Workcamps
basis. The St. Francis Center is a place where they can meet, chat, and see a familiar face.
are so desperate they depend on soup kitchens. The par- ticipants and I, as project leader, were fortunate enough to get to know both sides of the US in this workcamp and gain a comprehensive view of life in southern California, which could not be more diverse. I think many return- ees from this workcamp in Los Angeles will think twice before throwing food away again. It teaches us not to take our own prosperity for granted and to appreciate it more.” Sustainable impact of social engagement
The international exchange program with the St. Francis Center shows the homeless people here that even people from other parts of the world are interested in them. The volunteers have more time than the employees at the Center to sit down for a chat. There are generally lots of opportunities for conversation. Volunteers and visitors share moments of joy when they try to teach each other The international exchange program with the St. Francis Center shows the homeless people here that even people from other parts of the world are interested in them. words in their own language. Some of the homeless peo- ple greeted and thanked each other in broken German, while the volunteers tried to say a few words in Spanish. The Kolping program gives the homeless what is really missing from their lives: time, attention, and respect.” Between homelessness and wealth: The effect of inequality on the young participants Andy Gracklauer, leader of the workcamp in spring 2019, describes the impact the program has on partic- ipants: “I’d say the workcamp volunteers gained valuable expe- riences for their personal development, and that these will have a positive impact on them in the long term. The contrast between the lives of the homeless on the streets and the relative wealth of the volunteers' host families was especially thought-provoking. The gap between rich and poor is sometimes shocking; it’s not something people in Europe tend to associate with the American Dream . On the one hand, lots of US-Americans live a life of abundance; on the other, many people here
Friederike Knörzer confirms these views:
“The participants realized that homelessness could affect anyone. Many were surprised who it can happen to and how quickly. They gave a lot of thought to this issue during the workcamp. They discussed their views amongst each other and with program leaders, reflect - ed on their own circumstances and attitudes to wealth, and considered ways to get involved in social projects at home. One participant is about to start a Voluntary Social Year, and several participants assured me this would not be their last workcamp.”
Annette Fuchs is Head of Kolping Jugendgemein- schaftsdienste Kolpingwerk Deutschland gGmbH. Friederike Knörzer and Andy Graucklauer have led workcamps in the US.
*Workcamps are short-term non-profit volunteer placements for young people from different countries, usually in a social, ecological or cultural project.
Web: kolping-jgd.de
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