“Vi är deras andra hem" : Fritidsverksamheters förebyggande arbete med ungdomar i områden med avancerad marginalitet

The aim of this study was to examine how leisure leaders in different youth centers collaborate and work preventively with youths who are or risk being socially excluded in areas with advanced marginality in Sweden. The study is based on eight qualitative interviews with leisure leaders working in youth centers with young people in areas with advanced marginality. The interviews were analyzed using a hermeneutic approach and the theoretical framework is social capital supplemented by empowerment. Our results show that the leisure leaders use several different strategies in the preventive work with young people. Youths’ were getting the opportunity to affect their own lives through participation and influence in youth center activities. A majority of the leisure leaders expressed having both structured and unstructured activities. The youths are given a great deal of responsibility to accomplish several things in interest for them, which aims to strengthen their self-esteem. There were certain strategies that appeared to be common among all leisure leaders in working with youths: to include the youths’ in the majority society, to cooperate with government and community arenas and to create trustworthy relationships. In conclusion, all the strategies used by the leisure leaders worked preventively