Future of Bohlsbach: Citizens' forum brings a breath of fresh air to the village!

Future of Bohlsbach: Citizens' forum brings a breath of fresh air to the village!

Bohlsbach, Deutschland - In Offenburg, the sixth citizens' forum recently took place, a meeting that focused on the future of the Bohlsbach district and the civic Engagement of its inhabitants. Around 30 committed citizens accepted the invitation to take part in this important discussion. The mayor, Nicole Kränkel-Schwarz, commented on the development of the district in recent years and has listed some progress. Among these are the construction of the last house in the residential area west of Okenstrasse and the introduction of an active youth club. Nevertheless, the blocking of the Krestenweg was a step back for the community.

Another central theme of the forum was the further development of the village square, which was promoted by the demolition of old garages. The terrain was leveled, but the space has not yet been completed. There are plans for the implementation of a concept for public buildings, in addition the quarters are accompanied "in the mats" and the construction of the new clinic. Significant measures such as the construction of a railway tunnel, the clinic and the development of the neighborhood, which could significantly improve the quality of life in the district, are planned

civic engagement and club life

A crucial point of the discussion was the active club life in Bohlsbach. Despite the variety of 18 different clubs, there are challenges, especially when filling functionaries. Breaking black appealed to those present how to strengthen the commitment in the clubs. "We have to begin to involve the youth on site," she emphasized, pointing out that this had to start with children and adolescents.

Angela Perlet, the head of the municipal department for commitment and volunteering, asked for discussion how people can be won over to volunteering. She asked the central question: "Why am I doing something?" And emphasized that this "why" was crucial for civic engagement. It is noteworthy that more people are involved, but less in leading positions, and that commitment increasingly takes place in self -organized forms. "Wake the why with people," she called to the participants.

Innovative approaches to promote the volunteer office

In three working groups, the participants developed strategic approaches on how volunteering promoted and take responsibility within the community. A group looked at how volunteering can be made more attractive, while another dealt with the acquisition and appreciation of volunteers. The results of these groups were presented to everyone present at the end of the forum.

An outstanding idea was the introduction of an app that serves to present the clubs and simplify the flow of information. This digital solution could make the organization more flexible within the clubs. The visibility of the clubs should be increased in the community in order to create incentives for active participation in volunteering.

In order to arouse young people's interest early on, the clubs could present themselves in schools and kindergartens. Short videos and flyers with QR codes could support this process and make it easier to find suitable club offers. In addition, citizens could actively attend events of the clubs to appreciate the commitment, while individuals should be recognized promptly for their services. Particular attention should be paid to how the potential of young people can be recognized and promoted early. Activities such as a disco or a cinema evening could help connect the youth to the clubs.

The discussions and approaches from the Citizens' Forum clearly show the enthusiasm of the citizens of Bohlsbach to actively participate in the design of their community. For more information about the discussions and results of the Citizens' Forum, a detailed report on m.bo.de