Farewell to the Youth Council: (back, from left) Johannes Luber, Ole Woyciniuk, Mayor Florian Marré, Petra Hage, Head of the Service for Order and Social Affairs, Education and Family, Frank Werner, Head of Education and Family; front, from left: Amélie Wirth, speaker Aaron Hafer, Mathis Luber and Paula Tabke.
© City of Diepholz
Diepholz – It was her last appearance as a youth council – there are no successors in sight. Aaron Hafer, Johannes Luber, Mathis Luber, Ole Woyciniuk, Amélie Wirth and Paula Tabke were officially retired in the town hall. For two years, the five had represented the interests of the young generation in the youth committee and in the climate protection working group. Now they have been bid farewell by Mayor Florian Marré, Petra Hage (Head of the Specialist Service for Order and Social Affairs, Education and Family) and Frank Werner (Head of Education and Family).
“The time with you has really flown by,” Marré greeted the youth council in the town hall. “The youth council is also an important topic for me personally. My own involvement in the youth council introduced me to local politics. Without the youth council, I would not be here today as mayor, ”continued Marré.
Unfortunately, a new youth council has not yet come about. All those present very much regretted the lack of interest shown by the young people in Diepholz to stand up for the election. “We need the youth council for the youth perspective. In the youth council, young people have the opportunity to help shape the city in which they live, ”emphasized Marré.
The youth council can organize its work freely. He has his own budget with which he can plan offers and events. He can also bring his own ideas and topics into the political discussion in order to draw attention to the needs of young people in the city.
“I think many people don’t realize how much can be done at the local level, what decisions are made here,” said Johannes Luber. “When we convinced the politicians to make the Münte available as a youth café, I noticed that I could really make a difference. That was a really cool moment, ”Paula Tabke recalled.
Also on behalf of the entire administration and the council of the city of Diepholz, Mayor Marré thanked the young people for the commitment and presented them with a cinema voucher and a certificate. In autumn 2021, after the local elections, the administration, together with the former youth council, would like to try again to attract enough candidates for another electoral term of the youth council.
Up to ten new members can then be elected. All young people between the ages of 12 and 21 from Diepholz or students or trainees who attend a general education school in Diepholz can vote and be elected.
“The aim is to continue to give young people the opportunity to participate in the political decision-making process by electing a youth council,” said Petra Hage.
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