Suche
Mein Konto
Future of street work in Neumünster: Open letter causes alarm!
Concerns about the future of street work in Neumünster: Organizations are calling for the concept to be preserved and criticizing safety approaches.
Future of street work in Neumünster: Open letter causes alarm!
An essential project is in the starting blocks in Neumünster, the continued existence of which is of great importance for local youth. The streetwork project has been active since 2021, but there are now serious concerns about the future of this important measure. The contract expires at the end of 2023 and the council meeting decided not to extend the current concept. This has caused considerable concern among many club representatives, such as kn-online.de reported.
An open letter signed by several organizations such as the Aktion Jugendzentrum (AJZ), the Turkish community and the Gartenstadt youth initiative calls for the existing streetwork concept to be retained. The signatories make it clear that street work is a piece of social work and not regulatory policy. This response comes after the city administration presented a new concept in September, which had to be withdrawn after it was met with massive public criticism.
Social work at the grassroots level
Street workers have the task of working directly with young people between the ages of 14 and 27, who are often in difficult life situations. Their work includes, among other things, information offerings and support for those at risk of addiction. This outreach approach, in which professionals become active in the young people's living spaces, is a cornerstone of social work in Neumünster. The values that drive the work are just as important: respect, empathy and understanding for the life situation of young people are the top priority, like Therapiehilfe gGmbH therapiehilfe.de confirmed.
Criticism of the connection between street work and a security policy approach plays a central role, particularly in the current discussion. Many fear that this could strengthen right-wing tendencies and demand that social work not suffer under the guise of regulatory policy. The signatories of the open letter appeal to the city to ensure social-educational approaches even after 2025 and to include the concerns of the young people affected in the city's development.
Looking into the future
Concerns about the future of the streetwork project are heightened ahead of a crucial council meeting on December 2nd. However, the topic is not on the agenda, which is causing additional headaches for the representatives and clubs mentioned. CDU council leader Arne Rüstemeier promised to take up the issue again as soon as a revised concept is available. He suggests financing the street work from the AJZ's personnel budget in order to ensure that the street workers continue to work.
Against this background, it is important for Mayor Tobias Bergmann to take the suggestions and concerns of the organizations involved seriously. These signals are crucial to secure the future of social work in Neumünster and to provide young people in difficult situations with the support they urgently need. Streetwork is more than just a term; it is a humanitarian approach that advocates for the rights and well-being of those who are often overlooked.
With a solidly established “walking structure”, streetwork represents a holistic approach that remains essential in a time full of challenges in order to reach young people who are often not covered by traditional support services. Maintaining such projects moves between help and control, a challenge that should be met with commitment and understanding.