New youth station in Meißen: A place for the future!

New youth station in Meißen: A place for the future!

After being vacant for almost two years, the former Saxonia restaurant in Meißner Bahnhof will soon become a new meeting place for young people. The operator Steffen Heinrich gave up the restaurant in March 2023, and now a new chapter is underway. The Meißen Youth Station, a project of Arche Meißen, is planning to move into the premises. This innovation is scheduled to take place in the second half of 2025, as Arche kinderprojekt-arche.de explains.

Samuel Meinert, the project manager, is enthusiastic about the collaboration with the city of Meißen and Deutsche Bahn, which is leasing the property. The rooms are being extensively redesigned. After laying new power lines, a lounge area, a work room for homework and a multifunctional room will be created from the former bowling alley. This not only gives young people a place, but also the opportunity to actively participate in shaping their surroundings. “Young people are not disruptors, they are the future,” says Meinert, pointing out the need to offer them creative freedom.

Planned activities and funding

In order to secure the financial resources for the new youth station, the project received support from the Plus program of the European Social Fund. A total of 430,000 euros will be available over the next three years, supplemented by money from the city and Arche's own resources. Over the next two years, the project not only aims to create space, but also to offer a wide range of activities. This includes swimming trips and football games on the Arche's outdoor area as well as numerous workshops that match the interests of the young people.

“The young people should take an active part in organizing their leisure activities,” continued Meinert. This should also curb vandalism, because the presence of the youth station helps to promote social responsibility and a sense of community. There is a particular focus on offers for disadvantaged young people in order to create an inclusive space for everyone.

A place of community

The youth station will be an open contact point for young people aged 13 to 21. Offers range from thematic rooms to supportive measures when choosing a career and dealing with conflicts. This creates a place where young people can not only experience community but also develop their abilities.

The Arche Meißen has set itself the goal of creating a space that contributes to the social and cultural development of the city. To achieve this goal, various leisure activities and outreach work are also planned in public places in the city until the premises in the station are fully equipped. The Meißen Youth Station promises to become a lively center for young people and thus make an important contribution to the community.