohlfahrtsverband in its concerns. This union emphasizes that the planned cuts in the area of ​​social work could lead to the loss of crucial services. The current uncertainties not only hinder the planning of projects, but also endanger the job opportunities of many specialists working in these areas.

The consequences for Berlin and society

The potential impact is alarming: fixed-term contracts cannot be extended, forcing skilled workers to report looking for work, and qualified staff could be lost to other employers. The risk of financial difficulties due to uncovered personnel costs should also not be neglected. A healthy social infrastructure is essential for Berlin, because cuts in the social sector could increase segregation and social tensions and ultimately put a strain on the entire city society.

The Paritätische Wohlfahrtsverband is therefore demanding clear commitments from Berlin politicians to continue financing existing projects and an adjustment of the funding amounts to the increased costs. This is the only way to ensure that social work in Berlin can continue to take place at a high level and that the community does not continue to suffer from the effects of savings.