When and where does your day begin? Which city, which neighborhood?

My day usually starts at 5 a.m. during the week when my alarm clock rings. At this time, it's still very quiet in the Regenbogen-Kiez in Berlin-Schöneberg. Nevertheless, on the way to work you sometimes meet the last partygoers who are on their way to bed or moving on to the next pub. After all, there are bars and clubs open 24/7 here in Berlin.

What do you do when you get up? Morning ritual? Favorite breakfast? 

I never actually have breakfast at this time during the week. After getting ready for work in the bathroom in the morning, I have a coffee or tea, on my balcony if the weather is good, and then it's off to the subway.

What do you do for a living?

I'm a trained administrative assistant and work in the administration of a federal authority. At least that's my job, which is how I earn my living. But I've also been active in HIV self-help for many years. Among other things, I founded the pro plus berlin e. V. association in Berlin in 2017, and I've been a member of the association's board since the beginning. I led the young positives group of the Berliner Aids-Hilfe for several years and am involved in the buddy project of the Deutsche Aidshilfe. I am also involved in the positiv e. V. association and work with colleagues to prepare the nationwide positives meetings, which take place regularly at the Waldschlösschen Academy near Göttingen. I am a member of AktHIV.de e. V. and am also active on the association's board.

What do you like about your work? What challenges do you face? 

In contrast to my main job in a federal administration, which is usually quite monotonous, working in self-help is the exact opposite.

How do you spend your evenings? What do you eat? What is your favorite meal? 

I usually have other appointments after work. These are often events or meetings that pro plus berlin e. V. or other associations are involved in. These can be meetings such as the Fast-Track City Network to help organize the next summit in the Rotes Rathaus, or online meetings about the next nationwide positive meeting. I usually just have something small for dinner. As cooking isn't exactly one of my hobbies, I usually stick to something small or something quick from the oven.

Do you have a hobby?

Unfortunately, I can't pursue my favorite hobby of diving after work. I only really have time for it when I'm on vacation. But then with passion - watching sea turtles and surgeonfish while reef diving, exploring sunken ships while wreck diving or simply observing where the current takes you and what nature presents you with during a drift dive. For me personally, this is the ultimate way to effectively relieve stress.
presented. For me personally, this is the ultimate way to effectively reduce stress.

How do you prefer to spend your weekends?

As self-help is “only” an honorary position for me, there are of course always appointments at the weekends. Whether it's an event organized by a friendly association, my own events that I hold at the weekend or meetings to plan events that I don't have time for during the week.
However, I prefer not to set an alarm clock at the weekend, sleep in and start the day with a coffee or tea on my balcony at some point. Especially now that the plants are starting to sprout again and the days are no longer quite so cold.

About

pro plus berlin e. V. is an association with the aim of reducing discrimination and stigmatization of people with HIV in society.
Through campaigns and information for the middle of society, we want to take the topic of living with HIV out of the gay context in order to reach as many people as possible. 
Our aim is to improve the situation of people with HIV and to combat discrimination and stigmatization of people with HIV. We want to adapt society's perception of people with HIV and their life situations to reality and abolish exclusion. We show the current living environments of people with HIV. We are part of this society - with all our rights and obligations. We are not infectious.