We are an intergenerational youth club. Everyone is allowed to participate, the focus is on young people. The KvU is a space for trying things out. Young people are given the opportunity to try things out at a low level, e.g. to organize concerts, learn sound engineering, implement theater or video shooting, initiate work groups, design theme evenings, etc.
In the KvU there is also the possibility to use a rehearsal room, play table tennis and foosball, take part in sports activities, use the (bicycle) workshop and take over services at concerts. For the past two years, we have also offered a café for homeless people two days a week. Decisions are made democratically, either in the framework of our Orga - Plenum or in the working groups, which specialize in topics and are open to all interested parties.
A few years ago, the KvU was primarily a place for cis men between 30-65 years of age (the proportion of people with mental illnesses and/or addictions was relatively high). The composition has changed in the meantime. Currently, homeless people, people between 14 and 65 years of age, refugees from the accommodation near the KvU and especially more Flinta* people are also involved in shaping the KvU. Currently, a group of exiled Iranians are also using the KvU to prepare demos.
On the whole, it's a nice atmosphere of togetherness. Only a few older people behave skeptically or even defensively toward young people who want to contribute new ideas. Especially when the KvU was not yet so diverse, there was often verbal violence. Individuals also became physically violent. Emotional manipulation was also an issue from time to time. All of the above-mentioned forms of violence have been reduced in recent years through measures (here in the KvU). From time to time, individuals cross the boundaries of others through verbal violence.
I work full-time as a social worker. My job is to mediate in conflicts and/or develop ideas to deal with them together. Most of my time is spent on communication. Group dynamics and the implementation of KvU's goals (openness, implementing grassroots democracy, focusing on young people) are the main focus of my work. In addition, I also work with individuals (topics: mental illness, debt, heartbreak, etc.).
For the past two years, we have been working with the concept of Transformative Justice in conflicts at KvU.
Sometimes political evenings take place in the KvU e.g. on the topic of protest, climate, hierarchy dismantling, toxic masculinity etc.. This takes place when a person is interested in a topic and organizes it. The audience is very diverse, the number of participants is so far relatively small (5-15 participants per evening).
KvU is currently undergoing a kind of transformation. New people come and have the desire to participate and try themselves out. And they are given this opportunity. This means first of all that KvU lives on. (A few years ago, a lot of things stagnated, people who were in KvU every day had no energy to actively participate, but made it - sometimes - difficult for new people to participate, keyword: top dog behavior).
We only deal with internal conflicts.
So far 4-6 people have been involved. It is important to us that people who have the time and energy and are emotionally stable themselves come forward for this. The processes were short when it became obvious that the person who was using violence had no real interest in dealing with it in more depth.
In one case, a person had been banned from the premises for 3 years. During this time, there were continuous joint discussions. After 3 years, the person was reintegrated.
We do not consider ourselves professionals of Transformative Justice, but we want to continue to work with it and gain experience.
Basically good so far. House bans should be the last resort for us. At the same time, however, it is important to us that we really work together on the issue. A few years ago, a simple lip service was often enough, but often the undesirable behavior showed up again after a short time. Some people were so frustrated by this that they no longer wanted to participate in KvU life. So far, the affected persons have given feedback that they feel taken seriously.
Since a relatively large proportion of the "KvU members" have their own problems to contend with (in this case, mainly mental illness), for a long time it was always the same people who agreed to work actively with us. Currently we have no case. By gaining new people (who bring energy with them), I hope that in the future these people will also declare themselves willing to work on the TG.
I'll make it general: It tired me for a long time that new people were met with too little openness. I think that the fear of losing one's own position or "living room" played a major role for many. Perhaps also just when these persons have noticed that the new persons bring energy and ideas. Persons who do not want to or cannot be active are still allowed to "be there" and are included as much as possible. It has taken a long time for these people to understand that nothing will be taken away from them even if some things change. A few individuals have also left or no longer want to come (e.g. because they could not accept, even after several discussions, that there should be a Flinta* evening once a month in the KvU).
I am happy that currently some new people come to the KvU and bring new ideas and energy. Let's see what else comes :)We want to work more in working groups and outsource topics that have overstretched the Assembly in the past (some of the participants were overwhelmed with the Assembly and no longer wanted to participate or reacted quickly irritated).Through the working groups we have also become more capable of making decisions. All the people who can/want to deal with the respective topic take part there. Our social media presence (at all public relations) is changed / improved :)
Even more different groups and offers in the KvU. The Orga - Plenum (previously Assembly) is the place where all people and groups are in contact with each other or come into contact. Sometimes synergy effects are created. Despite the different needs and motivations, a certain "we" feeling (desire) is created.
We (the KvU) have blocked ourselves for a long time by not addressing any measures or changes. Reasons: Top dog behavior, fear of/no desire for change, fear of (violent)reactions when unpleasant things are said, intolerance. We have only had a tacit lease for over three years (as we continue to remit rent to our landlord).It is uncertain if and when our landlord will want to get rid of us. While this does not slow down our current work, it could be over quickly.
More spaces in which non-commercial design/experimentation can take place. Unfortunately, this is often hardly possible without government funding. Grassroots democratic approach in other contexts. The low-threshold access to social workers is very special in the KvU (here I see at most street work as an alternative). Some of the people who have accepted support from the social workers here would otherwise not have sought out a counseling service. Because two full-time social workers are employed at the KvU, there are two people who can stay on top of the various issues and accompany group processes in the long term. The people who otherwise participate in the KvU have too little capacity for this. In addition, this takes care of the bookkeeping :)
