download - Deutsches Jugendinstitut e.V.

LOS therefore principally addresses private persons as target groups. Due to the local
level delegation of responsibility, local actors can decide which LOS target groups to focus
on in the local action plan. This has produced a heterogeneous distribution of target groups
in individual development areas. Generally, the primary LOS target groups included socially
disadvantaged young persons, the long-term unemployed, re-settlers and immigrants,
particularly women from these target groups. Single parents, those returning to
employment and jobs, older employees, disabled persons, homeless persons, substance
addicts and misdemeanants were less frequent LOS programme target groups.
LOS did not entirely achieve its aim of reaching all employable age groups. The group
of over-55s as a specific target groups were particularly addressed in only 64 micro-projects
during the first three years, representing a figure of only 0.78 %. The majority of microprojects,
almost 60 %, were planned to target participants from all age groups. A central
LOS target group were young people under 25, targeted by the remaining 40 % of projects.
The spectrum of LOS projects is wide. Projects aimed at individual persons offered the
following range of operational fields:
• projects for the gaining of professional qualifications
• integration projects for the particularly disadvantaged, e.g. immigrants, longterm
unemployed, etc.
• encouragement of tolerance and democracy
• targeted measures for early school leavers
• business start-ups
• job application training / coaching / career advice / profiling / assessment
• professional orientation (including practical elements) / work experience
• language courses / language training
• qualifications (e.g. computer and media courses)
• miscellaneous consultancy services
• strengthening of key competences
The LOS projects are for the most part so-called “advance measures” which are
principally concerned with the orientation of disadvantaged persons towards the
employment market in order to increase employability. LOS has however also had a not
insubstantial effect on employment. A total of 7,852 additional job positions have been
created and 4,239 socially disadvantaged young persons were successfully placed in
apprentice training schemes, etc.
An excellent example of LOS implementation is the development area Zech in the town
of Lindau in Bavaria. One of the focal points of the programme in the urban area of
Lindau-Zech is the support of young persons during the transition between school and
their professional career. Project implementers work together with young people to
develop their professional and social perspectives. Parallel to this, the young persons are
able to work in so-called junior firms which offer payable services or products, e.g. within
the areas wood, metal, catering etc, according to the professional orientation of the
individual young persons. Following the culmination of their job, participants receive a
final assessment, a work reference and if necessary further support in their placement
within the ‘real’ employment market. Due to a comprehensive preparation for the world of
73