Erlensee now has a child mayor: Leonard Renkel is happy!

Erlensee now has a child mayor: Leonard Renkel is happy!

A new form of co-determination is being built in Erlensee: Leonard Renkel is the city's first children's mayor. The ceremonial appointment recently took place at the open day in the children's and family center on Sandweg. Mayor Stefan Erb presented nine-year-old Leonard with the certificate of appointment, underlining the importance that this election has for the participation of children in political processes. Around 950 children and young people were entitled to vote and chose from 22 applicants. Voter turnout was 10.1 percent, which shows that interest in participation is high among the young population. According to op-online.de, the aim of the election is not only to create a children's mayor, but also to practice democratic principles among the youngest.

Leonard Renkel himself intends to campaign for the rights of children and young people and is supported in his plans by the concerns of the other candidates. This includes improving the playground situation, organizing a children's festival and creating better parking options for bicycles. Mayor Erb promised to take the wishes and suggestions of young voters seriously. Regular meetings between the children's mayor and the mayor are already planned to ensure that the voices of the young population are heard.

Get involved from an early age

The introduction of the children's mayor's office is part of a larger trend to promote child and youth participation in cities and communities. According to das-zukunftspaket.de, children's opinions should be heard and included in political decision-making processes. In this way, children learn that their opinions count and they can actively contribute to shaping their living environment. Promoting such democratic processes not only promotes commitment but also a sense of responsibility among young people who want to have a say in the fate of their communities in the future.

All 22 candidates received an ice cream voucher in recognition of their efforts, underlining the positive aspects of the election process. Leonard Renkel, the new children's mayor, thanked his supporters and promised to make the most of his office. He already has ambitious ideas in his head, even if he doesn't have all the projects in mind yet. When asked which children's rights he would specifically like to support, he left room for speculation - he will certainly be able to say more about that in the near future.

Another participant, Laria Vogt, plans to apply again next year, which shows that this form of participation sparks a lasting interest among the children. Involving children in decision-making processes is a valuable investment in the future and lays the foundation for active, committed and democratic coexistence from an early age.