Sindelfingen Youth Council: A breath of fresh air for the future!

Sindelfingen Youth Council: A breath of fresh air for the future!

Something exciting is happening in the heart of Sindelfingen: the youth council has once again brought a breath of fresh air into local politics. After more than a decade of commitment, the newly elected committee has taken on the task of listening to the voices of young people. The youth local council has existed for ten years now and is seen as the first point of contact for many young people to get a taste of local politics and to play an active role in shaping it. Here young people have the opportunity to get involved in political processes and initiate projects that directly affect their lives. An active right to have a say, which is now being strengthened again by new members, reports [Krzbb](https://www.krzbb.de/content.sindelfingen-jugendgemeinderat-schlaegt- Wurzeln.90c8c9ab-1ca1-4082-92bb-214d7d50f26a.html).

The young committee is the seventh in the history of the youth council, a development that shows how important youth participation is in Sindelfingen. But what about the trends throughout Baden-Württemberg? Since 2015, children and young people have had an official say in decisions that affect their lives, which means the number of municipalities with youth participation programs has increased from 53% in 2018 to an impressive 68% in 2024, reports State Center for Political Education.

A system of co-determination

But what does this actually mean for young people? Child and youth participation is more than just a buzzword. It allows young people to actively participate in decision-making, contribute ideas and express their opinions. Whether in the form of youth community councils or through projects such as youth conferences and forums, the possibilities are diverse and rich. When it comes to youth participation, the focus is not only on having a say, but also on learning democratic values ​​such as participation and tolerance. The study “Local child and youth participation in Baden-Württemberg 2023” clearly shows this.

The advantages here are obvious: young people can raise their voices, express their opinions and learn to compromise. [Political Education NRW](https://www.politik-bildung.nrw/themen/vielfaeltig-engagiert/jugend participation) emphasizes that this is not only important for the young people themselves, but also makes a valuable contribution to democracy. But as is often the case, there are challenges. There are still barriers that need to be broken down, particularly for young people with less education and those from rural regions. The concepts must be designed in such a way that they are accessible to all young people and do not exclude anyone.

Growth and challenges

Speaking of accessibility, the increase in communities offering youth engagement programs is encouraging. Child participation has seen an even greater increase from 23% to over 55% in recent years, suggesting that interest and need for such initiatives is growing. It remains to be hoped that this movement will continue and give more young people the chance to actively work on their future.

Not only the new members of the youth community council in Sindelfingen show a good hand for the political future, but also the many communities that are committed to the participation of children and young people. The next steps? Let's see with excitement what will become of these developments!