New street worker in Penzberg: Matthias Hecht (26) is on the move

Created: 09/28/2022, 10:00 am

By: Andreas Baer

Matthias Hecht is the new street worker in Penzberg.

©Andreas Baar

Penzberg – A new street worker is on the streets in Penzberg: Matthias Hecht (26) has taken on the task for the Oberland bridge.

Street work in Penzberg has been closely linked to Bettina Alsters for more than two decades.

The qualified pedagogue was on the road for the Oberland bridge until two years ago and was the first in the Weilheim-Schongau district.

Since August 2020, Alsters has been offering low-threshold counseling for young people and children in Penzberg on behalf of the city.

After two years of unsuccessful searches, the Brücke Oberland association was finally able to fill the position of street worker on April 1 this year: Mara Kochendorf was hired.

However, she ended her job on May 31 – for personal and time reasons alongside her studies, as the city administration said in the most recent social committee.

The successor introduced himself at the meeting last Wednesday.

Up to twelve hours a week

Matthias Hecht from Kochel, 26 years old and a student of social work in Benediktbeuern, started his mobile and outreach street work activity at the beginning of September.

Born in Tutzing, he is available in the city area with a weekly quota of up to twelve hours for young people.

Separately from this, Bettina Alsters has been with her ten specialist hours per week since August.

Contact schools

"There is a lot to do," explained Matthias Hecht in the social committee.

He was making “very nice, very open experiences” was his first conclusion with his new working environment.

He announced that he would be in close contact with the local schools.

And especially to young people, "when I'm out on the street".

In addition, the new street worker wants to write three to four experience reports a year that go to the town hall and the political committees.

Brücke active as an association since 1984

The Brücke Oberland has existed since 1984 as a non-profit association and independent sponsor for child, youth and family welfare in the rural districts of Weilheim-Schongau, Bad Tölz-Wolfratshausen and Garmisch-Partenkirchen.

Around 80 employees are counted according to their own information.

The Penzberger offer fits in well: "Streetwork is very important to us," explained Tobias Bihlmaier, board member in the social committee.