baraka – a place for international queers has been an open meeting place in Cologne for queer people from all over the world since 2005. Over the years, a free meeting place has developed into a structured contact point in close cooperation with other organizations.
baraka is more than just a place: it is a lively community project characterized by solidarity, visibility, and mutual support. Many describe baraka as a (chosen) family, a space of belonging, trust, and empowerment.
Today, in addition to providing a meeting place, baraka offers clearing, case management, cultural workshops, counseling services, networking, and public relations work. BIPoC, refugees, and people with a migration background who identify as queer are especially welcome, and so are allies.
The goal is to create a safer space where solidarity, empowerment, and self-determination are central. The diverse team of community members, professionals, and volunteers works intersectionally and on an equal footing to make queer lives visible and strong.
In times when wars, conflicts, and social tensions shape many realities of peoples life, baraka will remain a place for everyone. The open meeting place is a space where people can find community, support, and relief regardless of their background or personal experiences, without judgment. baraka is a lively place for people to come together. At the same time, we consciously create space for privacy and tranquility. To this end, we have set up a calm room that is open to anyone who feels overwhelmed, needs a moment to themselves, or wants to relax in a protected atmosphere.
The baraka open meeting takes place every Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. at rubicon. In summer mode, one Friday is usually skipped. Current information about the meeting and other offers can be found on Instagram at @baraka.
All events are coordinated by rubicon employees, the baraka team.
The baraka team is available Monday through Friday (except Tuesdays) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
*BI-POC: Acronym for “Black, Indigenous, and People of Color.”
Our offer
- Open meeting every Friday, 6 – 10 p.m.
- Initial Counselling/Clearing
- Events on LGBTQIA+, flight and migration, gender etc.
- Culture and Empowerment
- HIV/STI prevention
Our collaborations (with registration)
- Asylum consultation, every 1st Friday, 2 – 5 p.m.
- trans* and Inter* swimming, every 4th Friday
- Open consultation – Support for LGBTIQ* refugees experiencing violence, every second Friday, 6 – 9 p.m.
Contact:
baraka@rubicon-koeln.de
Tel: 0221 – 2766 999 – 35 or 34
baraka mobile:+ 49 (0)176 – 44433159
Faisal Attar – arabisch, deutsch, englisch
Tanya Parvez – deutsch, english, russisch, polnisch
Nina Fischer – spanisch, deutsch, englisch
Parsa Shahini – farsi, deutsch