Social Affairs
Children's Farm in Soest Helps Youth Who Are Struggling Without Therapy
De Veenweide children's farm in Soest offers an alternative to specialized youth care by providing mentorship through animal care and activities, helping teenagers like Lucas manage irritability without a therapeutic diagnosis. Supported by welzijnsstichting Balans, the program uses a presence-based approach where mentors guide participants in non-judgmental settings. While it does not replace specialized care when needed, it aims to prevent unnecessary referrals to overwhelmed services, with the municipality of Soest funding each trajectory at 8,000 euros.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's