European Symposium „Let change succeed ...“ - Ways out of youth poverty
Turning young people's poverty into young people's courage
The German Federal Association of Catholic Youth Work (BAG KJS e.V.) welcomed almost 60 participants from Germany and other European countries to its European Symposium. In joint discussions, participants exchanged ideas on successful models from their practical work as well as on what needs to be done at political level in order to allow disadvantaged young people to participate actively in society. 'What is important are the young person's skills and not where he or she has learnt them', assured Father Franz-Ulrich Otto, president of the BAG KJS.
Opening up access to a job - even without formal qualifications
Based on the outcome of the European Symposium, in the final Communique the BAG KJS phrases various ideas on ways out of poverty. In order not to be excluded from the formal education system and from paid work during their entire life, young people must be able to get access to this system also through skills they have acquired in a non formal or informal way. It is imaginable, for example, that these young people apply for a job without using the traditional application dossier which in many cases can be embarrassing for the young person. Instead of presenting resumes with chronological gaps and certificates of hardly any significance young people should be able to present themselves with those skills they are good at. This is what aspiring artists and creative people have always done. It is high time to make sure that these opportunities are given to disadvantaged young people as well.
A person's dignity does not depend on his or her net income
It seems that part of today's young people is permanently excluded from participating in society. 'It is no longer acceptable that young people are outclassed and parked in the breakdown lane of life', Father Otto said. 'A person's dignity does not depend on the wage he or she gets paid at the end of the month.' Thus, the Catholic Youth Social Work (BAG KJS) claims that we should take young people and their wishes seriously and we should meet them at eye level. This applies to members of staff in its own institutions as well as to decision makers in job centres and in politics. All young people - notwithstanding their nationality, ethnic background, gender or religion - merit to be appreciated and respected.
The communique 'Let change succeed ... - Strengthening disadvantaged young people on their way to active participation' can be downloaded
Kommunique_Let_change_succeed___EN.pdf (27kB)
For further information to young people's poverty following the web address www.jugendarmut.info
The German Federal Association of Catholic Youth Work (BAG KJS e.V.) welcomed almost 60 participants from Germany and other European countries to its European Symposium. In joint discussions, participants exchanged ideas on successful models from their practical work as well as on what needs to be done at political level in order to allow disadvantaged young people to participate actively in society. 'What is important are the young person's skills and not where he or she has learnt them', assured Father Franz-Ulrich Otto, president of the BAG KJS.
Opening up access to a job - even without formal qualifications
Based on the outcome of the European Symposium, in the final Communique the BAG KJS phrases various ideas on ways out of poverty. In order not to be excluded from the formal education system and from paid work during their entire life, young people must be able to get access to this system also through skills they have acquired in a non formal or informal way. It is imaginable, for example, that these young people apply for a job without using the traditional application dossier which in many cases can be embarrassing for the young person. Instead of presenting resumes with chronological gaps and certificates of hardly any significance young people should be able to present themselves with those skills they are good at. This is what aspiring artists and creative people have always done. It is high time to make sure that these opportunities are given to disadvantaged young people as well.
A person's dignity does not depend on his or her net income
It seems that part of today's young people is permanently excluded from participating in society. 'It is no longer acceptable that young people are outclassed and parked in the breakdown lane of life', Father Otto said. 'A person's dignity does not depend on the wage he or she gets paid at the end of the month.' Thus, the Catholic Youth Social Work (BAG KJS) claims that we should take young people and their wishes seriously and we should meet them at eye level. This applies to members of staff in its own institutions as well as to decision makers in job centres and in politics. All young people - notwithstanding their nationality, ethnic background, gender or religion - merit to be appreciated and respected.
The communique 'Let change succeed ... - Strengthening disadvantaged young people on their way to active participation' can be downloaded
Kommunique_Let_change_succeed___EN.pdf (27kB) For further information to young people's poverty following the web address www.jugendarmut.info
bagkjs@jugendsozialarbeit.de