„Be a Part of Us, Get Involved“ – Mentoring
In our project, which took place from 01.07.2020 to 28.02.2021, young people had the unique opportunity to actively participate in the design and implementation of projects. At the outset, all participants and mentors got to know one another, and from the very beginning the young people took responsibility for dividing into groups – whether by age, interests or other criteria. This step allowed them to experience themselves as co-creators from the start and to understand how important their own opinion and their say are.
Each month the groups chose a topic, which they worked on across three exciting meetings. First, the participants engaged with the topic on a theoretical level. In the second meeting they could unfold their creativity and bring the topic to life through artistic or creative work – such as collages, videos or sketches. The third meeting was a special highlight: through excursions to relevant places, such as political institutions or sustainable projects, the young people got the opportunity to experience the topic in practice and to share their impressions with one another.
Another important part of the project was the joint leisure activities, which not only provided fun but also strengthened team building and social skills. The highlight of the project was a five-day workshop held at a youth hostel. Here the participants reflected intensively on their experiences, exchanged ideas with various organisations and networks, and developed ideas for their future engagement.
The project not only gave the young people a deep understanding of topics such as democracy, sustainability and social responsibility, but also awakened their motivation to actively engage in social and political processes. They were able to experience that their voice counts – and that they have the power to make a difference. We would like to sincerely thank the Landschaftsverband Westfalen Lippe (LWL), whose funding made it possible for us to carry out this valuable project.
