Social work starts

“Need to get young people more involved in life again”

City Councillor Barbara Stark (second from left) and Mayor Gerhard Lentschig (second from right) with the new social workers.

(Bild: Gabriele Hohenegger)

Crime, drugs or otherwise taking a wrong turn: growing up is a time to try things out and often cross boundaries. What society often took over almost automatically back then in rural areas is now long gone and efforts are also being made in the Waldviertel to better integrate young people back into society.

The pandemic in particular has changed and shaped the social lives of young people. Today, smaller groups are formed that meet in garages instead of in public spaces. Young people are also withdrawing more into the internet.

"Perhaps it's better in Horn than elsewhere. But we don't need to believe that there are no problems here either," says Gerhard Lentschig, mayor of the district town, delighted with the initiative of city councillor Barbara Stark: "Because two youth social workers have now been installed in Horn in cooperation with the state. The deal: the city provides the rooms including 

Perhaps things are even better in Horn than elsewhere. But we don't need to believe that there are no problems here!

Bürgermeister Gehard Lentschig

Young people try out a lot
Especially as a young person, you have to experiment and push yourself to the limits or go beyond them. No young person is immune to going off the rails. Crime and drugs are also a recurring theme in the Waldviertel, even if they are not (yet) a major issue, according to the head of the city. It is enough, for example, for a young opinion leader to come into contact with drugs in another region and make this acceptable in his environment. 

"Participate in society"
"We have to bring them back or pick them up and involve them in social life again," says city councillor Stark, who is also a trained social worker, outlining the preventative way to prevent the situation from getting worse or even improve it.

Contact persons start work
In order to regain better access to children and young people, the social education specialists Katherina (0677/62486738) and Günther (0677/61487606) are now working to introduce themselves to schools and try to talk to young people in public spaces. The kids can not only call them, but also contact them in writing via WhatsApp or Signal to get advice or tell someone about their problems. 

Even more contact options
The "Streeworkers" will be out and about in the city at different times from sofrot. They are also working on the completion of the youth advice center, which should soon be ready in the "Arena" near the town lake and fire station. If you have any concerns, please contact the facility manager Verena Schober-Denk (0664/8236228). Further information can be found on the Instagram channel (jugendarbeit.07) and on the homepage www.jugendarbeit.at.