In response to the growing number of students in Berlin and the resulting increase in students seeking housing, the “Flats4Volunteers” project was launched in late fall 2025 as a supplement to the existing SBW Berlin scholarship program. In exchange for social engagement, SBW Berlin offers free housing in one of its two-person shared apartments (WGs) in Buckow, Neukölln, to students seeking housing who are enrolled at a university or university of applied sciences in Berlin and are within the standard period of study for their respective bachelor’s or master’s degree program.

Since SBW Berlin offers free accommodation only in exchange for community service, all volunteers engage in community service in Berlin during their time with the project. For example, volunteers can support a social or nonprofit organization in Berlin by helping to serve meals or sort clothes in the clothing bank, if such services are available for homeless people. There are also various opportunities for working with children and young people—from helping to organize recreational activities to providing homework assistance, and so on. The important thing is that All volunteers are socially engaged in some way and are proactive.