The Hearth Summit Berlin was a place of encounter and exchange, but also of irritation and food for thought. These experiences were made possible by the enormous commitment of many people who contributed their time, energy and expertise to put on this special event.
What often remains invisible: The realisation of such a summit requires not only heart and soul, but also considerable financial resources (donations can be made here). Volunteer work and limited fees Numerous volunteers were involved in the moderation, content conception, organisation of the infrastructure, preparation of public relations, participant management, on-site coordination, decoration and many other areas such as speaker support and English translation. Although some contributors received fees, these often did not cover the actual time spent. Many hours of planning, coordination and implementation were unpaid or only partially remunerated.
High external costs - not fully covered
In addition to the high level of personal commitment, an event of this size also incurs considerable external costs:
- Technical equipment (lighting, sound, stage and video equipment)
- Location hire
- Catering for guests, speakers and helpers
- Printing and material costs
- Travel costs for speakers and team members
- Insurance, permits and other organisational necessities
Despite careful planning, we have not yet managed to cover all fees and external costs. It is particularly challenging that many participants have chosen the lowest ticket price category - which is absolutely understandable given the realities of their individual lives, but has further restricted the financial scope. In addition, the staff hours of the betterplace lab that went into the preparation, realisation and follow-up of the summit are currently not even covered.
Where do we go from here?
We want to continue to deal openly with these challenges and work on how we can fundamentally shape common futures and how we can do this with strength and solidarity: In connection with ourselves, in connection with each other and as an integrative part of nature. And how we can do this better in the future, within a sustainable financing structure. If you would like to support us or get in touch with us, we look forward to hearing from you. Thank you to everyone who has made this Summit possible - with their time, their ideas, their work and their financial support. If you have the opportunity to donate, we look forward to your contribution!