New youth meetings in Jarmen and Mönkebude: Young people create themselves!

New youth meetings in Jarmen and Mönkebude: Young people create themselves!

Something is happening for young people in Mönkebude and Jarmen! Thanks to new pilot projects, new meeting places for young people are to be created in these places in the Vorpommern-Greifswald district. Support of around 530,000 euros comes from the Kulturland office in Rothenklempenow, which is on board with the Drosos Foundation, the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the district itself. The initiators have big plans: young people should not just be passive users of their leisure places, but should actively develop a concept and take responsibility for their own youth clubs. The organizers aim to promote a sense of ownership and community and to encourage participants to turn their ideas into reality. As tagesschau.de reports, this project may be expanded to other locations after a year. Funding was guaranteed until 2028.

But what exactly is behind these new meeting places? Artists from the Uecker-Randow region have launched the “Spacemaker” project, which deals with exactly this topic. Young people are supported to independently create meeting places that not only offer space for leisure, but should also be an important part of democratic self-image, especially in rural areas. Again Northern Courier emphasizes, young people often have insufficient financial resources, space and educational specialists at their disposal - hurdles that need to be overcome.

Young people in focus

The Spacemaker project aims to test alternative and creative approaches to youth encounters. Six test sites are being intensively monitored. The approach is participatory: young people and local partners not only determine the needs, but also the forms of encounter. This tailor-made support, which is organized by the Cultural Land Office, is intended to help you learn specific skills, which at the same time lays the foundation for democratic action and entrepreneurial thinking. The Drosos Foundation is particularly committed to supporting disadvantaged teenagers and young adults.

Beyond the actual goal of the project, the initiative aims to promote exchange and networking between the participating municipalities and other institutions. An important concern, which is also in the context of Erasmus+ Youth, is the active participation of young people in what is happening in society. The aim is to offer young people the opportunity to get involved in decisions and to help shape their environment. The importance of these initiatives cannot be overestimated, because only through active participation will the democratic consciousness of the young generation be strengthened.

Overall, the project promises a lot: creative ideas, active participation and a bit more responsibility for young people. At a time when reaching and accessing services is often difficult for young people, this project represents a positive step towards a vibrant community.