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Zebra was founded in 2004 by parents seeking bilingual English and German immersion for their kids. We're a small, tight-knit Kita with 20 places.
We welcome families of all stripes who want to contribute to a parent-run Kita. You can speak any combination of English, German, and other languages at home.
The Teachers
The Teachers
We have a devoted, stable team and work hard to maintain a child/teaching-staff ratio of max 5:1, which makes for happy, creative staff (and kids!). Many Kitas run a ratio closer to 10:1, so this is something really special about Zebra.
Kristin
Kristin
Kristin grew up in the countryside in Saxony. After living in England for a couple of years she moved to Berlin in 2003 and joined our Kita in 2010. She organises and coordinates the teaching team.
Kristin enjoys getting to know the different and unique personalities of the children, exploring the humorous “quatschy” aspects of German, and connecting our Zebras with nature.
Kristin enjoys getting to know the different and unique personalities of the children, exploring the humorous “quatschy” aspects of German, and connecting our Zebras with nature.
Fauzia
Fauzia
Fauzia came to Berlin from Oxford, UK in the summer of 2018 and joined the Zebra community in December 2019.
Like most of our Zebras, she was raised bilingual, speaking English and Pashto. Fauzia loves to help our kids bring out their imaginations. She also has a special name for each one of the Zebras.
Like most of our Zebras, she was raised bilingual, speaking English and Pashto. Fauzia loves to help our kids bring out their imaginations. She also has a special name for each one of the Zebras.
Monica
Monica
Monica is originally from Mexico. She grew up bilingual, speaking English and Spanish. She can also bring Mexican and American sign language into everyday communication.
Reading, singing, and having good chats with the children are some of her passions. Monica taught at Zebra from 2010–2019 and rejoined in 2024, after living in Nürnberg.
Reading, singing, and having good chats with the children are some of her passions. Monica taught at Zebra from 2010–2019 and rejoined in 2024, after living in Nürnberg.
Veronika
Veronika
Veronika moved to Berlin from Rheinland-Pfalz and joined the Zebra community in October 2022. She also worked as an au pair in New York for three years.
Veronika is our little Zebras' personal hairstylist! She loves to develop new artistic and creative activities for our curriculum.
Veronika is our little Zebras' personal hairstylist! She loves to develop new artistic and creative activities for our curriculum.
Our teachers are supported by our wonderful chef, Marta, and a reliable support crew of Bufdis (BfD) and Springers.
As a parent-run initiative, we can build strong relationships with our staff and employ them on different contracts to normal Kitas. The consistency is a wonderful thing — our teachers don't participate in the Berlin-wide Kita strikes, and we rarely close the Kita or close early because of staff shortages or sickness.
As a parent-run initiative, we can build strong relationships with our staff and employ them on different contracts to normal Kitas. The consistency is a wonderful thing — our teachers don't participate in the Berlin-wide Kita strikes, and we rarely close the Kita or close early because of staff shortages or sickness.
The Families
The Families
We stick together!
As parents, we run the Kita as a team – with heart, a strong sense of community, and the shared goal of creating a great environment for our kids and a cheerful, welcoming space for all of us.
At Zebra, people know each other: most parents know one another’s names – and of course, the kids’ too. Around drop-off and pick-up, many stick around to chat, and real friendships often grow from there.
Birthday invitations, playdates, small favours, and big acts of kindness aren’t the exception here – they’re just part of everyday life in our community.
At Zebra, parents are involved in all aspects of running the Kita. This includes the magical (throwing parties, hosting yoga or theatre sessions, cooking a Thanksgiving feast) and the mundane (fixing wonky shelves, hygiene checklists, and getting supplies). We share the responsibilities via small workgroups and make decisions together. All parents are voting members of the operating society, Zebra International Kindergarten e.V., and parents take turns serving on the Board.
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