By Itong Ehrke | Project Manager
We are Pfeffersport – a club that not only understands inclusion as a term but actively lives it.
This year, we celebrate our 35th anniversary! We have made a strong start to the year and have already overcome many challenges – and that’s exactly what we do best. As one of the largest grassroots and inclusive sports clubs with over 5,300 members, we are committed to creating a sports world where everyone, regardless of their individual circumstances, can participate. Our club is based in the Pankow district of Berlin but is now also active in many other districts.
The story of Pfeffersport began in 1990 during the dynamic post-reunification period when dedicated individuals founded the "Prenzlauer Berger Volleyball Club." We quickly expanded our offerings to include numerous other sports – from basketball and table tennis to fitness, yoga, and self-defense. Whether it’s football or sports for children, everyone can find a place with us.
A standout feature of Pfeffersport e.V. is the high proportion of children and young people: with 67.8% of our members under the age of 18 at the end of 2024, we are the largest children's and youth sports club in the Pankow district of Berlin. We place particular emphasis on promoting inclusive sports programs for children with and without disabilities.
In 2016, we changed our name to Pfeffersport e.V., and today we offer over 50 different sports, supervised by nearly 400 motivated coaches – about half of whom are under 30 years old. The development of our club is characterized by an unwavering curiosity for innovative offerings and new paths. Inclusion runs like a red thread through all our activities.
Pfeffersport members understand inclusion far beyond its common definition. We create opportunities for participation for everyone in our programs, events, and projects: people with disabilities or impairments, individuals with migration backgrounds, members of the queer community, seniors, and many more. Everyone should find a sporting home with us.
Our commitment goes far beyond operating sports groups. Pfeffersport runs its own daycare center and offers school projects, holiday camps, and awareness-raising programs. Additionally, we host unique events: The inclusive Oranke Open Triathlon, the Wheel-Soccer Cup, and the Pankow Festival are annual highlights on our calendar that promote inclusive thinking – guests from all over Germany have been attending these events for over 15 years.
The goal of our club is to convey our values both internally and within society. As co-founders of the Berlin Inclusion Network, our qualification program "Mission Inclusion" has been a central part of our commitment since 2018. We offer training sessions, workshops, and exchange opportunities for club members as well as the entire sports community to provide individual support on the path to greater inclusion.
Pfeffersport has embraced the challenge of balancing professional and volunteer engagement while continuously striving for professionalization without losing its family character. Networking and the vision of an inclusive sports world are central components of our work that contribute to a diverse and supportive society.
We look forward to the coming years filled with new challenges and opportunities to promote inclusion in sports!
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