Radio LOHRO

Kulturnetzwerk e.V.’ is an association which was established in 1991. It is committed to cultural projects and youth work. At the moment we are sponsor of a non- commercial, independent radio station – LOHRO:
LOHRO is a non- commercial, independent radio station. It serves as a community radio for Rostock. LOHRO is a participatory program. 150 volunteers from different age groups are involved here. The largest group is formed by young people, who are 13 to 27 years old. They are supervised by 3 permanent employees. All participants can bring in and realize their ideas at LOHRO. By operating this way we manage transmitting 24 hours a day. The participants can join different editorial departments (news department, music department, politics department, environment department, campus department, intercultural department) and help to shape the daily program. In our intercultural department we are especially concerned with foreign cultures, we deal with the topic of migration and the life of young immigrants in Germany. We are open for young people from abroad. In the context of European integration we are especially interested in people from European countries. We want to allow young people from Europe to participate in social life in Germany and benefit from political education. We focus on community policies and political education, especially in matters of European integration. We apply as receiving organization, because we think that all participants will benefit from this cooperation. On the one hand, young people from Europe can get involved here, benefit from political education and get to know democracy and community life in Germany. On the other hand, we find out more about European culture by cooperating with young people from other European countries. Prejudices will be reduced and experience can be expanded.
In general, we are ready to receive young people with special needs. Unfortunately it is not possible for us to receive people with physical disabilities or severe learning disabilities, because we do not have adequate facilities and we are short-staffed. There are no constraints concerning the cultural, social, regional or educational background of the participant.
Kulturnetzwerk e.V.’ is an association which was established in 1991. It is committed to cultural projects and youth work. At the moment we are sponsor of a non- commercial, independent radio station – LOHRO:
LOHRO is a non- commercial, independent radio station. It serves as a community radio for Rostock. LOHRO is a participatory program. 150 volunteers from different age groups are involved here. The largest group is formed by young people, who are 18 to 30 years old. They are supervised by permanent employees. All participants can bring in and realize their ideas at LOHRO. By operating this way we manage transmitting 24 hours a day. The participants can join different editorial departments (news department, music department, politics department, environment department, campus department, intercultural department) and help to shape the daily program. In our intercultural department we are especially concerned with foreign cultures, we deal with the topic of migration and the life of young immigrants in Germany. We are open for young people from abroad. In the context of European integration we are especially interested in people from European countries. We want to allow young people from Europe to participate in social life in Germany and benefit from political education. We focus on community policies and political education, especially in matters of European integration. We apply as receiving organization, because we think that all participants will benefit from this cooperation. On the one hand, young people from Europe can get involved here, benefit from political education and get to know democracy and community life in Germany. On the other hand, we find out more about European culture by cooperating with young people from other European countries. Prejudices will be reduced and experience can be expanded.
The radio station is located in Rostock’s city centre. This part of the city is Rostock’s most populous area. By percentage, the highest number of children and adolescents live here. Compared to other boroughs, there are few opportunities here for young people to get involved in community life. Especially underprivileged adolescents have to be promoted by special projects. The radio station is located in the bohemian part of the town, that is shaped by young people.
The participant can take on a variety of tasks here, if his command of the German language is sufficient. We have the structural conditions for volunteer service, because we have been receiving participants taking a Voluntary Year of Social Service for many years now.
The volunteer has the opportunity to get involved in the day schedule or the evening schedule. He could work together with the editorial staff during the day (local and international news coverage) or working in the music department. After a suitable time of job training the participant becomes a fully fledged member of the editorial staff. He works independently under supervision. The participant can also work to prepare and execute outdoor productions or help in the field of organization. We would also prefer that the participant contributes to our additional projects (radio projects with pupils and students, environmental projects, special departments).
It is very important that volunteers have good social skills and work well in a team. An important precondition is that the candidate has a good or very good command of German. They should be able to organize their life here by themselves. In addition, we prefer people, who are interested in politics and culture. Interested people should apply in a letter. They will be sent a form to fill in and send back. We will also do a job interview conducted via the phone. For information about the work and structure of our radio station, please visit our website. There is an educational coordinator, who is responsible for the volunteers.
A sending agency, which has experience in the exchange of adolescents and young adults, would be desirable. The sending agency should have a contact person, who is also involved in the selection of volunteers beforehand. A contact person, who can speak German, is desirable, but not a must.
The volunteer must be at least 18 years old.
The association has been working with many volunteers for years now. We have been recognized as a voluntary youth welfare agency since 1995.
We adjusted our insurance coverage, our work organization and our working environment accordingly. Volunteers have many opportunities for socializing and networking, while working here.
There is a team meeting with all participants once a week. Furthermore there is a board meeting once a week, which is publicly available.
Two participants of our project are taking a Voluntary Year of Social Service here. Furthermore we train apprentices. There are three permanent employees, supervising the trainees. There is a social education worker and two professionals