Youth Work

Youth work as an independent area of socialization and education (§ 11 SGB VIII) represents in its diversity a significant field of action of youth promotion. Youth work activities are aimed at all young people between the ages of 6 and 26 and serve to promote democracy and enable them to take responsibility for their own social and political actions. Participation is the central principle of youth work.

The focus of youth work is on political and social education, participation, sports-oriented, media-related, intercultural and gender-reflective youth work, cultural, natural history and technical education as well as international youth work.

Due to the voluntary and open character of the youth work, the offers are based on the interests and the living environment of the young people. They promote social responsibility and encourage social commitment.

Common to all offers is that they pursue the goal of self-determined and equal participation of all young people, regardless of their gender, support needs, religion or ethnicity. This is why the inclusion approach is already part of everyday practice in many projects and measures.

On January 1, 2020, the Second Law for the Amendment of the Law for the Implementation of the Child and Youth Welfare Act – Law for the Promotion of Participation and Democracy Building of Young People (Youth Promotion and Participation Act) came into force in the state of Berlin.

The law restructures youth work in Berlin with its diverse offerings – from youth clubs and adventure playgrounds to festivals and youth trips to children’s and youth parliaments – and safeguards it through professional standards for the scope and quality of services. In addition, the law enshrines co-determination rights for children and young people by involving them in the creation of youth development plans and thus in the infrastructural planning of services.

Finally, youth work is strengthened financially: the state of Berlin provides the districts with additional funds for the implementation of the law and the safeguarding of the diversity of youth work offers.

• Offers: These offers are to be provided in all districts:
  • location-bound open youth work (e.g. youth clubs, adventure playgrounds),
  • location-independent open youth work (e.g. festivals, rock and hip-hop mobiles),
  • recreational trips and journeys, international encounters,
  • support for youth participation (e.g., self-managed projects),
  • Group-based, curricular youth work (e.g. seminars).

• Specialist standards: For each type of offer, specialist standards have been drawn up in terms of quality (equipment) and scope (in relation to the population of young people). The standards help to ensure that all types of services are offered in all districts. Regarding the scope specialist standards a legal regulation has come into force on January 1st 2021.

• Promotion plans: At the state and district level, youth promotion plans are drawn up every four years and with the participation of young people. These are steering instruments for district and state-wide planning.