www.spacelab.cc Date: March 17, 2014

spacelab - PS WienProject Description

About spacelabActivation, career orientation, planning the future: spacelab – production school Vienna (PS Wien), spacelab for short, constitutes a modular offer for youth and young adults aged 15 to 25, who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Based on many years of experience in this field, the project represents a low-threshold institution within the framework of Vienna‘s Vocational Training Guarantee and has several locations in Vienna.

spacelab is implemented by five not-for-profit organizations, namely Verein zur Schaffung offener Kultur- und Werkstättenhäuser (WUK), Volkshilfe Beschäftigung (VHB), Verein Wiener Jugendzentren (VJZ), Wiener Volkshochschulen GmbH, and Verein sprungbrett für mädchen.

Modular approachCharacterized by a modular approach with varying degrees of personal commitment and struc-ture, spacelab allows youth to participate at their convenience.

In the module ‘open and detached youth work’ young people receive information and coun-selling about educational offers by spacelab and other programs of Vienna‘s Vocational Training Guarantee. They are contacted by youth workers where they are – in public places, shopping malls or parks. Through sustained contact and dialogue the necessary atmosphere of confidence is created.

The module ‘developing perspectives’ acts as link between all spacelab modules, as participants are constantly supervised by prospect coaches during their time in the program. With the aim of developing plans for their future, coaches support the adolescents and encourage them to actively shape their personal and working lives.

Useful work experience can be obtained on a daily basis (Mon – Thu) in the ‘daily training’ module or for a period up to six months (Mon – Fri) in the ‘workshop training’ module. In work-shops and practical training sessions every spacelab location concentrates on a different topic. While spacelab_umwelt (spacelab_environment) offers workshops on gardening and ecology, and spacelab_kreativ (spacelab_creative) focuses on media projects and creative skills, spacelab_girls provides girls and young women with a range of activities, from creative design and handicraft to varied topics concerning health. If the conditions are fulfilled, participants get a pocket money of € 10 per day during the daily training, whereas participants in the workshop training get an allowance from the Public Employment Service.

In the module ‘education’ pedagogues transfer knowledge and skills in basic education and cultural tools necessary for further education, or a professional career through the combination of learning and work processes.

Information day at all locationsEvery Tuesday at 1 p.m. there is an information day at all locations without any need to register. Youths can join spacelab modules at any time, depending on vacancies. AMS advisors can also invite young people directly to the information day.

Target and target groups spacelab addresses young people – with or without a migration background – who did not finish school or only attended compulsory school, and who have difficulties in coping with the transition from school to the labor market. The participants all share at least one of the following criteria: • they have difficulties in making the transition from school to the labor market• they did not finish school or only attended compulsory school• they have no/little experience in gainful employment • they cannot be reached by the standard instruments available to AMS as part of the labour-mar- ket policy.• they have vague or unrealistic ideas about their future occupation and job perspectives • they are exposed to several problem areas• they receive social welfare benefits

For young Viennese, aged 15 to 25, with difficulties in entering the labor market, spacelab offers opportunities to enter a working environment, to obtain skills and a vocational training. An important objective is to promote the untapped potential in young people and to define challen-ges for them in a joint effort.Objectives for participants are to: • activate the target group • stabilize participants (in economic and mental terms) • integrate them into support and employment systems • develop their personal perspectives • draw up personalized career development plans • develop their skills potential • promote their opportunities to join further training systems • give them practice-oriented occupational guidance • develop their competencies • acquire and consolidate knowledge in basic education

Funding2014 spacelab is funded by waff, the Vienna Employment Promotion Fund (Wiener Arbeitneh-merInnen Förderungsfonds), and by AMS Vienna, the Public Employment Service (Arbeitsmarktservice), with a budget of 3.5 million euros. Furthermore, the project is supported by Vienna’s Municipal Department 13 (MA 13: Education and Youth Work), which provides infrastructure and personnel from its Association of Youth Centres in Vienna.

Information & Contact

spacelab - PS Wien1090 Vienna, Währinger Straße 59Phone: +43 699 14 01 21 26info@spacelab.cc

spacelab_umwelt1210 Vienna, Dr.-Albert-Geßmann-Gasse 38Phone: +43 699 14 01 21 72

spacelab_kreativ1100 Vienna, Knöllgasse 2Phone: +43 699 14 01 21 71

In the ‘open room’ at the location spacelab_kreativ youth can visit during opening hours and participate in activities:Tuesday, 1.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.Wednesday, 2.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m.

spacelab_girls1150 Vienna, Hütteldorfer Straße 81b/staircase 1/1. floorPhone : +43 1 78 94 545 (sprungbrett, Mon - Thu: 9.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m.)

During the opening hours of spacelab_girls girls and young women are welcome to visit:Monday to Thursday: 9.00 a.m. - 3.00 p.m.

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Herausgeber und verantwortlich für den Inhalt: WUK Verein zur Schaffung offener Kultur- und Werkstättenhäuser, Projekt „spacelab“, 1090 Wien, Währinger Straße 59. Gestaltung: spacelab