Retrospective and Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Kreuzberg-San Rafael del Sur Sister City Partnership

When and where?

August 28, 2026, starting at 4:00 p.m.

at Refugio, Lenaustraße 3, 12047 Berlin

Free admission.

Forty years ago—on January 28, 1986—the official town twinning agreement between Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and San Rafael del Sur in Nicaragua was signed. To mark this occasion, we want to reflect on how the partnership and the association’s work have changed since the 1980s—and how they should move forward!

As part of the afternoon program, starting at 4:30 p.m., archival films and photos from the partnership’s early years will be shown as an expression of solidarity with revolutionary Nicaragua.

Afterward, long-standing association members and new volunteers will discuss the partnership’s developments since the 1980s: How did changes in Nicaragua’s government affect the partnership? How did the understanding of “solidarity” change—both at the civil society and administrative levels—as the Sandinista government itself came under increasing criticism for being autocratic? And what role can the city partnership play under these conditions?

Starting at 7:00 p.m., the association invites everyone to raise a glass together, followed by a celebration with music and Nicaraguan food.

All interested and committed individuals are warmly welcome!

Program/Schedule:

• 4:00 p.m. – Doors open
• 4:30 p.m. – Welcome remarks by District Mayor Clara Herrmann (t.b.c.) and Association Chair Ulf Knecht
• 4:40 p.m. – Retrospective: Archival footage from the early days of the city partnership
• 5:30 p.m. – Break
• 6:00 p.m. – Short presentation and panel discussion on developments over the past 40 years
• 7:00 p.m. – Toast followed by a celebration with music and Nicaraguan food
• 10:00 p.m. – End of the event