NGOsIn 2012 Annamaria founded Give Something Back to Berlin, an NGO dedicated to fostering community among migrants, refugees, and local residents to fight xenophobia and anti-migrant discourse by focusing on the urban impact of migration and developing creative programs through food, music, language, and art. The organization follows the philosophy that integration should be a two-way process where newcomers and established Berliners actively participate in each others’ communities and learn from and with each other.
GSBTB has become an internationally acclaimed best practice, awarded with over 12 German and global prizes from institutions including the UN and the city of Berlin. The organization has hosted visits from prominent figures, including Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom, the King and Queen of Sweden, German ministers such as Franziska Giffey and Katarina Barley, and Germany's First Lady, Elke Büdenbender. GSBTB’s work has been featured in various internationally acclaimed publications, including Deutsche Welle, Bloomberg, The Guardian, and Al Jazeera.
Give Something Back to Berlin
Ten years on, GSBTB has grown to hosting more than 80 monthly activities and welcoming 18,000 annual participants and volunteers. With a variety of creative and educational activities available, these spaces aim to provide participants with a supportive environment where they can build community, express themselves, and learn from each other. For example, the Open Hearts Space is a creativity-centered environment that includes art events, language cafés specifically for women and mothers, and self-development meetings for teenage girls from migrant or refugee backgrounds.
You can read more about our achievements and impact in the 10 Year Impact Report.
Annamaria is also the founder and CEO of Stories from the Beauty Parlor, a multi-disciplinary storytelling and fundraising platform that amplifies the voices of women* and LGBTQIA+ individuals worldwide. The organization’s mission is to leverage the $690 billion beauty industry to support feminist initiatives and women’s* causes, groups that receive only 1 to 2% of global philanthropic and donor funding.
Founded in 2023, Stories from the Beauty Parlor has now highlighted stories from Kosovo, Georgia, Morocco, Ukraine, and Romania. Through our podcast, social media, and visual campaigns, we merge beauty content with activist storytelling to challenge stereotypes and inspire collective action. By hosting fundraisers and community events, Stories from the Beauty Parlor fosters connection, resilience, and empowerment.
Stories from the Beauty Parlor
