25 years in exile

Interview with Claudia Kampmeyer and Martin Pletzer from the municipal youth spaces Exil

In August 2023, the municipal youth spaces Exil will be 25 years old. Claudia Kampmeyer has been working here as a social worker for just as long. Martin Pletzer has been part of the team for 14 years. In this interview, the two talk about everyday life at Exil.

Mrs. Kampmeyer, 25 years is a long time. Aren't you starting to get bored?

Claudia Kampmeyer: No, otherwise I wouldn't still be here. (laughs)

What do you particularly like about your work?

Claudia Kampmeyer: Open child and youth work is simply incredibly diverse. We are always getting to know new children and young adults. We first have to find out who we have in front of us and be able to adapt flexibly to them. There are children who are very loud and present and others who are rather quiet and don't want to be the center of attention. That's a challenge every time, but above all it's still a lot of fun.

What does a typical day at the youth center look like?

Martin Pletzer: The kids come here straight after school and usually talk directly about their day or what's new at home. They want to be kept busy, boredom is not an option. That's why we're more busy than we used to be. Their wishes have to be implemented immediately. That keeps us on our toes, but that's exactly what we do.

Does that mean that young people have changed over time?

Claudia Kampmeyer: I wouldn't say that. Children and young people always react to the times, to external influences. They adapt. It's no different to us adults. However, leisure behavior has actually changed a lot.

In what way?

Claudia Kampmeyer: Today, a lot of things are digital. Children and young people spend a lot of time on their smartphones.

Is it difficult to get them interested in other things?

Martin Pletzer: No, not at all. They still have a great urge to be active and enjoy being outside. We noticed this particularly during our summer holiday program. We put a big focus on outdoor exercise and these activities were very well received. The summer holiday program is always the highlight of the year. However, engaging with the digital world naturally plays a major role in everyday life and we want to play our part in encouraging responsible behavior.

What role does contact with parents play in your work?

Claudia Kampmeyer: Contact with parents has become much more intensive. We talk to them more. They want to know who we are and what we do. That's nice and also valuable for our work. However, the focus is on the children and young people.

How do the children and young people become aware of exile?

Martin Pletzer: It often happens through the kids who are already with us or through the summer holiday program. The club that we offer together with the secondary school also plays a major role. This cooperation has existed for many years and gives us a great opportunity to present our work. In general, all children and young people are welcome here. Some of them are a little shy at first. They are welcome to simply drop by and get to know us.

Are your day-to-day activities more about fun and games or about topics such as career preparation or problems faced by children and young people?

Martin Pletzer: It's a big mix. It all plays a role. The children come here to run around and meet their friends. But of course we also talk about problems at school or at home. Our free Thursday has proved its worth for such discussions.

What's behind it all?

Claudia Kampmeyer: The youth center is closed to the general public on Thursdays. This gives us the opportunity to talk to a young person in depth and in peace and quiet if there is a need. They know that they can call us and make an appointment. We also use the day to practise writing job applications, for example. To do this, you have to close the door and be able to concentrate fully on the matter in hand.

In summary: What does exile mean to you?

Martin Pletzer: The children should find a retreat for themselves in exile. They should enjoy coming here and know that they can come to us with anything. Claudia and I are passionate about this job.