Do you actually know your neighbors? In times when many people live side by side without connection, the Schwerin-based association Hand in Hand – NACHBARSCHAFTLICHES WOHNEN IN SCHWERIN DURCH DIE SWG e.V. creates real spaces for interaction. In the popular neighborhood meet-ups, visitors are treated to a colorful program that leaves little to be desired. Around 18,000 people take advantage of Hand in Hand's offerings each year—a success story that began out of necessity in 1998.

The 1990s brought major changes to Schwerin’s residential areas: work-related moves and new home construction disrupted communities, leaving many, often single, residents behind. Unemployment and low pensions led to social isolation. On June 18, 1998, committed SWG employees and board members Günter Graw, Wilfried Wollmann, and Margitta Schumann, together with company representatives, founded the association Hand in Hand e.V. to counter growing loneliness.

Today, with 130 members and the help of many volunteers and several employees, the association operates seven neighborhood meet-ups in Lessingstraße, Hamburger Allee, Müllerstraße, Wuppertaler Straße, Tallinner Straße, Kopernikusstraße, and Friedrich-Engels-Straße. The offerings are diverse: those looking to start their day with yoga or senior sports are in the right place here. Creative types meet in the painting group, while nature enthusiasts regularly set off on group hikes. Especially popular are the social breakfast gatherings, where new connections are made and friendships are nurtured. From card tournaments to game afternoons, from memory training to seasonal festivals—these meet-ups have become a “second living room” for many people in Schwerin.

The close cooperation with the Schwerin Housing Cooperative (SWG) is especially evident in the support provided to tenants in Service Living for Seniors quarters and through life and social counseling. Since 1999, SWG’s Social Management has coordinated this collaboration, creating a unified structure for social engagement.

Funded primarily by donations and public grants, Hand in Hand e.V. offers not only recreational activities but also everyday assistance and a listening ear for residents’ daily concerns. The association demonstrates that true neighborhood spirit thrives on active participation. Come by and see for yourself—you won’t just be a guest here; you’ll become part of a vibrant community!

Addresses of the neighborhood meetings:

Weststadt: Lessingstraße 26a, 19059 Schwerin

Großer Dreesch: Friedrich-Engels-Straße 5, 19061 Schwerin

Mueßer Holz: Hamburger Allee 80, 19063 Schwerin

Neu Zippendorf: Tallinner Straße 42, 19063 Schwerin

Address of the neighborhood center:

Neu Zippendorf: Wuppertaler Straße 53, 19063 Schwerin