Federal program "Jugend stärken im Quartier" helped over 600 young people

The Jugend Stärken im Quartier (JUStiQ)project started in Jena on January 1, 2015 and ended at the end of June 2022 . The total funding volume over the 7 ½ years amounted to 1.3 million euros.This was made possible by funding from the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMFSFJ), the Federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community (BMI) and the European Social Fund.

The funds were used to enable sub-projects in which young people up to the age of 26 were helped to make the transition into working life.

The projects in detail:

"KP 14" by the ÜAG
"Outreach work in the youth migration service" by the AWO
"Time out" by Wurzelwerke e.V.

Successful conclusion of the funding period

At the end of the funding period, Head of Social Affairs Eberhard Hertzsch, Head of the Youth and Education Department, Christine Wolfer and Rico Wohland from the Youth Welfare Department visited Wurzelwerke e.V., which runs the Auszeit project. Here, young pupils who have lost touch with school are given the opportunity to gain structure in their daily routine and practical experience through a break from school and gardening activities. On a site by the river Saale, it is possible to do all kinds of gardening work all year round. The harvested vegetables are also cooked together. But school duties are also observed . For example, homework is done together. Jens Huschenbett from the association sums up the offer for the young people in three words: Care, structure and attention.

He gave a particularly impressive account of a 10-year-old pupil who was not getting on at all at school and was massively disrupting lessons. The six weeks of time out gave him a completely new perspective on everyday life: Where does the food come from? How much effort goes into caring for plants? What other views of life are there? And most importantly, how successful is my effort in producing a good harvest? This pupil has now graduated from school and started an apprenticeship. Experiences like this show the success of the time-out.

Head of Department Eberhard Hertzsch noted, however, that with the end of the JUStiQ funding, the current Thuringian guidelines mean that there is no possibility for targeted support for young people under 15. However, the example of the pupil shows how important it is to offer help at an early stage. The time-out project for school dropouts will be included in the catalog of the specialist youth welfare service and a continuation will be granted.

620 young people were supported

A total of 620 young people were supported in all sub-projects. The targets set by the federal government have therefore been achieved. Thanks are due to the project sponsors ÜAG, AWO and Wurzelwerke e.V. The coordination and the not always easy accounting of the projects was in the hands of colleagues from the specialist youth welfare service. The ÜAG and AWO projects can be continued from July onwardsthanks to the activation guidelines of the state of Thuringia.