Conceptual Draft
Kiefernpfad Centre
for
Children and Young People
VCP Project Kiefernpfad
/ Christian Association of Guides and Scouts (VCP)Hanover District
Contents
Page
1.Introduction3
2.Kiefernpfad Housing Estate4
3.Aims5
4.Programme and Activities6
4.1.Open Programme Activities6
4.2.Group Work7
4.3.Timeframe8
5.Conditions 8
1.Introduction
The VCP has enjoyed some 25
0 years of work with children and young people on the former housing estate Kiefernpfad in the north of Hanover between Sahlkamp and Bothfeld.
Over the course of the years, the VCP has modified, extended and increased this successful undertaking via conceptual focus and adaptation.
The Association thus takes the circumstance into account that conceptions are to be understood as processes, that they must be continually reflected upon and developed further. The work of the VCP has thus proved to be a reliable and stable component within the estate. The commitment inherent in the Association is a guarantee for the consistency of social work in Kiefernpfad with a continually upheld network with other facilities in the local community.
In this document, the VCP presents its conceptual draft for differentiated extra-curricular activities for children and young people in this former housing estate.
The central idea of the Kiefernpfad Centre consists of:
1. Open programme / 2. Groups of children and young people (Guide and Scout groups)The ‘Bear’s Cave’ Club for Kids / ‘The Bear Pack’
Each child has the opportunity to belong to one of the groups of children and young people; especially children taking part in the open programme.
The kids’ club ‘Bear’s Cave’ provides one warm meal per child, help with homework and social care, reading practice, games and other activities every day from Monday to Friday.
2.Kiefernpfad Housing Estate
The Situation of Children and Young People on the Housing Estate
Due to the restricted standard of living in the flats on account of a relatively large number of children per family, the children and young people who live here seldom have their own bedroom and thus no option to retreat or withdraw. Frequently this lack of space is not only a result of the size of the home; often it can be a result of family structures. Children can then only play inside, occupy space and – ultimately – concentrate undisturbed on their homework, to a limited extent.
The children and young people are often lacking support, encouragement and orientation as a result of dysfunctional family relationships. Frequently, children are not given a warm meal at midday. A lack of motivation and self-confidence lead to a decline in performance and thus a damaged self-esteem. Frequently, they have worse chances of gaining access to vocational training, an aspect exacerbated by a lack of German language skills amongst immigrant children and young people from overseas. Many young people cannot find a job after leaving school, or they give up after searching for a short period of time. A lack of future perspectives cripples their will to take the initiative and ultimately leads to resignation.
Children and young people do not have access to sufficient opportunities for positive use of their free time. Alongside the current options for youth work, a large portion of their free time is spent on the streets. Aimlessly ‘hanging around[Wendy1]’ the open areas of the estate can lead to neglect and potential delinquency. Such tendencies are further exacerbated by a growth in consumerist attitudes, which often cannot be satisfied on account of their financial situation. Benchmarks of value, including those pertaining to property, are different – or shifted – in Kiefernpfad as compared to the societal norm. The social workers in the area have observed a high number of children displaying behavioural problems.
Gender-specific behavioural roles are particularly striking. There is little gender equality to be seen; rather, children and young people growing up in this kind of climate are deeply influenced as far as their attitudes and behaviour are concerned. Patriarchal structures are particularly striking in immigrant families.
Here, many different nationalities come together, resulting in a situation of tense dynamics. Different traditions, norms and values confront one another, and the resulting conflicts are not always resolved peacefully.
The isolation of the residents from surrounding residential areas, particularly striking amongst the adults, also affects children and young people. They hardly or only seldom experience contact with other children or young people who live elsewhere. The facilities available – which are indeed materially extensive and include playground equipment, skate ramps and a basketball pitch – are only significant for a short period of time. The children and young people are usually lacking the ambition or perseverance with which to begin something and also complete it. For this reason, personal inspiration and motivation are necessary in order to reacquaint them with spaces and free time activities.
- Aims
The Association considers it important – as its overarching aim – that the children and young people do not regard their situation as their destined and unalterable fate but rather develop faith in their own abilities, recognise their own needs and act in solidarity with others.
Children and young people learn to define and put into practice rules for living together. They are thus able to experience their group as a learning space in which to experience a sense of community.
The Association provides for cultural education, health education and social learning. Role-plays, workshops and contact with other children and young people living outside the housing estate introduce the young people to – and confront them with – different ways of behaving, values and norms.
Consistent work – both open and group activities – aims to reinforce or regain trust in significant others.
Children and young people from the estate demonstrate the will to learn, take the initiative and behave sociably whenever they are able to build up relationships of trust to significant others. These relationships allow for the recognition of needs, interests and problems, and for these to be addressed and adjusted accordingly with professional assistance. Social, societal and academic deficiencies are addressed via individual care.
The children and young people are encouraged to develop partnerships with others. Rules for living together are developed and put into practice, thus creating a space in which to learn ways of behaving, equality and developing an identity. They are thus given the chance to break through the gender roles they have been presented by their families. By sharing work equally between the genders or by learning ways of behaving on a partnership basis, children and young people are given incentives to put gender equality into practice.
The VCP wishes to provide children and young people with a meaningful way in which to use their spare time and the space in which to do so. Alongside work in the Kiefernpfad centre, outings and camps provide children and young people with the opportunity to actively play a part in shaping their community and achieve success. Their passive attitudes should be counteracted by actively helping, thinking for themselves and joining in.
Encouraging imagination, responsibility, judgement and relationship development is an important component of the Association’s work in this area. The aim is to strengthen the self-esteem of individuals. The group thrives on the ideas and joint experiences of each individual person.
Within the group, children and young people discover that they possess abilities and knowledge that others appreciate – or learn to appreciate.
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4.Programme and Activities
The Kiefernpfad Centre programme consists of the Guide and Scout group work (‘The Bear Pack’) and the open programme (The ‘Bear’s Cave’ Club for Kids).
4.1Open Programme
The open programme aims to close the gap in childcare for schoolchildren under 14 in Germany, with the target group of schoolchildren under 14 from the Kiefernpfad estate. If there is sufficient demand children from neighbouring streets can also participate, especially in view of the integration aspect. The programme takes place during the core hours from 11:30 a.m. to 5 or 6 o’clock p.m. from Monday to Friday, and has recently also been extended to late afternoon.
The daily programme consists of
- A warm midday meal,
- Help with homework,
- Reading practice,
- Individual social care,
- Games, arts and crafts, sports and exercise.
The daily, weekly or monthly programme ideas are sometimes developed together with the children and young people.
The ideas range from football, woodwork, drama and relaxation to activities that reduce stress and aggression or teach alternative means of expression.
The children’s representatives (1 girl and 1 boy) are an important part of the daily interaction. In much the same way as a class representative at school, they are responsible for themselves and the other children. They resolve quarrels, lead the regular assemblies and involve topics and interests raised by the children themselves.
During the school holidays there is a special holiday programme. This includes games, building things, exercise and arts and crafts - either within the centre or on the local playground – discovering the local area, outings to alternative fun-parks, experiences with animals (visiting a shepherd and his/her sheep before Easter, for instance, or going swimming).
The programme can be age-specific and gender-specific, depending on requirements.
Individual social care is required for certain groups of children. This includes talking regularly with the child, with the parents, teachers and youth welfare office, as well as agreeing on and monitoring aims together.
Up to 25 children attend the open programme on a daily basis.
4.2Group Work
Guide and Scout work in groups is a conceptual focus and an integrative component of the Kiefernpfad Centre. The target group for this project work consists of children and young people from the estate and neighbouring streets aged between 8 and 18. The work includes the weekly group meetings, held on a weekday from 4 until 7 p.m.
The weekly group meetings are designed together with the children and young people. Everyday life within the group includes such activities as cooking and eating together, exploring the local area, seasonal activities, tying knots, building a fire and identifying trees and plants.
The day outings and the weekend trips or camps are particularly important for the children and young people as well as for the social work itself. Here, it is particularly important for the VCP to integrate the children into other areas of the Association’s overarching work and events. The children gain a sense of belonging to a greater whole. They encounter other children and young people from other districts who related to the same symbols, ideas and people.
Every year, several day events and on average 3 recreational outings and camps take place at weekends and during the school holidays.
The Guide and Scout groups have a capacity of approximately 50 children and young people.
4.3Timeframe
Time / Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday / Friday11:30 am / Programme: arts & crafts, carpentry, games, sports, social care
13:30 am / Lunch
2:15 pm
3:15 pm / Help with homework / Activity Day
3:15 pm
4 pm / Programme: arts & crafts, carpentry, games, sports, social care
until 5 pm / until 4 pm / until 4 pm / until 4 pm / until 6 pm
Monday / Tuesday / Wednesday / Thursday
Group meeting / Group meeting / Group meeting / Group meeting
5-7 pm / 4-6 pm / 4:30-6:30 pm / 4-6 pm
5. Conditions
The project is carried out in a building that the VCP was able to purchase and completely renovate, thanks to support from public funds and donations, in the year 1998. The Centre features a relaxation room, a ‘loud’ room, a room for homework and group activities, a basement for games and sports, a large kitchen and a common room for general use. There is also an office and material storeroom for the staff. The free area provides a water-fun corner, a campfire site, a field tipi, a generously sized terrace, a lawn and sandpit with toys, and a wood construction area. A recycling station provides the opportunity to include ecological ideas in our educational activities.
A social worker and a childhood educator work on the project. From time to time, extra staff are employed on a fee-contract basis.
The project is financed by its own resources, donations, and – primarily – public funds.
The project belongs to the local community council network.
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[Wendy1]Wenn ihr hier eine Präposition möchtet, dann „on“. Es ist aber nicht nötig.