pme Donates: NUSZ e.V. — A Children's Farm in the Heart of Berlin
We hope that even 30 years from now, former children will still say, “That was an important place in my childhood.” (Eva Funk)
It’s a little oasis for children amid the hustle and bustle of the big city: the children’s farm at the Ufa-Fabrik in Tempelhof. Here, children can care for animals, learn responsibility, and—far from the pressure to perform at school—find some peace and quiet. In 2025, the children’s farm received a donation of 10,000 euros from pme Familienservice. We spoke with Christina Studte from NUSZ e.V. and Eva Funk, director of the children’s farm.
(Pictured, from left to right): Christina Studte, pme donation sponsor Carola Bach, and Eva Funk.
The UFA-Fabrik is a diverse place. How is the children's farm integrated into it?
NUSZ: The ufafabrik grounds are home to various initiatives and organizations offering a wide range of programs and activities, including ufafabrik e.V. and the International Cultural Center, which features a children’s circus, cultural events, and much more. The grounds are also home to the Neighborhood and Self-Help Center at the UFA-Fabrik e.V., which includes the Family Meeting Place and plays a major role in community outreach.
We work in partnership with an independent school located on the same grounds. We are separate institutions, but we share space. The children’s farm thus also serves as a “schoolyard” and a place of learning for the students.
At the same time, we see ourselves as part of a larger network: Through the neighborhood and self-help center, we can connect families to additional services and support in the neighborhood when needed—which is especially valuable for single parents whose children come to us.
What animals live on the children's farm?
We have several ponies—two that we actively work with, and two retired ponies that we, of course, take care of. We also have rabbits, guinea pigs, chickens, geese, three turtles, ferrets, and two bee colonies living here.
A beekeeper takes care of the bees, but they're obviously part of the family—and sometimes they make quite a racket.
The children's farm is home to lots of animals that are lovingly cared for.
The children's farm is funded by the Youth Welfare Office. Is that enough to keep it running?
We receive annual funding from the Youth Welfare Office as a children’s recreational facility. This is very important and covers the costs of our educational staff, but unfortunately not the care of the animals, which is at the heart of our work. This is very labor-intensive and costly. For years, our biggest challenge has been covering the ongoing costs of food, veterinary care, animal care, and housing.
That is why we are developing additional sources of income: childcare centers school classes that visit us in the morning pay a participation fee. Without donations and this additional income, caring for the animals the way we do here would not be possible. The program is free of charge for children in the afternoon.
What exactly does your offering look like—and who is it intended for?
Our main activity time is in the afternoon, when we offer open children’s and youth programs: Children and teens—mostly between the ages of 6 and 14—can simply come by, spend their free time on the farm, and take on responsibilities through activities like pony time.
On weekends, the farm is also open in the afternoon to families and other visitors, and we host a family afternoon. During school breaks, we stay open longer; many children stay all day, and we cook and eat together and organize special activities like a tent week.
Despite this openness, the children’s farm remains a safe space: as “adult-free” as possible, in a positive sense. The children should be among themselves, shape their own space, and feel safe—the adults are available in the background, but the children are the focus.
Do the children actually take advantage of this opportunity to strike up a conversation?
Yes, definitely. We often hear that children who tend to rub people the wrong way or “don’t quite fit in” elsewhere really thrive with us. That’s the great strength of open children’s and youth programs: Participation is voluntary, the setting is different, and the children can get involved at their own pace.
The animals are a huge help in this regard—they don’t judge and react immediately, which creates special connections.
Many children experience the children’s farm as a “third place” alongside their home and school—a place where they are taken seriously, where they can feel at home, and where they can simply be themselves.
Laika the pony urgently needed a medical inhaler. She is doing better now.
How were you able to Familienservice the donation from pme Familienservice ?
Part of the donation went directly toward purchasing a medical inhaler for our pony, Laika. Due to summer eczema, her mucous membranes are under particular strain. To prevent a chronic respiratory condition, she needs to use the inhaler during acute episodes. The special equine inhaler costs around 2,000 euros and is an important investment in her long-term health.
The rest of the donation helps us with day-to-day expenses in areas where there are always “little projects” to tackle: food and veterinary costs, art supplies for the children, potting soil and seeds for our raised beds, or a freshly painted fence. Over the course of the year, these costs really add up. Without donations like those from pme Familienservice , we Familienservice hardly Familienservice maintain the farm as it is today.
What are your hopes for the future of the children's farm?
We hope to ensure the long-term future of our animal care program—because without animals, the children’s farm simply wouldn’t be possible. And we hope that many children will continue to experience this place as “their” place: a place where they can take on responsibility, experience nature, build relationships with animals, and feel welcome even when they have worries.
And, of course, we very much hope that policymakers and society will take the value of such places for children seriously—and provide them with appropriate financial support.
We’d also love to make our long history more visible: The children’s farm is one of the oldest facilities in the organization, with a history dating back to the 1980s. For next year’s 40th anniversary, for example, we’re thinking about putting together a small photo exhibition titled “Then and Now.”
Above all, though, we hope that even 30 years from now, former children will still stop by here and say, “This was an important place in my childhood.”
Social commitment of the pme Familienservice
The "pme donates" fundraising campaign has been running for five years, giving pme team members the opportunity to nominate charitable organizations in the fields of "international development aid," "social work," "climate and animal protection," and "culture" for a donation that they actively support. All team members then vote on the organizations they want to support. The organizations with the most votes receive a donation from pme Familienservice.
In 2025, five national and international organizations received a total of €50,000 in donations—a joint demonstration that social engagement is an integral part of pme's corporate culture.
