Young people from the region are preparing to become group leaders

Young people from the region are preparing to become group leaders

An exciting training seminar for young people from the region took place in the picturesque Rheinbach youth center from October 13th to 17th, 2025. A total of 16 young people from Gerolstein, Daun, Adenau and the surrounding area took part in this program, which prepared them for their future tasks as leaders of children and youth groups. Participants could look forward to workshops on important topics, including communication, prevention of sexual violence, rights and responsibilities, and games education. This content should help to expand the knowledge and experiences of the young people, which is of great benefit not only for them but also for the carers.

A special highlight of the event was the planned trip to Bonn, which was carried out as part of a role reversal. Here, the supervisors took on the role of the participants and vice versa in order to clarify the responsibility of the young group leaders. The importance of this training cannot be overestimated - it lays the foundation for responsible behavior when working with children and young people.

Cooperation and support

The event was the result of a successful collaboration between several organizations. These include the Vulkaneifel district youth care center, the youth care center in Gerolsteiner Land, the Haus der Jugend in Gerolstein and the Don Bosco youth education center in Jünkerath. The specialist office for children and youth pastoral care in the VB Trier was also on board. Without the commitment of full-time and volunteer workers, this valuable training could not have taken place. Particularly noteworthy are the thanks to the Klaus-Thiering Foundation and the VR Bank RheinAhrEifel eG, who supported the event financially.

Another important aspect of the training is the prevention of sexual violence. In recent years, awareness of this issue has increased significantly, and numerous institutions offer materials and information templates on youth safety. For example, the Bavarian Sports Youth provides valuable information materials, while various associations provide a variety of protective measures and rules of conduct to ensure that children and young people can grow up in a protected environment. Important information is used here to help raise awareness and strengthen group leaders' acceptance of responsibility.

Accept the challenge

The responsibility associated with leading groups cannot be underestimated. Young people preparing for this role need to be aware of their responsibilities. At a time when social issues such as protection against violence and abuse are becoming more of a focus, it is essential that these topics are also addressed in further training. In this sense, the event in Rheinbach offers participants the opportunity to recognize their responsibility and learn how they can lead their groups sustainably and safely.

A good hand in selecting such programs can, in the long term, help more young people not only grow into competent group leaders, but also into conscious people. The commitment of the participants and the supporting organizations is not only noticed at this moment, but also bears fruit for the entire community.