Graduate Research Intern
Vhw – Association For Housing And Urban Development
Berlin Area, Germany
The project at vhw was to research the Leipzig charter 2007-2020, combined with the question how we can foster social cohesion in diverse neighbourhoods and quarters. Together with my team, I developed an international workshop around the question: "How can planners, policy makers and implementing actors, implement appropriate sustainable integrated urban development strategies, that foster social cohesion in diverse neighborhoods and quarters?". vhw will inform the evaluation of the evaluation of the Leipzig charter based on the development and results of the workshop, that took place in june 2018 in Berlin.vhw is a non-profit organisation dedicated to training and research in the areas of housingand urban development. It aims to help local authorities act effectively, foster a diverse civilsociety, and strengthen local democracy. Our cities are places where society transforms: through immigration and emigration, increasing economic pressure, new technologies and working conditions as well as new lifestyles and family structures. Active citizens, democratically elected decision-makers and responsible businesses shape this dynamic together, creating new possibilities for the future of our cities. The vhw research department strives to answer key questions concerning the future of social cohesion in our increasingly diverse cities and neighbourhoods. In partnership with academia and local government, vhw researches the changing urban society, shapes and supervises participatory processes, monitors the roles played by different parties, and examines the communication between public bodies and citizens. As part of this, it stimulates debate, including via the vhw city network. The overarching aim is to strengthen local democracy.