Über uns

Starkmacher e.V. (literally: to strengthen / empower someone) is a non-governmental non-profit organization active in training, education, youth work and cultural projects.

The overall mission is to enhance capacities of younger generations and especially disadvantaged and marginalized individuals as means of empowerment and prevention of frustration, isolation and violence. The relatively young association emerged together with its successful project „Stark ohne Gewalt – Strong without violence“ financed by the German Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs and the ESF in the XENOS Program. Meanwhile, the project "Strong without violence" runs at various schools in DE, RO, IT, CZ, PL and other countries and is also implemented in selected prisons.

Over the last years the development of innovative approaches for social and labour market integration of special groups at risk, namely young unemployed, school drop outs, juvenile delinquents and prison inmates, ethnic minorities etc. have become a major concern.

In this context, the Association works also with artists, cultural and media professionals who will endeavour to unlock hidden potentials within disadvantaged youngster and to empower them for self-development and creativity. For many participants this is the first encounter with their own strengths and unknown talents and they will be provided with a safe environment where they can train and expand these competencies. Starkmacher can also draw upon networks incl. educational institutions, welfare organisations, businesses and companies helping to facilitate access to the labour market for the a.m. target groups.

The Association has also been coordinator or partner of a series of transnational projects funded by the EU, e.g. within Youth in Action, LLP-Grundtvig, DAPHNE and Culture 2007-2013.

The implementation is effected mainly through project work. Therefore, the organisational structure is comparatively lean with short channels of communication, and decentralized responsibilities at operational level.

The association’s Chairman Mathias Kaps and the managing director Christian Roeser are in charge of general management, networking at local, regional, national and international levels as well as external representation. The management is also in charge of financial steering supported by an external auditing company

The project teams reflect the profile of the association and cover the following thematic fields: 1.) Social and youth work, 2.) education, training and labour market integration, 3.) Culture, sports and political education 4.) sustainable development and renewable energies

Each work team is lead by an expert who is in charge of project development and management of the action. Besides, Starkmacher can draw upon a large pool of free-lancers (60) to be seconded for individual tasks. Within the organisation, there is also a press officer responible PR, external communication, campaigns and the association’s website. The management and the teams are also assisted by a back-office in chare of secretarial work and coordination.

The organisation maintains close relations to local, regional & national welfare structures (e.g. Caritas), NGOs as a well as ministries, public authorities, private companies (SME) and networks (e.g. The Rotary foundation). Moreover, Starkmacher is affiliated to the world wide NGO network “Focolare Movement” with its headquarters in Rome and partners in 145 countries