Youth initiative in Aarhus aims to deter crime through woodworking skills

In a large warehouse next to a boxing club in Aarhus West, some of the city’s youth are creating terrace elements, plant boxes, and picnic tables. Poul Kellberg, director of Comeback, which operates the woodworking shop Woodshop, explains that all the boys involved have connections to crime in some form. The initiative is part of several preventive measures by the municipality designed to deter children and young adults from criminal activity, aiming to provide job opportunities that can lead them down a different path.

Many of these young individuals have been distanced from the labor market and lack work experience. Being part of a community and a work environment holds immense value for them, according to Kellberg. He notes that effective projects often combine both discipline and support, rather than a purely punitive approach.

Currently, there is a concerning trend where young Swedish boys are being recruited by Danish criminals to commit serious crimes across the Øresund Strait. This is occurring alongside intensified local efforts in various municipalities to prevent the so-called “little brother effect,” where minors with close ties to gang environments are influenced into crime.

Aarhus Municipality and the East Jutland Police have begun addressing families with children as young as eight who are at risk due to gang connections. It is crucial to offer more than just stern warnings in prevention efforts, says David Sausdal, a criminology lecturer at Lund University, advocating for a balanced approach of incentives alongside discipline.

At Woodshop, young men, some volunteering to participate, are gaining legitimate work experience despite having criminal records. Kellberg emphasizes the importance of providing stable employment, often in the form of engaging with these young individuals to guide and challenge their behavior positively. Each day spent in the workshop offers them an opportunity to create meaningful changes in their lives.