Youth club helps with homework online

Haldensleben: Michel “Maixie” Helmecke from JFZ helps students with learning material during Corona closure.

Haldensleben l Homeschooling is not easy for all students. Since the youth leisure center had to close its doors again, youth leader Michel “Maixie” Helmecke thought about how he could help with homeschooling and decided to offer digital homework tuition.

“The idea of ​​homework tuition in the club is actually not new,” he explains when asked by Volksstimme. This offer was already available for schoolchildren in 2015. Once a week, a very committed 17-year-old student and other regular club-goers helped young people with their homework. “That was really a great thing. That ended in the course of 2016 and the demand was no longer very high, ”said Helmecke.

However, it still happens again and again in everyday club life that someone with difficult learning material turns to the club. The youth leader says: “I often try to support.” But most of the time, other club visitors would also join in and also actively help with the challenging learning material. The mutual support of club visitors regardless of age and other factors is something that the youth leader always particularly values. “Since the club has to go through a closure period of several months for the second time since the beginning of the pandemic, I try to be available at least digitally, such as with support with homework or other learning material.”

Helmecke tries to keep homework help straightforward and pragmatic. “There are plenty of opportunities to discuss the subject with one another. If someone wants to make a phone call, that’s fine. If I can explain it to someone better via video chat, no problem, ”he explains. He tries to keep the hurdles as low as possible. If he is still missing a messenger app, he can simply download it. The technical requirements are no longer a problem, he says. “95 percent of young people own a smartphone. Quickly take a photo of the difficult part of the homework and send it to the club along with a voice message via Whatsapp. Anyone can do that, ”he says.

During the first closing period from March to June 2020, Michel “Maixie” Helmecke only received two inquiries that he could help with. “Since the beginning of this year, I’ve been drawing attention to this and other digital offers again,” he reports. So far, no one has contacted him or maybe not yet dared.

The youth leader also has a few tips for learning: “I think one of the most important tips for learning or basically for working from home is to set fixed times.” In addition, one should also plan enough breaks in which to relax Helmecke recommends that you exercise in the fresh air. “But a fixed time for the end of work should also be set,” says the youth leader. This way you can work more effectively on one thing and don’t let yourself be distracted by other things. “I think that’s a better way to switch off and enjoy your free time”, says the youth leader.

Despite the contact restrictions, Michel “Maixie” Helmecke can still be reached via WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram and, for example, offers individual walks by arrangement.

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