BEFaN Network

The BEFaN ('Bildung-Eltern-Familie-Nachbarschaft' - education-parent-family-neighborhood) network is a Berlin-wide specialist network that was founded as part of the BEFaN project in 2014. This initiative arose from a cooperation between the Association of Parents from Kurdistan in Germany, Yekmal e.V., MITRA e.V. and VIA Regional Association as cooperation partners. After completion of the BEFaN project, the network was taken over by the Association for Intercultural Work (VIA) Regional Association Berlin/Brandenburg e.V. in 2016 and coordinated under its sponsorship until 2023.

Over time, the network has developed into an indispensable player in Berlin's migration and education policy landscape. It consists of migrant organizations, educational institutions, experts and relevant specialist administrations at district and senate level as well as other stakeholders in the field of multilingualism.

In 2024, the BEFaN network returned to the remit of the Association of Parents from Kurdistan in Germany - Yekmal e.V. BEFaN has developed into an established Berlin-wide specialist network in the field of education and multilingualism. It is actively committed to the institutional promotion of multilingualism in education and strives to make the interests and needs of migrant communities visible. A central concern is to incorporate the diverse expertise and experience of migrant communities in the field of multilingualism in the education system.

The goals of the network include

• Making multilingualism visible and promoting its potential.
• Exchange of expertise in the field of multilingualism and education.
• Raising awareness of multilingualism and interculturality among educational professionals in daycare centers, schools and other educational institutions.
• Networking among the stakeholders.
• Political lobbying at district and state level.
• Promoting the participation of migrant organizations in the field of multilingualism and education.
• Representation of the interests of migrant organizations in the field of multilingualism in education.

Members of the BEFaN steering committee

• Coordination of the BEFaN network, Remziye Uykun
• Yekmal e.V., Maryna Markova
• Hellenische Gemeinde zu Berlin e.V. Evangelos Tsiaplis
• Koopkultur e.V., Petronela, Bordeianu
• Gewerkschaft Erziehung Wissenschaft - GEW, Monika Rebitzki, Willi Stotzka
• SprachCafé Polnisch e.V., Agata Koch

» Rules of procedure

Contact details

Schönleinstraße 23, 10967 Berlin
Tel: 030 81 79 73 65
Fax: 030 81 79 73 66
E-mail: befan@yekmal.de
Instagram: @befannetzwerk
Facebook: @befannetzwerk @befannetzwerk