With its programs, the organization FACK e.V. is committed to empowering young people to become self-determined, courageous, reflective, and innovative young adults. The FACKtory, founded and run by FACK e.V. in the eastern German town Altenburg, provides an open space where young people can create, fail, grow, and take their futures into their own hands. The Club Room and Campus serve as places of encounter, while the Workshop Space, Art Studio, Recording Room, Working Area, and Makerspace provide spaces to develop projects that shape the region. To further expand and strengthen the FACKtory, we have been supporting FACK e.V. since July through a new funding partnership. In this interview, managing director Valentin Rühlmann explains what makes young people strong — and why participation is more than just having a say.
At FACK e.V., young people set their own goals for youth work and implement them together. How do young people's sense of responsibility and their view of their roles change when they are not merely »entertained« but instead take on the role of hosts and co-creators?
Valentin Rühlmann: In a world that has become significantly more challenging and complex, many people increasingly perceive themselves as inadequate, powerless, and too weak. This is the breeding ground on which many of today’s problems — especially societal radicalization — thrive. If youth work focuses only on short-term relief or on meeting needs in a top-down manner, we will not solve the problem. By enabling young people to co-shape FACK at all levels, we empower them to reflect on their own needs, values, and motivations, as well as those of others. We give them responsibility — not only for themselves and their own actions but also for the community. They experience themselves as effective agents in their own lives and as a positive force in the lives of others. These young people are no longer overwhelmed; they are courageous, self-determined, reflective, and, above all, active young adults who shape their lives and the world around them.
How can spaces like the FACKtory help counter the growing shift to the right — especially in eastern Germany?
Valentin Rühlmann: The shift to the right in Germany is partly rooted in the overwhelming complexity of our times – an overwhelm that is often even more intense when people lack the structural or personal resources to deal with it. This sense of insecurity is exploited by political agitators who draw people into their ideologies. People who feel insignificant are told they are »great Germans« and that, as part of this supposed ingroup, they hold a special value — which they can demonstrate particularly well by drawing strong distinctions from the outgroup.
To break this cycle, people must be shown their own strength — both as unique individuals and as part of a diverse community. The FACKtory is a place where people can easily become part of such a community, take on responsibility, and experience their own impact. It is a space where many different young people come together, get to know and even understand one another, and are invited and empowered to create their own initiatives, formats, and projects. In the future, they will open this factory of the future to even more young people, welcome new participants, and develop ideas together. In doing so, they learn how to create an environment in which people from different backgrounds enjoy coming together to build something new.
What does it take to create spaces like the FACKtory in other regions —and what lessons from Altenburg would you share with other initiatives?
Valentin Rühlmann: Two key success factors in building the FACKtory were the trust placed in us by the city of Altenburg and the attitude of the people involved. The city of Altenburg decided to hand over the building to what was at the time a very young, volunteer-based association — a courageous leap of faith. For us as actors, it was essential to reward this trust through professionalism, reliable communication, and demonstrable impact. This requires an openness among all those involved at FACK to experiment with new strategies, a willingness to take risks, and a commitment to seeing ourselves as constant learners.
In recent years, even beyond the FACKtory, it has become clear that the attitude we bring to our work and toward our target group is crucial. Attitude — meaning our fundamental assumptions about ourselves and the world, and the behavioral tendencies that result — shapes our actions, especially in routine situations or under pressure. That’s why this mindset is so vital for our work, which constantly supports young people in very different life circumstances. At its core is the belief that every individual holds the potential to make a valuable contribution to the well-being of the community.
Further details on the funding partnership with FACK e.V. can be found here.