Encouraging Active Participation of Children and Young People in Local Projects: A Look at the Evangelical Academy Bad Boll's Conference
Young individuals taking an active role in community governance at the municipal level
The Evangelical Academy Bad Boll, located at Akademieweg 11, 73087 Bad Boll, is hosting a conference titled "'Ask them yourself!' Children and youth participation from a young age" on October 7-8, 2024, at the Evangelical Conference Center Bad Boll. Media representatives are invited to participate and report on the event.
This conference aims to foster a culture of listening to young people and find cooperations and synergies for promoting their active participation in local projects. The event is open to professionals and volunteers responsible for children and youth participation or those politically responsible.
The Evangelical Academy Bad Boll, an institution of the Evangelical Church of Württemberg and a public law corporation, has developed a robust framework for encouraging active participation of children and young people in local projects. This framework is based on key principles and practical methods that align with successful European initiatives and global best practices.
Key Principles for Effective Participation
- Provide Support for Youth Initiatives: Support mechanisms such as start-up grants, access to networks, mentorship, and coaching enable young people to plan, implement, and take responsibility for projects, building their skills and strengthening community ties.
- Foster Coordination and Coherence: A coherent approach across different organizations and governance levels is essential to ensure that participation structures are clear, consistent, and genuinely inclusive.
- Facilitate and Encourage Dialogue: Creating safe platforms for young people to express opinions, question authorities, and influence local development is crucial. However, it is essential that these platforms lead to real influence; unmet expectations can damage trust and discourage future engagement.
Practical Methods to Engage Young People
- Youth-Led Councils and Workshops: Establishing local youth councils and workshops can empower young people to engage directly in decision-making and advocacy, build their capacities, raise awareness of their rights, and provide a platform for open dialogue with policymakers.
- Service and Creative Projects: Involving children in tangible projects provides hands-on experience and a sense of ownership. These activities can be tailored to local interests and needs, making participation both relevant and rewarding.
- Mentorship and Skills Development: Programs that combine mentoring with skills training help young people gain confidence, digital literacy, and employability skills. Online platforms can further break down geographical barriers, enabling broader participation.
- Recognition and Follow-Up: Publicly recognizing youth contributions and following up on their initiatives demonstrates that their involvement matters. Regular feedback loops and continued support ensure sustained engagement and tangible outcomes.
Overcoming Barriers
- Digital Access: Ensuring equitable access to technology and the internet is essential to limit participation opportunities for some young people.
- Clear Communication: Transparently communicating the scope and potential impact of participation helps manage expectations and build trust.
- Inclusive Design: Tailoring participation methods to be age-appropriate, culturally sensitive, and accessible to all, including marginalized groups, is crucial.
The Evangelical Academy Bad Boll invites subscription to their newsletter, information materials, or podcasts. Further details about the event, costs, and registration can be found at www.ev-akademie-boll.de/tagung/331224.html. Media representatives should register via email at [email protected]. The event features contributors and speakers such as Angelika Barth, Susanne Belz, Dominik Bär, Maria Gießmann, Florian Langer, Ann-Kathrin Leide, Mayor Harald Lotis, Dorothea Martini, Sigrid Schöttle, Georg Stenkamp, Ulrike Tamme, Michaela Ungerer, Udo Wenzl, and Lukas Wiesehöfer. Further questions can be directed via email or phone at 07164 79-300.
"The Evangelical Academy Bad Boll's conference aims to discuss effective methods for encouraging the active participation of children and young people in local projects, emphasizing principles such as providing support for youth initiatives and fostering coordination and coherence. This aligns with their framework for education-and-self-development, which draws inspiration from successful European initiatives and global best practices."
"To further their efforts in education-and-self-development, the Evangelical Academy Bad Boll invites participants to engage via youth-led councils and workshops, service and creative projects, mentorship and skills development, and by overcoming barriers such as digital access, clear communication, and inclusive design. These strategies reflect the academy's commitment to promoting active participation in local projects among children and young people."
