• For ten years now, the successful "Youth social work with young refugees" project run by the city of Aachen's youth employment service has been promoting the integration of young people and young adults with a history of immigration.
• In addition to educational activities, German language skills, among other things, are promoted in a targeted and intensive manner during daily lessons.
• A reason for Josefine Paul, Minister for Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Refugees and Integration of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), to visit the project in Aachen.

Using a Japanese saw, two young people work on pieces of wood at a workbench to create a birdhouse. Instructor Hans-Georg Keusch accompanies them and encourages the creativity and individuality of the participants in the youth vocational assistance vacation course. This can also be seen on the walls of the small workroom. Colorful mosaic pictures of other young adults with a migrant background hang there. A small blackboard in the workroom shows the key details of an apprenticeship in the tiling trade: Working hours, salary, ... A glimpse into the young people's possible future. A perspective that promises good things.

Reason enough for Josefine Paul to visit this very special workshop in Aachen in person. On Tuesday, October 21, the Minister for Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Refugees and Integration of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia was visibly very interested in the "Youth social work with young refugees" project run by the City of Aachen's youth employment service. Above all, Paul wanted to experience first-hand how the young people learn and work together with professionals at this location. The NRW Minister highlighted the project, which promotes the integration and career prospects of young people and young adults with a migration background: "The Aachen Youth Vocational Assistance project supports young refugees in their professional orientation, in learning German and in their personal development. With individual support and practical insights, for example in painting, carpentry or cooking, it helps them to settle into society and the world of work. The project thus makes a significant contribution to the successful integration of young people into society and the job market."

Mayor Sibylle Keupen accompanied the minister on her visit to the Hochgrundhaus, idyllically situated on the edge of the city forest on Lütticher Straße. She emphasized the important work of youth vocational assistance: "There is no single path to integration: every person should be supported in their individuality in the best possible way when they arrive. That's why youth vocational assistance is very important, because it links youth and vocational assistance."

The project
The "Youth social work with young refugees" project - applied for from the Landschaftsverband Rheinland (LVR) - is aimed at young people and young adults with a migrant background between the ages of 16 and 27. Youth vocational assistance is part of the youth promotion and youth social work department in the city's youth and school department. The specific project is being implemented at the Hochgrundhaus location on Lütticher Straße - one of the four locations of the youth vocational assistance service. Two social workers, a German teacher, an ecotrophologist and two vocational trainers look after the young people on site. "Youth social work with young refugees" is a low-threshold service for young people in different situations: some are waiting for a regular school place, others have already finished school but have no prospects of continuing. People who are currently attending school can also take part during the vacations and discover career prospects and further improve their German language skills. The NRW Ministry for Children, Youth, Family, Equality, Refugees and Integration is funding the project with 97,000 euros this year.

Heinrich Brötz, municipal councillor for education, youth and culture, was delighted with Minister Paul's visit to the youth vocational assistance program: "It's great that you are visiting this project! Many local authorities in NRW no longer have this type of youth vocational assistance. But we in Aachen do. Because we are convinced that this is a very important municipal service for a target group that really needs it. Young people are professionally supported here on the sometimes difficult path to a career. What's more, this continuous cooperation with the LVR on this scale, which has lasted for ten years, is truly unique."

Special offers during the vacations and for women
The regular program supports teenagers and young adults in various areas from Monday to Thursday. These include German language support from a qualified DaZ teacher (German as a second language), educational activities in the trades of construction, painting and varnishing, metal and home economics, media and social skills training as well as career guidance. The two social workers support all participants with their expertise. Together with the social workers, the participants work out individual follow-up prospects, such as school attendance or an apprenticeship or employment relationship. The young people can continue to be supported along this path if necessary. "The continuity of the project, the constant funding and the consistent staffing have contributed significantly to the success of the project. A lot of legwork and acquisition is necessary to make such a program known," explained Monika Krüger, Head of the Youth Promotion and Youth Social Work Department.

There is also an afternoon program for young immigrant women aged 15 and over. "This protected space is very important for the women to discover their own potential and get to know other women," said Hanna Kallas, a socio-educational specialist in the project. The meetings offer creative projects to take part in. There are usually around eight to ten women between the ages of 15 and 27. Some of them are mothers and bring their children to the meetings.

The offer is supplemented by vacation courses with work and socio-educational content, German language support and leisure activities. Young people who attend a regular school outside of the vacations can also take part in these courses. During the current fall vacations, 16 young people are taking part. The participants are divided into different areas in the mornings and afternoons: Painting, carpentry, learning German or housekeeping? One group is preparing lunch when Minister Paul is given a tour of the premises. I wonder what's on the menu today? Pizza. The kitchen service is very popular, as Kallas reveals.

Heterogeneous groups in German lessons
The last stop on the visit is German lessons. Four pupils are improving their German with the help of teacher Maya Ilyukova. They are playing a game: the participants draw words from an envelope one after the other and then have to find another word that matches the theme of the first word. For "animal" they quickly say "dog", for "road" the student has to think a little longer before she says "autobahn". The pupils then form sentences: "My favorite animal is a dog." Appreciative words from Minister Paul and Mayor Keupen naturally follow. "The biggest challenge in German lessons is the heterogeneity of the groups. The participants come from different countries of origin and have very different language levels," explains DaZ teacher Ilyukova.

As part of the project, the Youth Vocational Assistance Center works together with various institutions and acquires participants, including various vocational colleges, the Municipal Integration Center, providers of inpatient youth welfare services and the "Ankommensschule" - GHS Drimborn, Alkuinschule sub-location.

Further information on youth employment assistance can be found at www.aachen.de/jugendberufshilfe.