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Mini-rock festival comeback: young voices needed for Horb!
The Horb youth council is planning a comeback of the mini-rock festival and is discussing political participation of young people.
Mini-rock festival comeback: young voices needed for Horb!
At the last meeting of the youth council in Horb, the idea of a comeback of the popular mini-rock festival was discussed. Wolf Hoffmann, a member of the OGL, was optimistic and praised the young people's commitment. “Such a festival could not only bring joy, but also increase interest in our work in the youth council,” explained Hoffmann. The last mini rock festival took place in 2018 and has had quite a few fans in the region since then.
Reactions to Hoffmann's suggestion were mixed. Ralph Zimmermann, the mayor of Horb, pointed out that organizing such an event is not the responsibility of the youth council. Aileen Wehle, the responsible clerk, also expressed concerns: “It would not be ideal if 15-year-old council members organized a festival that they were not allowed to attend themselves.” This statement draws attention to a central question: How can young people be actively involved in a festival without being restricted to their age limits?
Political engagement of young people
The debate surrounding the Mini Rock Festival shows how important political participation is for young people. There are over 500 active children's and youth parliaments in Germany. According to the study by youth.participate.now Around 42% of young people are involved in youth associations or political initiatives. Michael Keßler, the designated mayor, emphasized the importance of political work and asked about strategies to increase voter turnout among young people.
The young people on the youth council reported that they gave insights into their work at schools and sent out an election video to increase interest in political participation. More initiatives like this are needed to open up access to politics for young people so that they feel heard and represented.
Improving the structure for better participation
Another idea that came up at the meeting was extending the term from two to three years. Hermann Walz from UHL argued that this would enable better implementation of projects. JGMR spokeswoman Iva Rigotti, however, warned: “A longer term could deter potential candidates, as old board members could help with the transition.”
The discussion surrounding the electoral periods and the tasks of the youth council makes it clear that the voice of the youth should also be heard more at the political level. Not only could festivals like the Mini Rock Festival be promoted, but the general political engagement of young people could also be strengthened. The mayor also promised that the JGMR would be taken into account in a brochure on the referendum on wind power in order to integrate the perspectives of young people.
Overall, the youth council meeting shows how important it is to give young people the opportunity to actively participate in political processes and have fun doing it. The comeback of the Mini Rock Festival could be an exciting project that benefits both the integration of young people into politics and culture in Horb. The future of the festival remains to be seen, but the discussions are a good step towards active youth participation.