Youths Exploring Political Engagement in Dusseldorf
In the heart of Germany, Düsseldorf is taking a bold step towards engaging its younger generation in city governance with the "Co-Creating Our City" project. Led by Dr. Christine Hübner, a youth researcher at the University of Sheffield, this initiative brings together 15 young people aged 16 to 19, and five representatives from politics and administration, to explore how to increase political participation among the city's youth.
The project, which was designed in five events, has its roots in the City Science approach, also known as citizen science. This method encourages active participation from citizens in research and decision-making processes.
The participants developed the research question "What needs to happen for all young people to be able to participate politically?" and have been working diligently to find answers. They have been actively involved as co-creators in urban governance and policy-making, using digital platforms to increase accessibility and interaction.
One of the key strategies is training young people as citizen scientists, enabling them to research and contribute local insights. This approach helps address barriers like political exclusion and economic marginalization by giving young people real roles in shaping their city’s future, focusing on topics relevant to them such as education quality, job competition, and sustainability.
Successful strategies seen in other cities include creating youth councils, offering training and mentorship, facilitating youth-led projects, and promoting inclusive dialogue on issues that matter to young people. For instance, cities like Boston have implemented Mayor’s Youth Councils, diverse groups of young people selected for their leadership potential to advise city officials on youth-related policies.
Hannah (17) and Vincent (19), two project participants, have gained valuable knowledge about participation opportunities in Düsseldorf and different formats. They emphasize the importance of being present on social media to reach young people and stress that the content should be designed and presented by young people, not adults.
Despite the project, Hannah and Vincent have not expressed a desire to engage in party politics. However, they believe that the project has given them a deeper understanding of the political landscape in Düsseldorf and the opportunities available for young people to make a difference.
The financial main sponsor for the project is the Gambrell Foundation, based in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the results of the project were presented at the "House of Youth" on Lacombletstraße on June 27th.
Dr. Hübner expressed that Düsseldorf currently struggles to reach young people in political participation and proposed that schools could be a key location to reach young people. She also suggested the development of an app to facilitate communication and engagement.
As the project continues, it is clear that the "Co-Creating Our City" initiative is making strides in empowering young voices and fostering meaningful participation in Düsseldorf's political landscape.
- The "Co-Creating Our City" project, taking place in Düsseldorf, Germany, is using the City Science approach to encourage young people's involvement in city governance, focusing on increasing political participation among the city's youth through events and digital platforms.
- As part of the "Co-Creating Our City" project, two participants, Hannah (17) and Vincent (19), have emphasized the crucial role of social media in reaching young people for civic engagement, suggesting that the content should be created and presented by young people, not adults, while expressing no interest in party politics.
