Where is the new meeting place for young people in Landshut?

Where is the new meeting place for young people in Landshut?

The search for suitable meeting places is becoming increasingly urgent among Landshut's youth. The “Altstadt/McDonald’s” stop is reminiscent of a former popular meeting point for the younger generation. Since the fast food restaurant hasn't existed for a few years, the youth are looking for new places to get together and develop ideas. The third episode of the podcast “mies keck”, moderated by Matthias Keck, is dedicated to this topic.

Eike Brenner, youth worker for the city of Landshut, comments on the challenges caused by the lack of meeting places. “The city doesn’t have a problem with young people meeting, but with the lack of meeting places,” explains Brenner. Young people feel displaced by the absence of such places and express the desire for a new hotspot on the Dult, be it a club or a bar.

Disorientation among young people

An 18-year-old reports that she often sits and chills at the gas station in the evenings. This practice points to the lack of places of refuge for young people. University professor Marius Otto adds that many young people do not go home because their home is often not a place of refuge. Therefore, social integration offers are crucial for the development and well-being of young people.

Social integration plays a central role in helping young people find their place in the community. This includes, among other things, promoting communication skills, empathy and the ability to work in a team. Positive experiences in groups are particularly valuable for disadvantaged young people as they are often exposed to high levels of social and psychological stress. This illustrates how important it is that disadvantaged young people are supported through targeted integration measures.

Access to education

Another aspect that affects the integration of young people is access to education, especially for refugee children and young people. Inclusion in German education policy is being discussed, which grants all children the right to education in regular classes, regardless of their background or ability. However, it is clear that the German school system, by separating regular and preparatory classes, makes access to education more difficult for refugee and newly immigrated children. This contradicts the principles of inclusion and often leads to discrimination.

An important point is compulsory schooling for refugee children, which only begins when they apply for asylum. In some federal states there are long waiting times during which children do not have access to school. These different regulations often create uncertainty and contribute to discrimination. Unfortunately, it also becomes apparent that many teachers tend to focus on suspected trauma without adequately taking the skills and strengths of the refugee students into account.

Joint efforts for change

Sustainable measures and joint efforts are required to advance integration and inclusion in society. Projects that focus on participation and promote networking between schools, clubs and companies can help create various opportunities for participation. It is important to break down individual hurdles and motivate young people to become actively involved in the community.

In view of these challenges, Mayor Alexander Putz is calling for more tolerance towards youth meeting places. The discussion about the importance of meeting places remains current and shows how important it is that youth in Landshut are offered space to develop and actively participate in social life.

In summary, promoting social integration is a key concern for the future development of urban youth. It is up to society to help young people feel like they belong and develop their strengths.