Moritz Schwerthelm

Moritz Schwerthelm is a researcher in Social Pedagogy at the University of Hamburg’s Faculty of Education, specifically within the department of School and Primary School Pedagogy, Social Pedagogy, and Pedagogy for Persons with Disabilities and Disadvantages (EW 2). His work focuses on democratic participation, political education, and social engagement in child and youth welfare, particularly in extracurricular and open youth work. He has been actively involved in projects analyzing political interventions targeting youth facilities and advocating for democratic education frameworks.

Key affiliations include the Faculty of Education’s academic self-governance bodies, the Board of the Bundesarbeitsgemeinschaft Offene Kinder- und Jugendeinrichtungen (BAG OKJE), and the Kooperationsverbund Offene Kinder- und Jugendarbeit (KV OKJA). His research bridges theory and practice, addressing challenges such as funding mechanisms for youth facilities, far-right political pressures, and post-migrant perspectives in social work.

Publications include the 5th edition of the seminal Handbuch Offene Kinder- und Jugendarbeit and studies on AfD interventions in youth policy. He has led projects like the Politische Interventionen study and contributed to policy frameworks such as Berlin’s youth participation laws. His interdisciplinary work emphasizes participatory democracy, inclusion, and critical analysis of societal challenges facing youth work.