Good practices á la Münster

During the series of study visits within the project „European Quality of Public Policies”, Youth4Media hosted the 3rd Polish group in June 2017, to share know-how and introduce some successful initiatives and organisations based in Münster, Germany.

 

The guests – such as the previous groups – were especially interested in good practices, cooperation and funding possibilities in the youth and social field, and any other innovative examples implemented by NGOs or state-financed institutions in North Rhine-Westphalia. As the headquarters of Youth4Media is based in the Citizen Centre Bennohaus, the visitors had the chance to get to know the different departments of the Centre, to discover its educational and cultural offers to young people and seniors alike. During the discussions with the representatives of the departments „Mediending” and „MNSTR.medien”, the guests touched such topics as how to reach young people more efficiently or how to engage volunteers on a longer run. After introducing the activities of Youth4Media as well, the guests visited other institutions in the city: the youth centre „Paul Gerhardt House”, the official UNESCO school „Schiller High School” and the NGO „Global Experience”.

Paul Gerhardt House: The youth centre is reaching out for disadvantaged groups of young people. The experienced team of social and youth workers are offering theatre projects and other kind of leisure activities in order to support the well-being of their young visitors. Mr Andreas Lehr introduced the main aims and offers of the institution and discussed the challanges that the team need to face on a daily basis, such as sexism or addiction.

Schiller High School: The institution is an officially certified UNESCO school, which supports the collaboration with similar schools worldwide. The Schiller High School has already implemented several international exchange projects with its Namibian partner, which was an eye-opening and once-in-a-lifetime experience for the participating youngsters from the German and the Namibian side as well.

Global Experience: Mr Christoph Lammen, co-founder of the organisation, introduced the wide variety of social and youth projects that the NGO is focusing on. The most successful running activity „Life back home” aims to fight stereotypes among young people, by organizing personal meetings and discussions led by young refugees, in school settings.

Besides the presentations and visits, the Polish guests were informed about the „Sculpture Project”, an international cultural initiative of Münster and received useful inputs about the funding opportunities of the Erasmus+ Youth Programme as well.

Agnes Horvath

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