Image: (colour box)
Unemployment, relationships, psychological problems: there are many issues that teenagers and young adults between the ages of 14 and 21 have to contend with and that shape their everyday lives. The “Streetwork” project was launched 30 years ago to help those with social disadvantages who are not reached by other organizations.
At that time only planned as a small project with two locations in the districts of Braunau and Schärding, today 17 street work positions are operated in eleven districts – in cooperation with social welfare associations, cities and clubs.
Advice on dealing with authorities
“Last year alone, around 50 street workers were deployed throughout Upper Austria, who looked after more than 3,600 young people with long-term and immediate aid, around two-thirds of whom were young men,” says youth protection provincial councilor Michael Lindner (SP). The number of young people who ask for help from street work is tending to continue to rise – the corona pandemic and also the inflation in recent months have made a significant contribution to this, says Stefan Leyerer, managing director of the ISI association, which oversees eleven street work positions.
He himself worked as a street worker for eleven years and experienced what it means to offer help and advice to young people without prospects. “We support the young people in dealing with offices, authorities and in court. In addition, many young people take advantage of our help with appointments with debtor help or other social institutions,” says Leyerer.
Around 2.2 million euros will be available for the street work project again this year – as in 2022, said Lindner. The major challenge for the project is now the further development in times of digital social networks. “We notice that many young people have withdrawn, especially due to Corona, and that many are looking for advice on social networks. Our goal is to be present and easily accessible for young people,” says Lindner.
Source: Nachrichten
