From the coming school year, children from Broekhuizen, Meppel, Nijeveen, Rogat and Schiphorst can contribute ideas about what is happening in the municipality of Meppel. The municipality will have a children’s mayor. “And he will have just as nice a chain of office as I do,” says Mayor Arjen Maathuis (VVD).
All schools in the municipality participate in this initiative. Children who are in group 7 or 8 after the summer holidays can register at the school to become a children’s mayor. This concerns a period of one year. The municipality is also looking for an assistant children’s mayor.
The students must record a short motivational video in which they explain why they want to become a children’s mayor. “I have been mayor for a year now and I want to do something a few times a year together with the children’s mayor and assistant children’s mayor. These are children who think with me for a year about what is important for children in Meppel and Nijeveen,” says Maathuis.
“You talk to me. You tell me what children find important, for example about playing, school or safety. You help with activities for children. You attend special moments, such as the openings of events. Consider, for example, the liberation of Meppel, King’s Day and the Children’s Book Week.”
With this initiative, the municipality hopes to involve children in local politics. ‘By participating in ceremonial and social activities, children experience involvement in local democracy and the effect of ceremonial activities on society’, the municipality explains its introduction. The children’s mayor is given formal powers.
All school boards have now been informed by the municipality. And according to the municipality, all schools are positive. The schools ensure that the registrations reach the municipality.
Setting up a children’s mayor costs the municipality 6,575 euros. “The costs are limited,” the municipality writes. The costs are mainly incurred at the start, such as purchasing an additional official chain.
