Berlin's first German-Chinese Kita
Parents' initiative
The German-Chinese kita “Kita Bambuswald e.V.” was founded in 2008 by a group of parents.
As a parent-initiated kita, families are not only part of the parent community but also the official sponsors of the organization, which is registered as a non-profit association. This model offers many benefits, especially for families who value close collaboration with the educational team and wish to play an active role in shaping their child’s environment. It allows for a high degree of participation: parents contribute ideas, help shape everyday life, and are involved in key decisions regarding staff, equipment, and organizational matters. This fosters transparency, trust, and a strong sense of community.
To further support this collaboration, we introduced the Famly app in 2024. It simplifies communication between parents and educators and streamlines organizational processes.
Children also benefit from this model. The close exchange between parents and educators, along with regular parent shifts, creates a warm and personal atmosphere. Since parents also take part in caregiving duties, the child-to-staff ratio can be higher than in kindergartens without parent sponsorship.
Being part of a parent initiative does require a certain level of commitment (around 12 hours per parent per half-year), but many families find it a rewarding experience: parents get to know each other well, build networks, and help shape the environment in which their child grows up. This creates a space where everyone contributes – forming a vibrant and collaborative kita culture.
General Meeting
The general members’ meeting takes place once a year, usually on a weekday between 4 and 6 p.m., and concludes (optionally) with a shared drink. Childcare is provided during the meeting.
The Parents' Council
Each group is represented by a parent council. The parent council serves as a point of contact for both parents and educators. In addition, it supports the board with organizational tasks, such as helping to prepare events and celebrations.
The Supervisory Board
The supervisory board is responsible for advising and overseeing the work of the board.
Once a year, it reviews and audits the kita's finances.
Working groups
In addition to permanent roles, parents are involved in various working groups.
Each parent can contribute to daily kita life according to their own skills and interests. Possible tasks include helping with the design and reorganization of the rooms, making small repairs, gardening, or coordinating activities. These responsibilities are usually taken on in small, self-organized teams.
The Board
The board’s main responsibility is to ensure the sustainable financing of the kita. It is in charge of submitting applications and financial reports to the responsible Senate Department. The board also manages the budget, organizational matters, and all necessary administrative tasks. In doing so, it works closely with the kita's educational director and the entire pedagogical team.
The board is elected at the general members’ meeting for a term of at least one year and typically consists of 3 to 4 members.
Parent Duty
A special form of parental involvement is the “parent duty,” where parents take on the supervision of the children for a short period of time.
These shifts take place while the educators hold their regular team meetings to discuss organizational and pedagogical matters.
Occasional parent duties give families the opportunity to experience their child in the group setting, connect with other children, and get to know fellow parents better. Parent duties are scheduled on Mondays between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. and are shared among all parents. They are an essential part of our kita concept and are expected to be fulfilled by every family. Assigned shifts can usually be exchanged easily and flexibly within the parent group.
In cases of unexpected staff shortages – for example due to illness – it may occasionally be necessary for parents to step in on short notice. In such situations, we count on the commitment and support of the whole parent community.