New momentum in the Sasu youth center: The future of youth work!

There has been a breath of fresh air at the Sasu youth center in Oberneuland since Lina-Marie Dorn took over management. After a transition period, everyday life returned to the facility, which is located on Oberneulander Landstrasse. Lina-Marie Dorn, who has been the new manager since September 2024, has already initiated numerous changes. Previously, Insa Pape gave up management after leading Sasu for a long time.

During the transition phase, the youth center was only open four days a week and was also closed during the summer holidays. Jana Witte supported the business together with a federal volunteer service provider. Witte continues to support Dorn and help her with her training.

New ideas and projects in the youth center

Under the direction of Lina-Marie Dorn, who is 24 years old and a state-recognized social worker, Sasu has the vision of creating an open and creative place for young people. Dorn brings experience, having previously worked in a children's home with unaccompanied minor refugees. Their goal is to promote the networking of the youth center in the district and to expand existing collaborations, for example with the transitional home in Vinnenweg and the Oberneuland youth advisory board.

An important element of the work at Sasu is integration. The center offers daily open meetings, cooking activities and weekly sports activities. The young people can also vote via Instagram which dish should be cooked. Garden days and a surfing certificate course, which is required for using new gaming PCs, are also planned. Another current project is the introduction of a parents' café, which will serve as a meeting room for waiting parents.

The Sasu has not slept in the face of advancing digitalization. One successfully completed project was the creation of a new computer room, which opened shortly before Christmas. Immediately after the inauguration, the young people were able to use the room to play and eat pizza.

The team is currently looking for reinforcements as there are a total of three positions to be filled: two trainers and a coach. The new employees will help to further expand and diversify Sasu's diverse offerings. A special event that is already on the program is the Pumpkin Bet 2025, a joint project with the Oberneuland Youth Advisory Board.

The topics that youth work in Sasu deals with are diverse. Challenges such as mental health and bullying are addressed through regular training and open conversations. The creative space (makerspace) created in the facility should also be usable for the church. The monthly program items are communicated in a newsletter so that the young people are always informed and can contribute their wishes and ideas.