Active support and service for young people
Numerous guests from politics, the church, and society paid tribute to Manege gGmbH and the institution’s founders, companions and supporters. Speakers emphasized the key role the institution plays for young people at risk of exclusion. The two partner representatives, Sister Maria Thoma Dikow, Superior General of the Sisters of St Mary Magdalene Postel, and the Provincial, Fr Reinhard Gesing, shared the joy they felt at this anniversary as they looked back on the beginnings of Manege at Marzahn. “I clearly recall standing in front of this building in the fall of 2005, almost in disbelief. Back then, we could only dream of all that this place would one day become,” Father Gesing said. He added that “today, we are all the more grateful for everything that is being made possible at Manege.” Sister Maria Thoma, Superior General, added: “As partners, we are committed to this institution and want to do everything we can to ensure that young people will continue to find strength and support for their future here.”
In her welcome address, Sister Margareta Kühn, long-time head and managing director of Manege gGmbH, spoke of the tireless work and firm belief in young people that has shaped Manege for two decades. Father Christian Vahlhaus, also Managing Director of the Manege, read out the greeting from Berlin's Senator for Education, Youth and Family, Katharina Günther-Wünsch (CDU), in which she emphasized the role of the Manege as a “flexible partner and reliable point of contact for young people”.
Senator for Culture Joe Chialo: “I have fond memories of our Feast of Don Bosco celebrations!”
Joe Chialo (CDU), Berlin Senator for Culture and Social Cohesion, offered a very personal congratulatory address. He looked back on his time as a boarding school student at Don Bosco Neunkirchen and recalled a visit to the inauguration of a music studio he had helped to set up at Manege while starting his career in the music industry. Mr Chialo emphasized the great influence his experiences at the Don Bosco institutions had on his life. In another address, Marzahn’s District Mayor Nadja Zivkovic (CDU) spoke about her close ties with Manege, highlighting the strong and productive cooperation with the youth services institution, and particularly its head, Father Simon Härting.
Prof. Jens Wurtzbacher: Youth social work as a counterweight to exclusion
For Manege gGmbH and all those present, the celebration was not only an opportunity to look back and feel gratitude, but also an occasion to provide meaningful impulses for the future of youth social work. Keynote speaker Prof. Dr. Jens Wurtzbacher, Professor of Social Policy at the Catholic University of Applied Social Sciences Berlin, spoke about the great social importance of projects such as Manege’s and of support for people living in poverty.
In his keynote address titled “On the Margins of the Welfare State: Social Participation and Empowerment for Young People,” he urged politicians and society not to turn away from young people, but to create counterweights to social developments, particularly in view of current social challenges. Young people are looking for their own spaces to set themselves apart from the adult world, Wurtzbacher said. If the only spaces they find are digital ones controlled by corporate interests, there is a risk of individual isolation and a chasm in society.
“Many young people who grow up in poverty repeatedly run up against walls and experience rejection. At Manege, they find an open door and are accepted for what they are,” Wurtzbacher said. This experience, he continued, is fundamental to ensuring that “young people's lives can succeed”, as one of Manege Berlin's guiding principles puts it.
Important support from sponsors and partners
Among the guests of honour were numerous sponsors and partners who have been supporting Manege's work for years. Julian Heese, Head of Missionary Pastoral Care at the Bonifatiuswerk der deutschen Katholiken, which supports the Manege in many areas, presented a donation check to mark the anniversary and stated: “We are delighted to provide long-term support for Manege's important work.” Felix Dresewski, Managing Director of the Dohle Foundation, and Karin Wohlfeldt, who conveyed the congratulations of the Grunewald Foundation, were also among the well-wishers.
Special anniversary surprise: a new consultation services bus
A highlight of the celebrations was the presentation of the new consultation services bus dedicated to reaching and supporting young people wherever they are. This important project was also financed by the Bonifatiuswerk as well as by the Chance Jugend Foundation, whose representatives also attended the ceremony.
The background music was provided by Frank Hartwig (saxophone) and Andreas Brzezinski (double bass), who added a bit of swing to the celebration.
After the official ceremony and a communal lunch, visitors had the opportunity to tour the various Manege facilities, including the daycare center and the school. The day ended with a church service presided over by Father Reinhard Gesing, Provincial of the Salesians of Don Bosco, and accompanied by the children’s choir of the Transfiguration of the Lord parish in Marzahn.
About Manege gGmbH:
Manege gGmbH at Don Bosco Center is a youth services facility in Berlin’s Marzahn-Hellersdorf district focusing on youth social work, youth vocational assistance, and youth welfare. Since 2005, Manege gGmbH has been offering young people support in all life situations, following a holistic approach and always considering the uniqueness and dignity of each individual person. Equal shareholding partners of Manege gGmbH are the German Province of the Salesians of Don Bosco and the Sisters of St. Mary Magdalene Postel.
For more information on Manege gGmbH and its services visit www.manage-berlin.de or write to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
