"When I joined the neighborhood circle, my goal was to expand my social circle—and I succeeded. I met new people, and I have since become good friends with some of them. I also learned to trust others again, and as a result, I have become more independent."
People from the neighborhood come together to be there for one another. In doing so, they draw upon their own unique talents and skills. Each individual participant brings their own specific needs—for which they seek support—while simultaneously offering their own competencies to others within the neighborhood circle. Drawing on their lived experience, the participants act as experts in their own right.
In this way, they can expand their personal networks and become less dependent on professional care services. A core element of the *Grätzelkreis* (Neighborhood Circle) is experiencing the group as a safe space—a place where, through shared reflection and action, both the group as a whole and each individual member can grow. If you have a need for support and, at the same time, wish to share your own talents and skills with others, the *Grätzelkreis* is the place for you.
We meet as a group once a week to discuss interesting topics, spend time together, and assist one another with personal matters. Beyond these group activities, individual members are free—based on their own interests—to exchange phone numbers and arrange to meet up with other participants from the circle. This fosters new acquaintances and, perhaps, even lasting friendships.
The *Grätzelkreis* is professionally facilitated by staff members from the association LOK and is a collaborative project undertaken in partnership with our Dutch sister organization, Pameijer.
If we have sparked your interest, please feel free to get in touch.