At Home in the Neighborhood
Together, not just next door
Home doesn't end at your front door. In the neighborhood, neighbors become a community. Through projects, programs, and initiatives, we work together to create neighborhoods where everyone feels safe, welcome, and connected.
Strengthen the community
A neighborhood comes alive when people come together—not just by chance, but intentionally. Through our Neighborhood Makers program, we support projects that foster neighborhoods where people know one another, look out for one another, and share a laugh.
Foster dialogue
Connections don’t just happen on their own. Neighborhood meetups and joint activities bring people together who might otherwise never have exchanged a word. Through the Meine WGL-App , we regularly share information about events and activities in the neighborhood.
Facing challenges
Wherever many people live together, tensions can arise. We listen, mediate, and offer solutions. In our Counseling & Support section, we compile information and resources that can help in everyday life.
Projects that bring people together
Initiatives that bring people together
Graffiti Workshop with Children and Teens
In Rheindorf, young people were given the space to bring their own ideas to life. Children and teenagers redesigned a transformer station. Under the guidance of an experienced graffiti artist from Leverkusen, they created designs that now visibly shape the neighborhood. We organized the project, brought partners together, and provided the framework. The creative execution was left entirely to the young people themselves. Many residents took the opportunity to share their ideas for the neighborhood playground. The initiative demonstrates how participation can succeed—and what happens when people take responsibility.
A Celebration of Unity
Two years after the 2021 flood, we came together as a neighborhood to celebrate a tenants’ party. Tenants gathered around long tables in the courtyard. They shared stories, reminisced, and laughed. The party was our way of thanking them for their patience and trust during the renovation. It brought to life what this neighborhood is built on: a sense of community that endures even in difficult times.
Safe Living – Safe Environment
At the Wiesdorf Community Center, our trainees organized a community talk on the topic of safety at home and in the neighborhood. The focus was on how to enhance one’s sense of personal safety in everyday life. Fire and burglary prevention, as well as fall prevention, were covered in a practical manner. Safety wasn’t just discussed—it was put into practice. Participants were able to get hands-on at interactive stations.
Gardening brings people together and fosters a sense of community
In collaboration with NaturGut Ophoven, raised garden beds were created, which were built and planted by children, families, and neighbors. Today, a small group tends to the beds, and the harvest is shared. The result is more than just a garden: it fosters a sense of responsibility, brings people together, and creates a vibrant community.
Apple Tree and Ivy Planting Campaign
Apple trees were planted with interested visitors to the community center, with the intention of later using the harvest to make apple juice and applesauce.
Simply Nature
Since April 2023, NaturGut Ophoven has been touring the entire city with its new “Einfach Natur” (Simply Nature) outreach van. All Leverkusen residents have been invited to stop by, talk about nature in the city, and get involved. The campaign bike features great hands-on activities and planting ideas for your own balcony. This project led to the decision to design and maintain the front yards in front of our WGL in a more natural way. The goal was to motivate tenants to take a more active role and help out in their living environment. We started by selecting a front yard on Bodelschwinghstraße.
Driver Safety Training for Seniors (60+)
Would you still pass the written driving test today? To answer this question, we partnered with Brauer Driving School and the Wiesdorf Community Center to organize a free theory course for people aged 60 and older. The course covered current traffic rules and changes in the law, among other topics, and helped participants refresh their existing knowledge. Participants also learned useful information about modern driver assistance systems. For example, when does the emergency braking assistant kick in, and how should I react correctly? The training was designed to actively contribute to participants’ safety and quality of life, as well as to enhance their driving skills.
WGL Light to the Darkest Time of the Year
On November 28, 2025, the WGL lit up Königsberger WGL , and the festively decorated Christmas tree shone in all its glory for the first time. A special highlight was the performances by Leverkusen-based singer-songwriters Luna Keller and Emily Otto. A cozy winter atmosphere was also in the air offstage: Local restaurants treated guests to culinary delights. St. Nicholas was especially delighted to see the young guests. At the Rheindorfer Laden, activities such as crafts and face painting were met with great enthusiasm. It was the joint commitment of many community members that made this event a complete success.
Because good things deserve a second home
Here, people can pass on items that will still bring joy to others. These shops provide an opportunity to strengthen community ties and conserve resources. Some of the examples listed here show how sustainable cooperation can be achieved in everyday life.
- Manfort Neighborhood Center – Social Welfare Organization of the Protestant Church District of Leverkusen
- Table of Things | AVEA
- Cabinet of Curiosities | News & Events | AVEA
- Our Neighborhood | Rheindorfer Laden
- Opening of our Children's Clothing Boxes (KKK) | The Leverkusen Child Protection Association
- Clothing Bank / Clothing Container – Leverkusen District Association
Café Eliyem in Rheindorf
My name is Sabine, I'm 43 years old, and I've been living in Rheindorf with my husband for 15 years. My favorite thing?
Sip a delicious espresso at 7:10 a.m. and then hurry to the S-Bahn. Where? At Café Eliyem at Königsberger Platz 17. That’s the perfect way to start the day. Unfortunately, the delicious coffee blend remains a secret; all we’ll say is this: it’s specially ordered from Italy.
When I have more time, I sit down with a latte macchiato, enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, and chat with people from the neighborhood who come here to pick up their packages, make photocopies, or just pop their heads in to say hello.
Things get lively when the school bell rings: that’s when the kids come out. Soft-serve ice cream, slushies, chocolate bars, and candy fly off the counter. And then there are those assorted bags—lovingly packed, with or without gelatin. Little moments of joy. Here, they think of everything. Especially the people.
Do you have a favorite thing, too?
Send us an email at:
quartier@wgl-lev.de
Neighborhood Makers – WGL's support program for neighborhoods
Just do it—become a Neighborhood Maker!
In a nutshell: We support neighborhood projects—simple, collaborative, and right here in the community!
A new bench, a community vegetable garden, or a driving course for seniors: Through the QuartiersMacher program, we help you bring your own ideas to life in your neighborhood. Do you have an idea for how to make your neighborhood even more beautiful, vibrant, or welcoming? Great—we’ll support your efforts with our expertise. Your community involvement covers the required contribution—with time, support, and collective effort.
This is how your idea becomes a project!
For the community
Your idea fosters a sense of community—both in the building and throughout the neighborhood.
Working together
Your contribution matters: You provide 20 percent yourself—for example, through your participation, organizational efforts, or a small financial contribution.
Just get started
A short questionnaire is the first step toward bringing your neighborhood idea to life. We’ll get in touch and guide you through the next steps.
