In his welcoming address, Christos Vavouras, Head of the Social Welfare Department of the Ludwigsburg district, pointed out that the Child and Youth Welfare Day is an integral part of the Social Welfare Department's annual program. A cross-departmental planning group has been organizing the Children and Youth Welfare Day since 1996 and the event has already covered a wide range of topics. This year, climate protection is now the focus of the Child and Youth Welfare Day.
Climate crisis also a crisis of connection
Prof. Dr. Schrambowski gave the keynote speech in the morning entitled "Climate protection is child protection: new responsibilities of child and youth welfare in times of ecological crisis". She spoke about the fact that the climate crisis is not a typical threat to child welfare as we know it from child and youth welfare, but a collective threat to child welfare. It is important for child and youth welfare professionals to think not only in social but also in ecological terms. The aim is not to freeze in the face of the crisis, but to look for protective factors and solutions.
The keynote speaker went on to explain that the climate crisis is also a crisis of connection - a crisis of connection between humans and nature, but also between adults and young people. This is the result of anthropocentric thinking, which must give way to sustainable thinking and action. This is because the ecological crisis is being collectively suppressed and climate policy measures are falling short of the goals we have set ourselves and what is needed. In this context, not only the technical, but also the social and psychological causes and consequences of the climate crisis must be addressed and major structural changes tackled.
Information stands during the lunch break
After the keynote speech, participants were able to visit information stands in the foyer of the conference zone during the lunch break from the Outlook - Youth Welfare Hochdorf and "Children at the Center" (KiM) departments of the German Red Cross, the Early Help department, the Movement Pass network, the Healthy School network, the #chillout youth and drug counselling service and the district office's climate protection department.
A total of eight workshops were offered in the afternoon, which explored various aspects of the key topic in greater depth using practical examples. The participants of the child and youth welfare day listened to presentations, asked questions and engaged in discussions. In the first round of workshops, participants were able to choose between workshops on topics such as "Climate and psyche in crisis" and "From daycare to a sustainable future". The second round of workshops focused on topics such as "Teaching in times of climate crisis" and "Experiencing climate and energy through play".
