Differences as enrichment

Ein Mann mit Hut und eine Frau mit gelbem Stirnband sitzen draußen in einem beleuchteten Bereich und lächeln in die Kamera.

When our paths crossed for the first time in 2014 at the Teach First Germany leadership program, we quickly realized:


We are very different in some beliefs, experiences and backgrounds, but at the same time we are united by a passion for creating safe spaces for exchange in which people with different perspectives and realities of life can learn from each other and bring about positive change together.

„Every action we take impacts the lives of others around us. The question is: Are you aware of your impact?“
— Arthur Carmazzi

We had our first joint impact when we set up the MUT Academy to strengthen the personalities of young people to combat unemployment and the shortage of skilled workers. We successfully supported over 600 young people from structurally weak districts in their transition from school to work. With 10 employees, more than 200 volunteers and countless funding and cooperation partners, we developed a strong, impact-driven corporate culture, a strategy for system change, knowledge management and program development as well as our courage, team spirit, motivation and perseverance.
Both the young people and the adults involved benefited from the "MUT spirit".

At the MUT Academy, we repeatedly obtained valuable support from external consultants. We learned that for certain change processes, a view from outside the system without bias is essential for dealing with difficult issues.

With PhiNa, we offer needs-oriented external support - selectively or for a longer period - with a focus on empowerment and sustainability of the results.

Different life paths

Natalie grew up in Berlin-Kreuzberg with a single teacher mother. She spent her time with many children in the backyard and making up stories, which she is still passionate about. When she changed schools overnight at 16 and transformed her role as a "shy girl", she realized how important meeting spaces are that give people the chance to try themselves out without pressure and show other parts of themselves.

Her intuition and interest in human development and justice led her to study psychology and design thinking training, as well as a career change into teaching at a vocational school for prospective educators. She wants to work for a fair world in which people interact with each other instead of against each other, listen to each other with interest and perceive differences as enrichment.

Zwei Personen halten Mikrofone in der Hand und scheinen zu sprechen. Eine Person trägt ein blaues Oberteil; die andere, weiß gekleidet, einen dunklen Anzug.

Philipp grew up in Bremen in a family of doctors and lived out his adventurous spirit through sport, playing the piano and volunteering. Competitive sport taught him team spirit, how to work on himself and how to stretch his physical and mental limits. His jobs as a private tutor, tutor, rugby & athletics coach and a development cooperation internship with AIESEC in Togo showed him his enthusiasm for education as the key to social change and motivated him to work for educational justice with Teach First Germany after graduating. Here he understood his privileges, responsibility for impact and passion for personal and team development.

He initiated and supports many communities, including a sports and climate group. He is convinced that a good life and work can only succeed in a team through safe spaces of encounter and exchange, in which our strengths are promoted and we work together on our areas of development and on a common goal.