The Flemish Youth Council has its new youth advisers. Of the candidates for which Jong N-VA and Jong Vlaams Belang actively campaigned, only one made it to the group of eight.
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The sixteen advisers, eight youth representatives and eight youth workers who will sit on the Flemish Youth Council from next year were announced on Wednesday evening on the Facebook page of the Flemish Youth Council.
The election of the new council could count on more interest this time. Three years ago, less than a thousand young people and youth workers voted for the Flemish Youth Council, the official body that advises the Flemish government on what children and young people consider important. This year, just under 5,000 people under the age of 30 cast their vote via their eID or the itsme app. For example, the criticism that the Youth Council is not representative enough for all 2.7 million children and young people in Flanders and Brussels has immediately been countered.
‘In the previous election it was not yet possible to vote via the itsme app’, outgoing chairman Alexandra Smarandescu explains The standard. ‘A lot of young people voted through that app. The threshold for voting was therefore a lot lower. In addition, young people clearly found it necessary to make their voices heard. Many no longer see it as a result of the protracted corona crisis and know that the advisory council will represent their interests with the Flemish government. ‘
Right-wing youth
This high turnout may also be the result of the voting advice of some youth parties. According to Jong N-VA and Jong Vlaams Belang, the Flemish Youth Council is ideologically too left. There was also a fuss because Jong VB shared an online panel on which they apparently together with Jong N-VA recommended four candidates for the new council. However, the latter youth party had not given permission for this. (DS 17 november)
Jens D’Hondt, member of Jong N-VA, has voiced strong criticism of the Flemish Youth Council in recent weeks. ‘For me it is still too much of a club where people confirm the ideology of already appointed board members. The organization thus remains in a left-wing bubble, while according to recent studies Flemish youth vote on the right. I do not see this representation in the advisers or in the themes she puts forward. There is no transparency about this. The fact that more young people have already voted this year is a good signal. Our criticism of the Youth Council brought the advisory body to the attention. They may not admit it, but I think they will take our comments into account. ‘
Put in a box
Despite that campaign, only Samuel-Joe Munanga (18) was elected as a member of Jong N-VA. Munanga lives as a final year student in Tremelo and has roots in Congo. ‘I have been criticized for my commitment to Jong N-VA. It is a pity that because of your skin color you are put in a box in advance. If they know what I stand for politically, they suddenly behave differently towards me. While I’m still the same person. ‘
Munanga does become a youth advisor in his own name. ‘I personally have not yet experienced any problems with the fact that the Flemish Youth Council would be too leftist. I think everyone will be able to work well together. I also commit to themes such as equal opportunities and diversity. Discrimination has visibly increased, I am not going to deny that. Opportunities are given, but unfortunately not everyone manages to seize them. That has to change. ‘
Mental wellbeing
That mental well-being is still high on the agenda for young people is also evident from the election of the Flemish Youth Council. ‘Feel good’ is the theme on which young people voted the most. Newly baked advisor Ajar Bentaha (24) is also committed to this. ‘Young people are the adults of tomorrow and the future. Psychological problems undermine that future ‘, says the business management student at Thomas More.
In addition, Bentaha wants to pay special attention to ethnic profiling and police violence. ‘I live in Anderlecht and I see with my own eyes how young people and the police often live at odds with each other. I think young people are being targeted too quickly. Everything starts with good communication. I will always keep talking to people who do not accept my headscarf. I don’t want to hit the door in advance. Anyone can change. ‘
The new Flemish Youth Council will start early next year. Then the eight youth advisers from their group choose a new successor for current chairman Alexandra Smarandescu.
The eight new youth advisers: Ajar Bentaha, Amir Bachrouri, Floren Muys, Loredana Cremery, Anita Nyame, Priscilla Keuppens, Lotus Li and Samuel-Joe Munanga.
The eight new Primary counselors: Nick Beerens (Format), Jan Langeraert (Group Intro), Franka Foré (Joetz), Marnik De Bondt (VDS), Maryline Thiry (From De Marge), Paulien Herck (Bamm!), Fien Morren (Globelink) and Ines De Geest (Chirojeugd Flanders).
read here the interview that De Standaard had last summer with the newly elected youth advisor Lotus Li in the series ‘De Oversteek’.
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