Young people discover their strengths

The successful project "Come on tour - my strengths, my future" continues today, Monday 7 March. On the initiative of the City of Chemnitz, the Chemnitz Employment Agency and the Free State of Saxony, an innovative adventure trail supports pupils in their career orientation and life planning.

"You can do more than you know. Try out what you enjoy - at home, at school and in your next internship." This is a key message of the "Come on tour - my strengths, my future" project. Around 600 young people from the 7th and 8th grades of secondary and special schools in Chemnitz discover their strengths in a large adventure course. They travel at speed through six stations: from the travel terminal via the time tunnel to the labyrinth, from the storm-free booth via the stage to the evaluation. Students are awarded strengths depending on their choice of task and solution. At the end, they find out which activities and professions match their strengths. In this way, young people are supported at an early stage in recognising options for shaping their professional and personal future in a gender-sensitive way.

Dagmar Ruscheinsky, Mayor for Education, Social Affairs, Youth, Culture and Sport, is the patron of the project and emphasises: "Any initiative where young people can try things out should be supported. This is important in order to discover their own strengths, skills and potential: with a view to a later career choice, but also for personal development in general. What's more, even after two years of restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, this adventure course is a great project."

Angelika Hugel, Head of the Chemnitz Employment Agency, adds: "After a two-year break from events, during which major career guidance projects could not be carried out, we are particularly pleased to have ;komm auf Tour' back in the city. We want to give young people the chance to explore their strengths in an unusual way. Choosing a career is one of the most important decisions in life and we want to use the project to build a bridge to a personal and professional future. The careers counsellors at the Chemnitz Youth Employment Agency provide support and are also available to the young people after the campaign week."

Studies by the Federal Centre for Health Education (BZgA) show that limited career prospects have a particularly negative impact on the personal lives of educationally disadvantaged young people. They tend to have more difficulties establishing equal relationships and are more likely to risk unplanned pregnancies. The development of realisable future prospects, healthy self-confidence and trust in one's own strengths help in everyday life, in relationships and, of course, especially when it comes to choosing a career.

In addition to the adventure course, "komm auf Tour" promotes cooperation between schools, parents and non-school partners in career guidance and life planning. Following the successful launch in 2008, "komm auf Tour" is now taking place for the third time in the city of Chemnitz. It is particularly pleasing that after a two-year break due to the pandemic, the format is now once again offering support to pupils.

This year, the following regional players are working together on "komm auf Tour":

• City of Chemnitz
• Chemnitz Employment Agency
• Chemnitz Business Promotion and Development Corporation mbH
• Chemnitz Chamber of Industry and Commerce
• Chemnitz Chamber of Crafts
• Bildungs-Werkstatt Chemnitz gGmbH
• Training Centre of the Saxon Economy gGmbH
• Association for Vocational Promotion and Training e.V.
• Chemnitz Co-operation Association for Sexual Education

Background:

The "komm auf Tour" project is linked to state and nationwide projects for in-depth career guidance and life planning. The schools are informed about this by the regional players in the accompanying events.

The City of Chemnitz, the Free State of Saxony and the Chemnitz Employment Agency are jointly organising "komm auf Tour - meine Stärken, meine Zukunft" in Chemnitz in 2022. The Chemnitzer Wirtschaftsförderungs- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft mbH is coordinating the planning and implementation in collaboration with the project organiser Sinus - Büro für Kommunikation GmbH.

The financial resources of over 65,000 euros for the realisation of "komm auf Tour - meine Stärken, meine Zukunft" were provided by the City of Chemnitz, the Chemnitz Employment Agency and the Free State of Saxony.

This measure is co-financed by tax funds on the basis of the budget approved by the members of the Saxon state parliament.

www.komm-auf-tour.de