Julia Lasser
©Caritas Vbg
Biographies do not always run in a straight line, especially in the case of young people. Dropping out of school or an apprenticeship can throw young people off course. If they have major hurdles to overcome, Caritas Vorarlberg’s youth employment runway in Feldkirch and Bludenz offers them a low-threshold entry into the world of work and a daily structure.
Julia Lässer is 20. She is a bright young woman, but in her young life she has had to overcome a number of difficulties and setbacks. She hasn’t quite found her footing in the world of work yet. But she doesn’t want to just sit around at home either. That is why she is one of almost 50 young people who find meaningful work in the Caritas Vorarlberg runway youth activity. “The runway gives me a structure in everyday life. That’s good for me,” says the woman from Feldkirch. Services for Vorarlberg companies are carried out here – at the moment, for example, packaging boxes are folded and tea bags are packed. “It’s cool to work in a young team, and we all get along really well,” says Julia Lässer. The contact with other young people but also with the Caritas employees gives her support and also a perspective. “I get support with applications, but I’m also supported if I get a rejection.”
“Work immediately – earn money immediately” is the guiding principle of the runway. Around 50 young people between the ages of 15 and 25 are offered uncomplicated access to work and help with finding a job and developing career prospects. “We can respond to the needs of young people individually,” explains site manager Birgit Petermann. It is very important to her and the entire Startbahn team that the young people are also given comprehensive support in their personal development. “We want to make them fit for everyday work, but also give them self-confidence and security so that they can discover their own strengths and talents. You can gain positive experiences here,” says Petermann. “We want to show them that they always get a chance here. Unfortunately, most young people don’t have very positive memories of their previous school and professional lives.”
Back to Julia Lässer. The new year also opens up new opportunities for her. She would like to do a voluntary social year in Holland. To ensure that everything went well from an organizational point of view, she received support from the employees at the runway. And after the year abroad, she would like to start an apprenticeship in the social sector. “Because I know one thing for sure, I want to work with people and accompany them,” concludes Julia Lässer.
Contact runway: Birgit Petermann, T 0676 884205651, www.carla-vorarlberg.at/startbahn
Source: Caritas/Galehr-Nadler
