ESC: AWO Youth Department Coordination Office

The AWO Soziale Dienste gGmbH actively contributes to the solution of social problems in the region. Our aim is to establish sustainable social politics that add to the prevention of and the fight against social exclusion. Hence, we wish to enable as many people as possible to participate in society socially as well as economically. In the light of the organisation's historical background as part of the working class movement the lived values of solidarity, tolerance, freedom, equality and justice provide the basis for our actions. Our daily work ranges from advisory work and childcare facilities to work with and for refugees. One area of our work is youth work, where we offer youth welfare, job coachings, run several educational programs and youth recreation facilities. The field of youth recreation facilities is marked by a participatory approach and depends on the ideas and motivation of the respective target groups. The AWO Soziale Dienste gGmbH runs several youth clubs in the city of Bremen, one of which is the Jugendzentrum Burglesum. This youth center is a place where youths and teenagers between 10 and 20 years of age spend their leisure time after school and have a safe space to meet up. The center is equipped with a music studio; a dancing hall where several groups practice regularly; an internet café and a hall to chill out, play pool and table soccer. Furthermore, there are many opportunities to be creative, e.g. to paint or to graffiti something. The contact in the youth center is formed of mutual respect irrespective of gender, family background and origin and is open to all young people who are willing to come.