SchutzJu (BMBF)

The sub-project at the University of Kassel cooperates with IJAB e.V. (Office for International Youth Work of the Federal Republic of Germany). The transfer goal is to support the implementation of participatory protection concepts as well as the discussion of protection and protection structures in the field of international youth work. Especially with international partner organizations of international youth work, also racism-critical and decolonial perspectives are included in the further development of protection concepts in child and youth work and youth social work.

The SchutzJu project is being advanced at four network locations, with the following focal points: Youth association work (Landshut University of Applied Sciences; project leader Prof. Dr. Mechthild Wolff), international youth work (Kassel University; project leader Prof. Dr. Elisabeth Tuider), open youth work (Hildesheim University; project leader Prof. Dr. Wolfang Schröer) and vocational and training-related youth social work (Kiel University of Applied Sciences; project leader Prof. Dr. Anja Henningsen).

The empirical approach is carried out by means of an online survey of professionals as well as group discussions in child and youth work & youth social work. Thereby we work on the question of the possibilities and obstacles of the implementation of participatory protection concepts. The transfer project is realized cooperatively and participatively with regional and supraregional practice partners. Together with professionals, volunteers and young people, field-specific implementation models for child and youth work as well as youth social work will be developed. On an online platform "Developing protection concepts in child and youth work & youth social work!" the project results as well as further materials for the implementation of participatory protection concepts are compiled and made available for the professional practice of child and youth work & youth social work across all fields.

Fixemer, Tom/Tuider, Elisabeth/Brauner, Lisa (in preparation): Internationale Jugendarbeit und Schutzkonzepte partizipativ. Weinheim, Basel: Beltz Juventa.

Fixemer, Tom/Henningsen, Anja/Rusack, Tanja/Tuider, Elisabeth (2024): Sexuality and violence: young people's constructions of normality. Journal for Sexual Research, 37(01), pp. 17-28

Fixemer, Tom/Henningsen, Anja/Rusack, Tanja/Tuider, Elisabeth (2024): Myths of sexualized violence - young people's perspectives. Media Discourse, 28th vol. 3/2024, pp. 56-61

Fixemer, Tom (2024): Participatory research with young people on sexuality, violence and protection in (international) youth work: method(olog)ical reflections [47 paragraphs]. Forum Qualitative Sozialforschung / Forum: Qualitative Social Research, 25(1), Art. 5.

The online platform "SchutzJu - participatory development of protection concepts" is the result of a participatory and cooperative transfer process with professionals, volunteers and young people in child and youth work and youth social work. Various materials and tools for participatory protection concept development have been developed in the sub-projects of open child and youth work, youth association work, international youth work and work-related youth social work.

One focus is on risk and resource analysis, on raising awareness and preventing sexualized violence, as well as on individual tools and materials for intervention and processing. The participation of young people in the development of the protection concept is central to this.

The platform is aimed at organizations, employees, volunteers, young people and researchers who work on participatory protection concept development. Visiting www.schutzkonzepte-partizipativ.de opens up the opportunity to deal with protection concepts in a legal, data-based and practical way.

Aligning protection concepts with young people's views on violence, sexuality, protection and participation also means taking rights-based and empirical starting points into account.

Empirical data from the "ProtectionNorm" online survey on young people's views and constructions of normality regarding sexuality and sexualized border violations can be found in the data manual and in the factsheet "Young people's views on protection, sexuality and violence in the context of youth work".

Empirical data on the views of child and youth work staff on protection concepts from the "SchutzJu" online survey can be downloaded in the data manual and in the factsheet "Staff views on protection concepts".

In this interview video, volunteers and professionals from the field of international youth work talk about how protection concepts are developed and implemented in a participatory manner. The challenges of international youth work are discussed:

• Participatory development of protection concepts with young people
• Developing protection concepts for various international formats such as voluntary services, student exchanges, group exchanges, youth festivals and work camps
• Diversity and cultural sensitivity in the development of protection concepts
• Contact and complaints offices before, during and after international youth exchanges

Objectives of the Workshop

The international workshop, held from 30 November to 1 December 2023 in Cologne-Riehl, achieved several key objectives:

• Build on existing concepts: The workshop built on existing protection concepts, bringing together young people and international partners to enhance these concepts and improve the level of protection for young people in international youth work.
• Ensure young people's participation: Young people played a central role in the workshop, not just as participants but as active contributors to the development of protection strategies.
• Engage in international cooperation: The workshop served as a platform for international partners to share their expertise and collaborate on developing solutions for international youth work.
• Develop ways forward: Participants engaged in discussions about how cross-border cooperation can contribute to designing protection concepts in a participatory and inclusive manner.

Structure of the Workshop:

The workshop featured a diverse range of elements and formats:

• Keynote presentations: Experts provided valuable insights and shared their experiences on developing and implementing protection concepts.
• Interactive sessions: Participants collaborated in interactive sessions to create practical tools and strategies for improving protection.
• World Café: The World Café allowed all participants to discuss protection concepts, participation methods, and proven practices in a dynamic setting.
• Evening activity: An informal evening session offered participants the chance to network with colleagues and delve deeper into the subject matter.

The workshop successfully combined structured discussions with collaborative approaches, fostering a productive exchange of ideas and strategies for international youth work.