Heimkinder

Experiential education is centuries old and remains controversial to this day. When two social educators from the Johannes Petersen Home in Hamburg and a teacher traveled to southern Portugal with "criminally conspicuous" children and adolescents in March 1984, it was a unique educational experiment for the Federal Republic of Germany at the time. The boys were to live together in tents for three months, learn, and improve their social behavior. From car theft to stealing the travel fund All seven boys had similar backgrounds: they came from families with broken social circumstances or had grown up in criminal environments.

The second film begins in early April with Tarkan's return. He wanted to go back to Hamburg with the stolen 800 marks. The next night, Christian is gone. The group travels on to Lisbon to start investigating Christian's whereabouts. At the same time, school starts again. Christian has once again been caught by the police stealing a car. Three days later, he is back with the group. An educational attempt at clarification begins: Why did he run away? Why did he steal? Why the cars?

The third film shows the group's everyday life in southern Portugal—living in tents and a small bus with a trailer and the relentless daily school lessons in the spring of 1984.

Christian's participation in this trip was only made possible through close cooperation between his probation officer, the public prosecutor, and the educators at the Johannes Petersen Home. It was conceived and implemented as a last attempt to influence his socially disadvantaged circumstances. Christian is only allowed to be picked up from the Hamburg remand prison immediately before departure. After two months, Christian is back in prison, this time in Portugal. For stealing radios and wristwatches. "Scandal! Bizarre therapy for difficult youths. Seven months of dream travel at the taxpayer's expense!" reads the newspaper. Bauer Publishing sends two reporters to southern Portugal. A clash ensues. The decision not to punish "criminal" children is the target of attacks by right-wing politicians and their press. The Youth Welfare Office considers discontinuing the project. But this is no time for self-pity – the group continues its work.

Social workers and teachers travel to Portugal with children from Hamburg who, after living in broken families, on the streets, or in criminal circles, have been placed in homes, in order to give them better social experiences and prepare them for graduation.