Rising energy prices and high inflation also increase the risk of poverty in Germany. Young people and children are particularly affected. This could also be felt on school trips.
Rostock (dpa/mv) – In view of increasing warnings from welfare organizations about the growing risk of poverty, the German Youth Hostel Association has called for increased political commitment to children’s and youth leisure activities. Food and energy price increases do not stop at non-profit organizations and the labor shortage increases wage costs equally, said Kai-Michael Stybel, CEO of the DJH state association Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania of the German Press Agency.
The pre-booking status for 2023 is currently very good and even stronger than before Corona. “The determination of teachers to go on school trips, of trainers to plan training camps, of choirs and youth orchestras to organize trips is very high.” However, despite all the joy, Stybel is also concerned that the high inflation in 2023 could lead to increased deregistrations of students or even cancellations.
Charitable associations also have these concerns. The Paritätische had only recently warned that increasing income poverty among children, young people and their families, as well as current price increases, meant that many offers were at risk or could no longer be taken advantage of.
Stybel expressly agreed to the parity’s demand to increase the funds in all funding areas of the M-V youth plan by at least 20 percent and to guarantee a flat-rate subsidy of 800 euros for each approved school trip in MV.
A four-day class trip with around 25 students and two teachers in an MV youth hostel is estimated to cost around 4,000 euros without transport. The DJH calculates that 800 euros would absorb the 20 percent increase in costs in the segment of children and youth travel since 2019 and relieve the parents.
However, this signal must come quickly, because schools or choirs have been planning for this year for some time and in some cases already for 2024, according to Stybel. The additional 150,000 euros for children and youth trips provided by the Schwerin Ministry of Social Affairs at the beginning of December from the federal action program “Catching up after Corona for children and young people” are a good step. However, the daily rate of 15 euros per child funded by the program does not cover the usual market prices.
