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Leipzig's Dock 13: A new home for traumatized young people!
In Leipzig, "Dock 13" is opening a new facility for young people in difficult life situations to promote independence.
Leipzig's Dock 13: A new home for traumatized young people!
If the parental home is not the safe haven that many young people want, Leipzig offers a ray of hope with its new facility “Dock 13”. The city has decided to offer children and young people from challenging social backgrounds a second home. This municipal residential facility on Bautzmannstrasse is specially designed for young people aged 16 and over who are looking for an independent life.
In “Dock 13” up to 18 adolescents find a supported living environment. The apartment building houses nine bright, furnished two-room apartments, equipped with fully functional kitchens and bathrooms. The concept is clear: young people should be prepared for the transition to an independent life with the help of a committed team of educators and social workers. Loreen Stab leads the five-person team that supports the young people around the clock to teach them practical skills such as housekeeping, shopping and dealing with authorities. According to Tagesschau, this is particularly important for teens who come from difficult family backgrounds, such as domestic or sexual violence.
An important step towards independence
The young people in “Dock 13” have often already come from communal residential groups and have gained their first experiences in dealing with life there. Here you can try out what it's like to live alone in a protected environment. This type of assisted living is not only a temporary solution, but also a significant step towards independence. The educational concept relies on individual care in order to promote the independence of adolescents, which is also reflected in the goals of many other offers in the area of assisted living, as the Johanniter emphasize.
The inpatient offers in this area include various types of housing, including residential groups or individual apartments, in which young people receive support in leading an independent life. Regular support offers from specialists are essential, as can also be found at Johanniter and other providers.
Need and outlook
The need for such facilities will continue to grow in the coming years. Leipzig plans to set up up to 200 additional places in the next two years, as around 1,000 help for young people over 18 are needed during this time. This is a realization that is increasingly evident both in the city and in the youth welfare sector.
But what exactly does this mean for young people in practice? The assisted living formats are designed to not only offer young people a roof over their heads, but also to support them in their development. The focus is on practical life skills, social-emotional skills and professional integration. In addition, young people can actively spend their free time and learn to take responsibility, as Lebensperspektiven e.V. describes.
“Dock 13” shows that responsible and sensitive support is possible for young people from difficult backgrounds. In a safe space they can develop their skills, overcome challenges and be ready for an independent life. It is an initiative that gives hope and shows that society is ready to offer young people a perspective.