Jugendinformationszentrum Vorarlberg
aha – Tipps & Infos für junge Leute

Who are we?
The Youth Information Centre Vorarlberg aha – Tipps & Infos für junge Leute is a public association for social profit. Our members are the Province of Vorarlberg, the Municipalities of Dornbirn, Bregenz and Bludenz and the Vorarlberg Institut for Social Services.
We are a social service organisation and a place of non-formal education. Our work is based on the right for information as stipulated in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. We are embedded in a network on local, regional, national and international level. We are a family- and environment-friendly organisation.

Who is our target group?
Our target group is all young people in Vorarlberg and persons, groups and organisations which have connections with young people.

What do we do?
We promote and support young people in dealing with information and knowledge.
We create a stage where young people can air their desires. We give space to interests and ideas of young people.
We promote the development of a culture of participation of children and young people.
We encourage young people to involve themselves actively in the design of their living environment.
We involve young people in the design and the conveying of the youth information centre's services.

We offer a variety of services in the youth field:

_ Youth Information
 We research and store information relevant to young people, present it in a youth-centred way and communicate it via various channels to our target group. Young people actively participate in the design of the information. We encourage young people to focus in the diversity and to take knowledge-based decisions. This way we increase their ability to deal with information and media.
 
 
_ International Projects
 With our local and international partners we organise youth exchanges and training activities. We increase the mobility and the intercultural competence of young people and youth workers.
As regional office for the EU programme YOUTH IN ACTION we inform young people and youth workers about the opportunities of this programme and co-ordinate the sending and hosting activities of the European Voluntary Service.
 
 
_ 360 – Vorarlberger Jugendkarte – Vorarlberg Youth Card
 We offer young people between 14 and 20 who live in Vorarlberg access to reductions and services of partner organisations in the region. The wide variety of the activities offered in the fields of leisure time, culture, mobility, education and counselling is based in the world of young people. By having contact with them we pick up on trends and develop innovative actions for our target group with our partners. 

_ invo – service für kinder- und jugendbeteiligung – service for children and youth participation
 By means of information, counselling and lobbying we promote the development of a culture of participation in municipalities, in institutions and at children and youth relevant places. We stimulate training activities on the topic of children and youth participation and create networks. We initiate and help new programmes and projects to develop sustainable participation structures. 

How do we work?

Get moving!
As a learning organisation we are always on the move and in a process of constant development. We are open to new things and feed off stimuli in our surroundings. That is why we are flexible in the choice of our topic matters and activities. We think creatively in order to discover opportunities for the future and to break new ground. Ongoing further education activities for our team contribute to the continuous development of the youth information centre.

Let youth work!
Young people are at the centre of focus of our work. We are aware of the fact that every human being is unique and respond to the individual skills and needs of our clients. We meet young people as equals with respect and attention. As partners they are actively involved in the design of our activities.

Live the aha effect!
We produce aha effects. We are motivated to look for creative solutions that surprise and spark curiosity. We have the courage to experiment. We do our work with a sense of fun and enthusiasm and encourage our target groups to take the next step.
We see in the individuality of our team members an enrichment for our organisation. We are open to discussions and ready to learn from each other. The skills of every one of us are perceived, appreciated and used appropriately.

Think in networks!
We work in networks: with all the areas of the youth information centre, with young people, with other organisations in Vorarlberg, Austria and beyond. Communication and regular exchange of experience are the basis for successful networking. We welcome opportunities to co-operate. Networking with our partners enriches our work with valuable exchange of experience.