At Stichting SCN, social work and youth work are at the very heart of our mission because they provide the foundation for everything we do with and for young people. Our youth center is not just a place to spend time; it is a space where young people are offered opportunities they might not otherwise encounter. Many of the young people who join our activities grow up in circumstances where resources are scarce and opportunities for growth are limited. Poverty, social inequality, or simply the lack of a safe community environment can shape their everyday reality. If we do nothing, what they inherit from these circumstances might remain the only path they know.
This is why we consider social work essential: it creates the bridge between where young people are and where they could go. At SCN, we open doors to new skills, creative exploration, and technical learning, but those opportunities need guidance in order to be meaningful. That is the role of our social workers and youth workers. They are not just facilitators of workshops or coordinators of projects; they are mentors who walk alongside young people in their process of self-discovery. By supporting them in a safe and encouraging environment, social workers help young people reflect on who they are, what they are capable of, and how they want to shape their future.
In practice, this means that a social worker at SCN combines professional expertise with human connection. They transfer knowledge and skills, but even more importantly, they provide a structure where young people can test their abilities, learn from mistakes, and grow in confidence. Youth work in our context is about offering a balanced mix of freedom and guidance: young people are encouraged to take initiative and explore, while also having someone they can rely on for direction and support.
Our mission is centered on empowerment. We do not only want young people to “participate”; we want them to thrive, to discover their talents, and to feel that they truly belong to a community. Social work is what makes this empowerment process possible. It ensures that there is always someone to guide, someone to encourage, and someone to hold the mirror up so that young people can recognize their own potential.
One powerful example of the impact of our work at SCN is the story of a young man who first came to our youth center because of his interest in motorbikes. At that time, he was often in contact with the police, regularly stealing scooters and struggling to find a positive direction in life. What he lacked in his daily environment at home, on the street, and at school,was positive attention and trust. At SCN, we made it our priority to give him exactly that.
We quickly noticed that despite the challenges in his personal life, he had the potential to become a role model for younger children in the center. He had strong technical skills and a natural ability to connect with others. We gave him the opportunity to take on the role of a peer mentor, guiding younger participants in repairing and working on scooters. Although his own life was far from easy, he took real joy in sharing his knowledge and supporting others. For the first time, he experienced the pride of being seen as a leader and someone younger children looked up to. His parents, who had long been worried about his future, were proud to see him channel his talents in a positive way.
This shift changed everything. He stopped stealing and discovered that he valued helping others, earning an honest income, and being respected in his community far more than the risky path he had been on before. Today, he has turned his life around completely. He now works as a project developer, enjoys building new opportunities for others, and often tells us how grateful he is for the chance to have redirected his life. Every now and then, he still visits our youth center, proudly showing the newest cars he has bought and sharing his journey with the next generation of young people. His story is a reminder of what is possible when young people are offered not only activities, but also trust, guidance, and a chance to shine.
From the outside, spending time at SCN can sometimes be dismissed as “just hanging around.” But what may look like simple presence is in fact an essential part of our approach. Being at the youth center is not passive; it is where creativity and growth begin. By experimenting, trying out new things, and even failing safely, young people develop real skills. They discover their creativity, learn where their strengths lie, and begin to see which talents and interests could shape their future careers.
For young people growing up in disadvantaged environments, these opportunities are rare. Without a place like SCN, they may never encounter the kinds of challenges and experiences that reveal their potential. That is why we strongly believe it is not a matter of luck when a young person finds us. It is the result of deliberate, committed social work. We work hard to create and maintain a space where opportunities exist, where every young person has the chance to learn, to try, and to discover something extraordinary about themselves.
Opportunities do not simply appear by chance; they are built, protected, and shared. At SCN, social workers ensure that these chances are real and accessible. We are here to make sure that young people can use the opportunities available to them, and to give them the support they need to grow. That is why we say: it is not luck, it is social work.
Investing in youth support systems is essential because young people are the foundation of our future. When we provide strong structures of guidance, safety, and opportunity, we not only help them navigate the challenges of adolescence but also equip them to become active, responsible members of society. Without such systems, many young people, especially those growing up in disadvantaged environments face limited prospects, often repeating cycles of poverty, exclusion, or risky behavior. A support system such as SCN creates a safety net, but also a springboard: it gives young people a place to belong, mentors to guide them, and the tools to discover their talents.
These systems also serve as a form of prevention. By investing early, we reduce the likelihood of more serious problems later, such as school dropouts, unemployment, or involvement with the justice system. Youth support systems are not simply a cost; they are an investment that pays back through healthier, more resilient communities. At SCN, we see every day how providing a supportive environment enables young people to turn potential into achievement. With the right encouragement, they learn that they are capable of much more than they imagined, and that their future can be built on strength, creativity, and confidence.
At SCN, we see every day how structured support can transform lives. A youth support system provides more than just activities; it creates stability, trust, and a sense of belonging. It ensures that young people do not have to rely on chance encounters or luck to find positive role models or opportunities to grow. Instead, they can count on a consistent environment where their development is guided by social workers and peers who believe in them.
Investing in these systems is also an investment in society as a whole. When young people thrive, they bring creativity, energy, and new ideas into their communities. They learn not only skills for employment, but also values like cooperation, responsibility, and resilience. By building strong youth support systems today, we create healthier, more inclusive communities for tomorrow.
