Activities at the VTA Blixems Youth Center
On a busy Wednesday afternoon in December, I spoke with Rik Nijssen, the youth worker at the VTA Blixems youth center. This youth center is for all young people aged 8 to 25 or 27 from Woensel-Noord. What’s going on there? Rik Nijssen: “We have, among other things, Tech Playgrounds to teach young people how to work with technology, such as programming and soldering. We also organize activities focusing on loneliness. Our program Join Us helps young people aged 15 to 25 build social connections. They get assistance in how to connect with networks and clubs in Eindhoven. It’s not about learning to make as many appointments as possible, but just as many as are good for them. Often, they have specific issues they are working on with a learning goal. These young people come from various backgrounds and have different levels of education. We don’t have any young people with intellectual disabilities here.”
At the youth center, there’s a drop-in session several times a week for different age groups. Rik: “On Wednesday afternoons, the primary school kids come. We have separate guidance for boys and girls, because they often have different interests. On Thursday evenings, we have art school. For example, they paint and sculpt. They even made Christmas cards for the seniors in the neighborhood. The art created was exhibited at the Van Abbe Museum. We also have a live-streaming space where a colleague youth worker plays and streams games with young people from the neighborhood.”
The youth center also keeps a close eye on social safety. Rik: “We approach young people who cause nuisance at Ouvertureplein. We work together with the police, municipal enforcement officers, and other partners in that regard.”
For more information: Rik Nijssen, email: r.nijssen@dynamojeugdwerk.nl
