The training and production facility in the school canteen in Kevelaer, a flagship project for training young people with support needs, is on the brink of collapse. The vocational training measure with integrative training places will not be continued by the Federal Employment Agency. As a result, the young people in the last training year will complete their training at Mensa on July 31, 2027. Whether a continuation in another form is possible is currently being explored.
"It is very important to us that the school canteen in Kevelaer continues to open up prospects for young people in the future and offers them a reliable place for community and healthy food," emphasizes Mayor Dr Dominik Pichler. "We will do everything we can to secure the operation of the canteen and work together with all those involved to find a solution that aims to provide the best possible lunchtime meals for the pupils."
A flagship project since 2012
Since its opening in 2012, the school canteen has been training young people in cooking, housekeeping and personal services under the auspices of the SOS Children's Village Niederrhein and preparing them for their future careers. The training is tailored to the individual needs of the young people, many of whom have learning or mental disabilities.
Individual support in real working conditions
The protected environment offers security while at the same time ensuring real working conditions: Up to 750 freshly prepared meals leave the canteen every day. The school canteen and its trainees have repeatedly received awards.
"We very much regret that we will not be able to continue operations beyond July 31, 2027 under the current circumstances. The ingredients for the school canteen's recipe for success have always been the integrative training programs funded by the Federal Employment Agency on the one hand and the production and serving of freshly prepared
meals for the pupils on the other hand," says Peter Schönrock, facility manager of the SOS Children's Village Niederrhein, and continues: "In total, our five-person team of instructors, a social education worker and a psychologist have supported around 250 young people in the school canteen, preparing them for working life and giving them new career prospects. Over 95% of our trainees have subsequently found employment in the primary labor market. As the vocational training measure is no longer being advertised, this flagship project is unfortunately coming to an end for us." The employment agency justifies the discontinuation of the measure with the lack of demand from young people for the training occupations on offer and the continuously decreasing number of participants over the years.
Working together on a solution for the future
The pilgrimage town of Kevelaer is currently in intensive discussions with various contacts in order to develop sustainable prospects for future operations. The talks are focusing on organizational, procurement law and structural issues that need to be clarified in order to secure the long-term operation of the canteen. How exactly this can be achieved and, above all, with which cooperation partner, depends on several factors, in particular the financial framework conditions. The aim is to work together to find solutions that preserve the special character of the canteen, create a solid basis for the coming years and ensure that pupils are provided with a healthy and balanced lunch in the long term.