Value guards defy wind and weather: 16 young people circle the Dümmer!

Value guards defy wind and weather: 16 young people circle the Dümmer!

In Vechta, the outstanding “Value Watcher” project on the Dümmer has reached its ceremonial conclusion. With a lot of commitment and under the challenging natural conditions, 16 young people from two local high schools experienced an impressive week. Mayor Kristian Kater took the opportunity to talk to the students about the positive effects of the project days. They discussed values ​​such as helpfulness, respect, honesty and trust - essential cornerstones for respectful interaction in everyday school life.

Every year, students in grade 8 at the Zwilling-Scholl Oberschule and the Ludgerus School take part in this program. The aim is to promote the social skills of students every year and to reduce prejudices between schools. The young people receive support from the Association for Social-Educational and Learning Therapy Aid (VSL) from Vechta, which accompanies them throughout the entire school year.

The Dümmer circumnavigation as the highlight

One of the highlights of the project was the challenge of walking around the Dümmer. In stormy weather and a distance of 18 kilometers, the participants demonstrated courage and group cohesion. VSL speaker Christian Fischer reported on the difficulties that the circumnavigation brought with it, but ultimately the cooperation and appreciation within the group was significantly promoted.

“It is important that these young people learn how to treat each other with respect,” emphasized Kater in his conversation with the students. These initiatives are intended to develop an unprejudiced view of humanity that is important not only at school but also in everyday life. In the youth and leisure center at Dümmer, not only leisure time is promoted - a foundation for harmonious coexistence is laid here.

A broad support

The “Value Guardian” project is made possible by the city of Vechta, the St. Benedikt church school foundation and the Vechta community foundation. Numerous representatives of these institutions were also present at the project week, including First City Councilor Sandra Sollmann, Josef Kleier from the Community Foundation and Dr. Christian Schulte from the St. Benedikt School Foundation and Christian Schwabe, managing director of the VSL. This broad support underlines the important role that such projects play in youth work in the district.

At a time when social skills and values ​​such as respect and honesty are valued more highly than ever, promoting respectful interaction is one of the central tasks of educational institutions. The initiatives and commitment of those involved show that work is on the right track - not least through projects such as “Value Guardian” on the Dümmer.