Nationwide day of honour: Youth leader training successfully continued in cooperation with the August Vetter vocational college

The nationwide Day of Honour tomorrow, 23 May, draws attention to the great importance of social commitment. The city of Bocholt is taking this day as an opportunity to draw attention to the ongoing and successful qualification of young people in child and youth work as part of the youth leader training programme.

In addition to close cooperation with the August-Vetter-Berufskolleg vocational college, the city administration also offers regular training courses for interested parties.

The acquisition of the nationally recognised youth leader card, JuLeiCa for short, is an important foundation for the quality of club work and open youth work in Bocholt. Recently, numerous students at the August-Vetter-Berufskolleg have successfully completed this qualification. As part of the school-based training, participants acquire comprehensive social, organisational and communication skills. The teaching of pedagogical principles, legal aspects and obtaining a first aid licence also prepare the young people for their future practical work.

The August-Vetter-Berufskolleg plays a special role here, as it integrates the youth leader training programme into everyday school life and offers it as a school event. According to the supervising specialist teachers Christina Zydra-Echelmeier and Christiane Pross-Löhner, the young people show a remarkable level of motivation and team spirit during the school sessions. The training in the protected environment of the school offers an ideal opportunity to translate theoretical knowledge directly into practical action. "For the pupils, this training is an excellent opportunity to look beyond the confines of normal lessons. They learn early on to take responsibility for themselves and others and acquire skills that they can put to good use both in voluntary work and in their future careers", says Zydra-Echelmeier.

In order to establish a broad foundation for local youth work, the city's commitment and youth leader training is not limited to the school sector. The city of Bocholt also regularly gives other interested citizens access to this qualification.

"The combination of school-based training, external courses and continuous further training ensures qualified young talent for the local sports clubs, youth associations and leisure facilities, which could hardly exist without the voluntary commitment of the following generations", explains Nicole van Baal from the Youth and Family Department at the City of Bocholt.