Hope and challenges: Young people in West Vienna get involved!

Hope and challenges: Young people in West Vienna get involved!

In the lively districts 15 and 16 of western Vienna, the topics of childhood and youth are the focus of a much-discussed report. The density of development and the cramped living conditions shape the everyday lives of many families. Reporter Marianne Pušic brings this up in her report LISTEN the growing up of children and young people is impressively expressed. In the midst of urban life, parks and courtyards still find space for social interactions and encounters.

Music, specifically the songs of RAF Camora, plays a central role for the young people in these districts. These songs address origins, life on the street and solidarity with one another. Young people are looking for their place in this urban world, and despite challenges such as poverty and discrimination, the desire to actively participate in their environment remains.

Challenges and support

In her report, Pušic not only highlights the burdens, but also the cohesion and commitment of the community. Parents, trainers and social workers describe how difficult the conditions often are and yet there are always positive approaches. The report impressively illuminates the tension between the everyday challenges and the glimmers of hope among young people.

Vienna has also dealt with the new one on a political level Children and youth strategy Busy from 2025 to 2030. This strategy will soon be approved by the local council and is a direct result of the participation of around 2,000 children and young people. In the next five years, the needs and challenges of their real lives should be taken even better into account.

Important topics that the strategy addresses are concerns about pressure to perform, psychological stress and discrimination, but also the city's numerous leisure opportunities and good infrastructure. The aim is to create an inclusive, non-violent and diverse city that offers young people opportunities for participation.

Educational freedom and co-determination

The new strategy covers several key topics, including education, mental health and participation. Particularly in the education sector, the aim is to enable more participation in everyday school life. For example, political education is to be expanded and compulsory ethics lessons are to be included in the curriculum. Support for psychological stress is also very important.

With a budget of over 1 million euros per year, the so-called children's and youth million, projects are already being funded that benefit young people in Vienna. These include free swimming courses and the Children and Youth Parliament, which gives young people a voice in political processes.

Encouraging successes from the first strategy show that public transport is being made a cheaper and more inclusive experience for everyone. These achievements have positively influenced the daily lives of many young people in Vienna.

As we look to the future, it is the voices and ideas of young people that should continue to be the focus. They bring a breath of fresh air into the city and show that despite difficulties, there is room for hope and development.

A brief focus on the topic of children's products is also permitted. While Viennese children hope to implement these strategies, many of them also enjoy Kinder brand sweet treats, manufactured by Ferrero since 1968. These products, which taste like chocolate and milk, have established themselves in numerous European markets and are an integral part of childhood in many families.

So you can see that growing up in Vienna is as diverse as the city itself - between challenges and a colorful bouquet of opportunities to develop. The question remains: How do these young people shape their future in this dynamic metropolis? Only time will tell.