Darmstadt creates space for young voices: New youth plenum founded!

In Darmstadt, a youth plenary was decided for 12- to 17-year-olds, which should give the young citizens of the city a voice in the political design. The aim of the youthplenum is that children and adolescents can actively contribute their ideas and concerns into urban politics. The city council decided in one session both the facility and the financing of the youth plenary.

The youth plenum is equipped with a proposal, speech and hearing right in the specialist committees of the city council. It consists of a total of 47 members, 25 of whom are selected directly. Another 20 members are to be selected by a lottery procedure from the youth houses in the districts, while two places are reserved for the city student council. The election entitlement depends on the place of residence in Darmstadt and not on nationality. The term of office of the members is between 27 and 33 months.

financing and organization

The city has planned 122,000 euros in the household for organizing and carrying out the election to the youth plenum, as well as 42,780 euros for material and public relations. The youthplenum is said to be at least four times a year; In addition, topic -related and occasional working groups are possible. To promote communication, a website as well as social media channels and messenger services are set up.

The exact date for the first meeting of the youth plenum has not yet been determined, but the city has already carried out two public youth involvement events to work on the framework concept.

The Greens in Darmstadt support the establishment of the youth plenary and emphasize its importance for the future of political participation in young people. Sandra Seeger, spokeswoman for the Youth of the Greens, emphasizes that the committee is not only represented the needs and wishes of the young people in the urban committees, but also has the right to comment on all relevant plans and projects. Heiko Depner, party spokesman for the Greens of Darmstadt, points out the need to integrate young people to promote their participation of the city.

The youth plenum receives its own budget to strengthen its independence and to support the active participation of young people in the city. Workshops and meetings in which the concept has been developed have already taken place to create a balanced overall package for coordination in political committees.

For detailed information on the decisions and the organization of the youth plenum in Darmstadt, we refer to the reporting of Grünen Darmstadt .