The Leipzig-based JOBLINGE project TechTeens has been awarded the Leipzig Future Prize 2022 in the “Committed in Leipzig” category for its innovative educational approach.
The jury particularly recognized the pioneering spirit and vision of the initiative to promote equal opportunities.
The project is being implemented at five secondary schools in Leipzig.
Digital participation for young people – regardless of social background and technical know-how – and thus more equal opportunities in the workplace through future skills: that is the TechTeens vision.
The digitalization initiative has been exploring the question since 2018: How can young people develop if they are supported by mentors with life and professional experience in the process of finding a career?
Every school year, experts from the IT and electronics industry as well as HR experts, freelancers and students come together as mixed mentoring teams in the classrooms of the five Leipzig schools – either live on site or virtually via the digital whiteboard.
“In an increasingly digitally influenced living and working environment, digital skills such as digital sovereignty, media and research skills are becoming the key to equal opportunities in the education and job market. With TechTeens, we want to close the digital gap a little for our teens, get them excited about STEM topics and inspire them for different career paths,” says Patricia Fedorov, contact person for corporate cooperation and TechTeens project manager from January 2023.
Whether it’s Sage, Mitnetz Strom, Check24, Projecter, Gisa, DHL Hub Leipzig, Lecos, Mercateo Unite or SoftwareONE as an idea provider from the very beginning: TechTeens thrives on the lifeblood of its volunteer mentors.
In recent years, more than 100 volunteers have worked to promote equal opportunities and access to digital education for young people from disadvantaged, less advantaged backgrounds in Leipzig.
Their success speaks for itself: The TechTeens program is now established at five secondary schools in the Leipzig districts of Lößnig, Leutzsch, Schönefeld, Böhlitz-Ehrenberg and Thekla and is funded by the city of Leipzig.
This commitment in Leipzig was recognized by the jury of the Leipzig Future Prize 2022 – consisting of the City of Leipzig, Forum Nachhaltiges Leipzig, Leipziger Gruppe, VNG, Sparkasse Leipzig and WEV Westsächsische Entsorgungs- und Verwertungsgesellschaft.
