Dear intombis (intombi = girls),
once a month we, i.e. the intombi-team, would like to present you an offer, which supports you and other girls at your start into the future. Today’s the day! I – Alex – make the beginning. Matching the offer, I would like to tell you a story about me and my experiences with it:
Quite a lot of home hanging put on the couch with lots of series, some homework and in between meeting some friends. That’s how it used to look for me in the afternoon after school. Dies that look familiar to you?
Later, when I was a student, I discovered a totally cool little youth center “Fischo” very close to me, where I also worked. I was a bit annoyed that I didn’t pass by earlier – because here I could have been hanging out on the couch with a few others. And here there was a lot more to discover and try out: From table football, billiards, video games to support with applications.
And that’s what it’s all about today: youth centers! And especially girl groups in youth centers. .
What does a youth center offer you?
A youth center is a meeting place where you can meet your peers, spend time together and take part in various activities.
There’s an open meeting where anyone can come by. Usually there is a social worker in site as a contact person with whom the visitors can chat about topics that they don’t want to discuss with friends or parents.
What can you do in youth centers?
- Meeting friends and chat
- Playing table tennis, darts, billiards or table football
- Chill and just do “nothing” for a change
- Surf in the internet
- Take part in cool activities such as cooking classes, guitar workshops, dance workshops and much more
- Be creative, such as painting or handicrafts
- Watch movies and play video games
- Bringing in your own ideas
What would you like to try out?
And how does that look in practical terms? As an example, I would like to present to you today the “Offene Tür Quäker” from Cologne. Charlotte, Sophie and Amina, who regularly visit the youth center, help me with this:
Youth Center “OT Quäker”
Hello!
We are Charlotte (11), Sophie (11) and Amina (10). We belong to the girls’ group in the youth center, i.e. “Offene Tür” of Quäker Nachbarschaftsheim e.V., near the citizens’ center in the city center of Cologne.
That’s how we do it:
- We meet on Tuesdays at 2:30 pm
- At the beginning of each girls’ group we do a smiley round. We’ll tell each other what’s new – it can take some time!
- At the beginning of every school year, or just like that, we make a list with Laura, our caregiver, of everything we would like to do in the girls’ group. There’s always a lot that comes together, for example:
- Slime 😉 😉 😉
- Baking muffins
- Do some handicrafts
- And chilling is not to be missed
Why don’t you come over sometime? We would be glad!
Yours, Charlotte, Sophie and Amina
And as you may have already noticed, the three of them especially prefer an offer of the youth center: The girls’ group. There are groups of girls in many youth centers. Why? Because a much larger proportion of visitors to youth centers are often boys. Youth centers try to create an attractive and suitable offer for girls through a specific offer only for girls.
Girls’ group in the youth center
“It is important to me that the girls’ group is a place where all girls feel at home. You are allowed to be yourself here and are invited to bring in topics that move you. We meet with openness and listen to each other. All girls are encouraged to stand up for themselves and their interests within and outside the girls’ group” Laura, Social Pedagogue of OT Quäker
Laura, Social Pedagogue of OT Quäker
Now go to the youth center!??
All right, this all sounds great!! But honestly, even if I had known about the youth center near my home and the great offers, I might not have dared to go there. It is already an overcoming to go into a group of strangers, isn’t it?
That was quite a long time ago and I am normally not afraid of foreign groups anymore. Here are two tips from me on how to overcome this “fear” of foreign groups:
1. Focus on the interests!
You are interested in the activities of the group? Then it will be easy for you to find an entry into a first conversation. Maybe you’ll be able to figure out a few questions you can ask at the beginning.
2. Give it a chance!
Do not waste too many thoughts on what could happen if you dare to join the group. Just do it and go! If it doesn’t turn out the way you expected, you just don’t go back. But is was certainly worth a try and there is a great chance that it will be super cool.
And here is some motivation from Sophie and Laura for you: Maybe the girl group of the “OT Quäker” in Cologne is something for you? And if you live in a different place, there’s certainly a youth center as well – because it’s almost everywhere. If you don’t find one near your home, feel free to write in the comments. Maybe we have a tip for you. Because here you can find support, in your everyday life and in preparing for your start into the future!
Come over! Here you will find relaxation!
.
“I like being in the girls’ group because I can just relax there, about homework for example, or talk about things that concern me.”
Sophie, visitor of the OT Quäker
“Come and see us sometimes! In addition to the girls’ group for children aged 10 to 14, we also have offers for Teenager in our “Offnen Tür”. Read more on our Instagram page”
Laura, Social Pedagogue of OT Quäker
Maybe the girl group of the “OT Quäker” in Cologne is something for you? And if you live in a different place, there’s certainly a youth center as well – because it’s almost everywhere. If you don’t find one near your home, feel free to write in the comments. Maybe we have a tip for you. Because here you can find support, in your everyday life and in preparing for your start into the future!
Do you have any tips on how to make it easier to get started in new groups?
Have you ever visited a youth center? How was it for you?
I’m looking forward to your comment!
Best regards
Yours, Alex
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