The youngest volunteers in the state work for the little ones and are role models: Carinthia’s student pilots of the year were honored and explain their recipe for success.
It is considered the first honorary position one can accept in one’s life. From the age of twelve, those who are interested can make themselves available as student guides to give younger colleagues safe conduct to school. In Carinthia, 236 students are currently doing this, plus 18 adults who are called school police officers. Together they secure 31 schools. The voluntary young people are referred by the school administration to the police, who train their young colleagues so that they learn “to find the gap with a trowel”, as Colonel Adolf Winkler puts it. And dealing with drivers who are not always friendly. Even if the only reward is being able to come to class ten minutes later, they all do it reliably and willingly. Like Brian Hofer from the MS Völkendorf. The twelve-year-old has only been on the streets since October and still won the election for student guide of the year from among 30 nominees, who were also judged on friendliness and respectful interaction. “I just like doing it!” laughs Brian. Helmut Mark, who was voted the school way policeman of the year as a pensioner, reveals his recipe for success: “Everyone gets a smile from me – even the annoyed drivers.”
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