The KJT Graffiti was closed for around one and a half years and had to be extensively renovated. This project was funded by the Lower Saxony Integration Fund with around one million euros.

The result: beautiful new rooms that the children and young people have been using enthusiastically since December 2020. Being active, chilling out, doing homework, playing and much more is once again on the agenda at the popular meeting place. The city park is ideal for many outdoor activities.

But should the walls remain white or be sprayed with graffiti again?

KJT graffiti manager Michaela Grabowski and Carolin Bodenburg had already discussed this with representatives of the youth parliament during the renovation work. "The 'Chill-Out-Lounge' working group suggested making the graffiti colorful again and supporting this campaign," explains Rasgar Salihi, a member of the youth parliament.

A diverse participation process followed, which took place in person and then later online. The children and young people between the ages of 6 and 27 who attend the meeting place took part, as did the members of the youth parliament and the KJT graffiti team. "Most of them wanted to see the graffiti colorful again so that it lives up to its name," says KJT graffiti leader Michaela Grabowski. The aim of the spray campaign was to find sprayers from Salzgitter to offer them an artistic platform. The youth parliament covered the costs for the paint and accessories, which amounted to around 1,500 euros.

Two sprayers and one female sprayer have been working on a voluntary basis since the beginning of October: following Marvin Pflug's commitment, Elisa Mazanec and Nico Thiermann were recruited for the spray campaign, who spray in their free time after their work/studies and also allow visitors to take part on a trial basis on small areas. "We are delighted with the interest shown by visitors," says Nico Thiermann, who is currently working on the motto wall on which the name "Graffiti" is to be sprayed at the end.

The ideas for the graffiti are also the result of the participation campaign. On one wall, a human being welcomes visitors. A rainbow is intended to emphasize the human diversity in the world and in the Treff. On the other wall, a comic version of the city park is to be created.

The motto "JuPa X KJT" can already be read invitingly on one wall. "We are drawing attention to the kick-off project of the "Chill-Out-Lounge" working group," says youth parliamentarian Mohamad Khaled. The youth parliament can imagine further projects in and with the KJTs.

Everyone involved is delighted with the painterly implementation of the ideas and suggestions, which still need to be adapted a little, and would like to thank the sprayer team for this special commitment.

Those involved hope that the weather continues to be as good as it has been so that the work can continue as planned, so that the painterly diversity on all four sides welcomes guests. And so that what characterizes the KJT graffiti becomes visible; play, fun, joy and a wonderful community.

The next project has already been decided: the garages next to the meeting place are also to be sprayed. Here, the children and young people at the meeting place can get fully involved and let their imagination run wild....