The intercultural project space COLA TAXI OKAY e.V. (CTO) in Karlsruhe turns ten. It is celebrating in October with three events. Since 2016, the volunteer-run association has been a place for encounters, exchange, and creative work for Karlsruhe residents, migrants, refugees, and newcomers.
Three words, four letters—COLTAXI OKAY follows this principle not only in its own name but also in its events.
For its 10th anniversary, that means: BOOM BDAY STAR
- October 9, BOOM BDAY CHAT, 6 p.m.: Panel discussion looking back on ten years of CTO. It also asks what intercultural meeting spaces and volunteer work mean for urban society. Afterward, snacks, drinks, and time to talk.
- October 10, 2–7 p.m., BOOM BDAY OPEN, 2 to 6 p.m.: Open house with workshops, hands-on activities, a bike repair station, food, and free haircuts from 3 p.m.
- October 17, BOOM BDAY GAGA, from 6 p.m.: “Speed-Date-a-Friend” for casual introductions, followed by an anniversary party with live music, a belly dance workshop, and DJs who have shaped CTO’s sound.
A Second Home—Here to Stay
COLA TAXI OKAY was founded in 2016 as part of Larissa Mantel’s thesis, against the backdrop of the large number of refugees arriving in Karlsruhe at the time. The idea: to bring people from different backgrounds and walks of life together on equal footing and to create a space for encounters, exchange, and creative work. From the very beginning, CTO was also conceived as a space for self-empowerment—a place where people can contribute their own ideas, bring projects to life, and help shape the community themselves. Ten years later, CTO has long been more than just a project space for many: it’s a second home, a place where people can find a sense of belonging, get involved, and feel like they belong—regardless of where they come from. This has been made possible above all by the many volunteers who have supported COLA TAXI OKAY over the years with their time, ideas, and energy.
In short: COLA TAXI OKAY is here to stay:
“With our anniversary program, we want to show exactly that: what happens when people from different backgrounds and with different histories come together—seriously, creatively, and with a great deal of joy in shaping things together.” [Active Team]
Further information on the program here.
