9 min. of summer camp for a disadvantaged child from Germany

For many children and young people in Germany, experiences like this at the seaside during the summer holidays are normal. But not for children like Jamal and his holiday camp friends. According to the Federal Statistical Office, around 20.8% of all under-18s in Germany are considered at risk of poverty (Destatis 2024). For many, this means growing up in cramped flats, with little access to education and leisure activities and few opportunities to simply get away and relax. Young people aged 14–17 are particularly affected, as they are in a sensitive phase between school, starting their careers and finding themselves. Poverty not only has a financial impact, but also affects self-esteem, social relationships and future prospects (Bertelsmann Stiftung 2023). However, positive developments show that change is possible: in recent years, public awareness of mental health has grown, and more programmes have been developed to promote resilience and equal participation in leisure and educational activities (BMFSFJ 2023). Studies show that extracurricular experiences such as camps have been proven to promote the personal and academic development of young people. In a German study on experiential youth camps, Mutz & Müller (2020) found significant increases in self-efficacy, self-esteem and emotional well-being after a ten-day leisure activity. Experiencing one's own skills and integration into the group proved to be particularly effective – factors that also strengthen social skills such as teamwork and cooperation. Island camps such as the one on Ameland open up precisely such spaces for experience: experiencing community, trying new things, discovering one's own strengths – far away from the stresses of home. These experiences not only strengthen personal development, but also indirectly create better educational opportunities, because young people return to school with more self-confidence, concentration and optimism.