Social infrastucture at vocational schools in Vienna

Communication centres are in four different districts of Vienna where central buildings for vocational schools are located. Communication centres provide low-threshold social services in the fields of social action, leisure and information. The definition of low-threshold services is based on non-bureaucratic, unrestricted and direct acquisition of contact which is simple to reach for apprentices. They don't need an appointed time to have talks or get in contact. There are no restrictions on moral values, so an open-minded and continuous contact is made possible easily. There is a protected space for apprentices, where they can relax in a social and psychological beneficial climate.  There they can make contacts with each other and also they can get counselling.

Communication centres are provided spaces to relax and back down. They are designed to allow young people diverse experiences to get in contact. Our supervising tutors establish various instruments to bring communication forward. They bring themselves in as active conversation partners, sometimes by games like cards, table soccer or billiard. In doing so, supervising tutors are able to coach their specific needs. The frame contents youth cooperation, consultation, conflict management and amusement. The centre is a provided space to relax and back down. The spaces quality and its meaning are for integration, activation and conflict management in various contents: migrants, girls and boys, social inclusion.

Pedagogical work is realized at tree levels:
1.    communication / information
2.    counselling / social action
3.    vitalization / activities

There is a free internet access in all our centres and free information materials about house-hunting, employment law, contraception, leisure activities, ….
The offerings are always focused at the needs of apprentices.

The aim is to offer a solution-background by structured talks, active listening and asking. Proceedings take place by clearing talks, concrete help in specific situations by contacting other expert facilities.

Counselling is a free, intimate and by wish of our clients anonymous service at all our centres. Teamwork is provided; ideally our counselors come from different backgrounds of their professional life and education.

Actions for example around the world-aids-day or women day are being arranged to get through general information into personal communication.
As an example we reached 2500 young people at all and 200 of them were active in our anti-sexism-project in 2009.