Finding Ways
Growing Up Strong
Young people gain a vast amount of knowledge while attending schools, preparing for the workplace and engaging in leisure activities. Ideally, they gradually build and foster crucial life skills by developing self-confidence and a lust for life, entering relationships, assuming responsibility, and by getting involved in society. “Finding Ways“, a program sponsored by the Heinz Nixdorf Foundation and the German Children and Youth Foundation (GCYF), aims to accompany young people on their way to adulthood. Support starts in elementary school and continues into early adulthood. Adolescents learn how to find their place in life and how to make use of opportunities to get actively involved in shaping their society. “Finding ways” is geared towards young people and their adult partners.
Actively finding ways
The program features three issue areas in which young people may get actively involved to develop important skills and values.
Student Companies Working in Sustainable Ways
In this area, students develop and manage small companies – not only over the course of a project, but throughout several school years. Making connections to external partners helps them with their transition from school to work and with identifying their values: “What matters most to me? Where do I want to get involved?” For example, students may specialize in alternative energy, cooperating with municipal energy suppliers and installing solar panels on the school roof. Or they may sell organic snacks at the school kiosk, fairly traded and yummy. Student-run companies help to develop teamwork skills and to foster students’ initiative.
Young Pioneers
It is a simple idea: young people mentor other young people. They act as credible role models, developing a clear understanding of what they are about and, through their actions, exemplify a democratic culture of cooperation and mutual respect. For example, young university students may take secondary school students to their campuses and explain academic life or various vocational training programs. Student moderators pass on their knowledge, enabling other students to take an active part in shaping day-to-day activities at their schools.
Social Engagement
In this area, young people expand their social skills and become vital parts of their communities. Neighborhood and community engagement foster their ability to find a place in their communities and to help other people with empathy and independence. For example, young people assume responsibility for younger students as learning buddies or develop ideas on how to share their environment with older people. Growing up strong also means approaching others honestly and reliably.
News: there will be the first annual conference on November 4-5, 2008 in Berlin. For more info in German, click here.
„Finding Ways“, six times
The “Finding Ways” program exists in six federal states and is implemented with the help of local advisors.
These advisors provide projects with expert counseling, share valuable experiences, and help with organizational issues. “Finding Ways” is evaluated on an ongoing basis and is continuously evolving as a result of the projects’ regular networking meetings.
BERLIN
RAA Berlin e.V., a GCYF regional partner
Chausseestraße 29, 10115 Berlin
Tel: +49(0)30-24045-100
berlin [at] wegefinden.info • www.wegefinden.info/berlin
BRANDENBURG
kobra.net, a GCYF regional partner
Benzstraße 8/9, 14482 Potsdam
Tel: +49(0)331- 70435-52
brandenburg [at] wegefinden.info • www.wegefinden.info/brandenburg
MECKLENBURG-WESTERN POMERANIA
RAA M-V e.V., GCYF regional partner
Am Melzer See 1, 17192 Waren (Müritz)
Tel: +49(0)3991-6696-0
m-v [at] wegefinden.info • www.wegefinden.info/m-v
SAXONY
German Children and Youth Foundation
Saxony Regional Office
Bautzener Straße 22 HH, 01099 Dresden
Tel: +49(0)351-3201-5652
sachsen [at] wegefinden.info • www.wegefinden.info/sachsen
SAXONY-ANHALT
German Children and Youth Foundation
Saxony-Anhalt Regional Office
Schellingstraße 3-4, 39104 Magdeburg
Tel: +49(0)391-537-1270
lsa [at] wegefinden.info • www.wegefinden.info/lsa
THURINGIA
German Children and Youth Foundation
Thuringia Regional Office
Philosophenweg 26, 07743 Jena
Tel: +49(0)3641-4924-54
thueringen [at] wegefinden.info • www.wegefinden.info/thueringen
Contact and further information:
Gerhild Vollherbst
German Children and Youth Foundation
Email: gerhild.vollherbst [at] dkjs.de
Tel.: +49 (0)30 - 25 76 76 73
Fax: +49 (0)30 - 25 76 76 10
Internet: www.wegefinden.net
Info Material:
Broschures (in German) (327.2 KB)
