A sense of belonging to a group and the feeling of being valued is fundamental to our identity in human development and social experience. Ethnic and social background, as well as gender, play a crucial role in shaping this feeling of belonging. These aspects are central to this research project. The project’s focus is on children, teenagers, adolescents, and adults who use various social and pedagogical institutions. 

The project is founded in a theoretical and pedagogical framework derived from the social pedagogy of the stages of life (“Sozialpädagogik des Lebensalters”). This approach offers a systematic lens through which to examine psychological and social challenges across different stages of life.

Biographical life coping strategies are employed as an epistemological concept, emphasizing lived experiences and adaptive responses which serve as the foundation for actions of Social Work and Social Pedagogy.

Using qualitative and ethnographic research methods – including participatory observation, interviews, digital media, etc. – the project investigates how “belonging” is experienced and expressed. It also explores the role of intersectional dimensions in shaping these experiences.