FEZitty – Capital of Children

A City Built and Governed by Children

FEZ-Berlin in Wuhlheide is Europe's largest center for children, youth, and families. Every summer, it transforms its grounds for six weeks into 'FEZitty' – a playful city with everything a city needs: town hall, bank, newspaper, television studio, theater, workshops, hospital, police station, bakery, café, boutique, print shop, swimming pool. Children aged 7 to 14 take on all the roles: they apply for jobs, work in shifts, earn 'Wuhlis' (the city's currency), pay taxes, open their own businesses, go to the café, run for mayor. 'Children experience that they can shape things – they can implement their own ideas, and that creates strong self-efficacy,' says the project management in a press release.

Over 40 Businesses, Over 100 Professions

FEZitty offers more than 40 'businesses': a print shop with a type case, a bank with real cash registers, a theater ensemble with daily performances, a bakery with real ovens, a newspaper editorial office with printing and distribution, a television studio with live broadcasts, workshops for wood, textiles, metal, and recycling, a radio studio, fashion design, hairdressing, urban planning office. Over 100 different professions can be tried out during the six weeks. For each hour worked, a child earns 5 Wuhlis, minus 1 Wuhli in taxes. The earned money can be used to finance a café, pedal boats on the FEZ lake, starting their own businesses, or special activities.

Weekly Themes and Supporting Program

Over the six weeks, weekly themes change: Mobility, Sustainability, City of the Future, Water, Fashion, Finance. These themes are incorporated into the businesses and supplemented by workshops from Berlin partner companies. Additionally, there are self-organized parties, fashion shows, and competitions organized by the children.

Wuhlheide – Berlin's Large Family Area

The FEZ is located in the Volkspark Wuhlheide in the Oberschöneweide district (Treptow-Köpenick borough). The area includes forest, a swimming lake with sunbathing lawns, the main FEZ building, and the adjacent Astrid-Lindgren stage. For parents, there is a quiet outdoor area with loungers, a café, and a bookstore – their own little city park while the children govern their city.