Building bridges: insights into the future of youth work in MV

On January 12, 2025, the employee conference of child and youth work (MAT) took place in Salem, which was aimed at church employees in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. This year's topic of the conference was "# building bridges". The aim of the topic was to create connections and to overcome separations in society, especially with regard to an upcoming election year.

bridges were symbolically interpreted as connections, new ways and opportunities to overcome obstacles. Important aspects in bridge construction are the purpose, function, duration and distance. These bridges can be built between different landscapes, shores, valleys, streets, islands and humans and symbolically stand for hope, adventure, longing and willpower. Biblical stories illustrate that God builds bridges and gives people the necessary tools and strength. During the mat, the participants had the opportunity to build different types of bridges in thinking, feeling and acting as well as between people, such as Nordkurier reported.

youth work in Greifswald

For the coming year, the youth work for the Vorpommern-Greifswald specialist day will also be announced in 2024, which will take place on October 15, 2024 in the conference and leisure center of the Greifswald vocational training center. Under the motto "Create and build bridges - how do we achieve young people and new target groups in youth work?" should come together for specialists and interested parties to exchange ideas about current issues of youth work.

The program of the specialist day begins at 9:30 a.m. with the arrival and registration, followed by greeting words and a lecture by Prof. Dr. René Börrnert about "relaxed youth (social) work - opportunities and limits". After a coffee break, two workshop phases follow, another lecture and a view and farewell round. The workshops cover a variety of topics - from excessive youth work to the use of social media. The event is recognized as a further training and also offers the opportunity to receive a confirmation of participation, such as Kreisjugendring Vorpommern-Greifswald

Overall, the event is aimed at full-time and volunteers from youth work as well as interested parties from youth associations, youth clubs and other youth welfare organizations. The participation amount is 10 euros and includes the program and the food.