International youth work
The famous rim of the plate...
International youth work is one of the focal points of youth work according to Section 11 of the German Social Code (SGB VIII) and aims to empower young people to self-determination, encourage social responsibility and social commitment, e.g. through international youth encounters, work camps or voluntary services. On the other hand, international youth work is also aimed at educational professionals in child and youth welfare who come into contact with foreign colleagues.
International youth work generally takes place outside of school and training, but is accompanied by educational staff, offering a variety of informal learning opportunities. For young people, it represents a voluntary educational programme that offers them scope for creativity and development, promotes and demands their self-efficacy and ties in with their interests and motivations.
The importance of international experience and mobility for young people is evident in view of the challenges facing multicultural, multinational societies in a globalised world today. The intensive impact of international youth encounters has been scientifically proven: even short international encounters have a lasting influence on the development of young people, resulting in self-confidence, social and intercultural competence and a general openness to new experiences. With an international experience in their personal "rucksack", it is easier to cope with unfamiliar situations, to actively approach others and to get involved in a group. Job-related skills such as mobility, initiative, enterprise and creativity are also strengthened through international encounters.
When it comes to international youth work, the city of Chemnitz focuses primarily on its partner cities. However, as European Capital of Culture 2025, other temporary collaborations with a cultural background are also possible. The aim is to make it easier for young people to take part in international encounters - by arranging contacts and funding opportunities as well as financing projects.
Currently funded projects:
Cycle Europe - European youth networking project
From 1 March until the end of June 2024, two young women from Chemnitz will be cycling around 4,800 km through Chemnitz's seven European twin cities as ambassadors for their home town. Starting in Manchester (UK), Rosa-Nora Nebel and Charlotte Bohley will cycle via Düsseldorf, Mulhouse (France), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Ústí nad Labem (Czech Republic) and Łódź (Poland) to Tampere (Finland). On the one hand, the aim is to promote Chemnitz as European Capital of Culture 2025. On the other hand, it is about long-term networking between the partner municipalities in the field of youth and youth work. A video documentary (Instagram: @cycl_europe) and interviews in all cities will capture the lives of young people and the work and current projects of local youth centres. The aim is to create incentives for exchanges between young people from the partner cities and encourage them to discover Europe and its possibilities (for themselves).The project partner is the extracurricular youth education department of the AJZ e. V. The Alternative Jugendzentrum e. V. has many years of experience in organising international youth and specialist measures. The Cycle Europe project is funded by the Youth Welfare Office - International Youth Work - and the European and International Relations/City Partnerships Department of the City of Chemnitz.