Genk Gigos offers youth welfare work in a professional way throughout six teams: GIGOS Genk-Zuid, GIGOS Sledderlo, GIGOS Waterschei, GIGOS Winterslag, GIGOS Zwartberg and O&S (SACA and OnStim/Cre@ief).
Together they form ‘GIGOS – Youth welfare Genk’
There are quite a few theoretical names for the groups of young people we work with. Each of these terms has its own accents. Together with ‘Uit De Marge’ and its support centers, we choose to speak about socially vulnerable young people. Socially vulnerable is the person who, in his contact with the social institutions, repeatedly faces the controlling and sanctioning aspects of it and is less satisfied with the positive offer.
It also means that personal or group interests are often not defended, that fewer specific needs are met and that one can’t deny the negative stereotypes that exist about them. This cultural accent of social vulnerability is essential. It explains why socially vulnerable people have difficulty using the social institutions to reduce inequality. As a result, they will develop their own solution strategies to cope with their vulnerable situation. ‘Social vulnerability’ indicates an interaction and a cumulative process. A person or a population group is vulnerable to something, namely the social institutions. (Prof. Lode Walgrave).
The conclusion that many children and young people find themselves in a social vulnerability process does not mean, however, that we want to treat them as victims or ‘problematic youth’, etcetera… No, we see and treat them as active, dynamic creators, as people with strengths and possibilities, as sources of diversity that can give a lot to society, …
Gigos works with:
Children – for (pre-school) children from 3 to 10 years
Through a combination of playful, educational and sports activities, children work on all development areas. Gigos creates a second home where children can feel good, develop opportunities and simply have fun!
Teens – (from 10 to 16 years) and youngsters – (from 16 years on)
Youth welfare for teenagers and youngsters consists of a broad, structured and rich range of relaxing and formative activities and thus forms a place where the groups can feel welcome and appreciated. An offer that meets their needs, gives them opportunities for personal growth and supports them in their identity development and citizenship.