The municipality of Westerveld is looking for more opportunities to involve young people in politics. Concrete ideas have been treated about this tonight, such as appointing a children’s citizen master.
“How beautiful it would be if perhaps the children’s mayor of today will soon become the mayor for the future,” says Jan Henk Bruursema of Gemeentebelangen. The party comes together with D66 with a proposal that was broadly supported by the city council.
On the one hand, the proposal is aimed at seeking connection with a younger target group. On the other hand, the proposal is aiming for recruiting future staff. The municipality of Westerveld notices that the pressure on the organization is increasing due to the shortage on the labor market and that it becomes always more difficult to fill in the functions.
The municipality currently has various projects running with a view to interesting young people in politics. Projects such as Democracity or moments when the alderman stands for the class to tell about the tasks of the municipality.
Alderman Jacob Boonstra (CDA) proudly looks at these projects: “We also founded the pilot ‘The club of 16’ with young people who have just turned 16 years old. We have asked young people how they want to be involved. That is an accessible way from home in which they get questions and who can answer them.” Boonstra thinks that the new proposal fits nicely with the course that the municipality has used. Mayor Spoelstra is also looking forward to a future children’s citizen.