Mayor Pakusch accepts 63 children's wishes for a better city!

Mayor Pakusch accepts 63 children's wishes for a better city!

A special campaign was launched in Willich in which the voices of the youngest citizens are heard. On July 23, 2025, Mayor Christian Pakusch accepted the wishes of 63 children, which were collected as part of a card campaign during “Mein Fest” in June. This initiative is based on the committed work of the Willich Child Protection Association, which asked children and young people how Willich could be made more child and young person friendly. In recognition of their creative ideas, the young participants received ice cream as a reward, which makes their suggestions all the more valuable. Local click reports that Barbara Jäschke from the Child Protection Association emphasizes how important it is to take children's clear ideas seriously. This is a measure that promotes participation and democratic processes in the city.

The list of wishes that the children have formulated is colorful and shows a wide variety of ideas. From more meeting places to a cinema for children, a trampoline park and flowerbeds for the children to plant, the proposals are a reflection of the needs and desires of the younger generation. The full list also includes initiatives such as the installation of public water coolers and more trash cans in parks, indicating a desire for a cleaner environment. The situation of children and families living on the streets was also highlighted, which underlines the social responsibility of citizens.

Active participation in shaping the future

And what else do children all over Germany want? A survey by icon kids & youth shows that around three quarters of children want an intact earth. Mattis (10) from Cologne also expresses the desire for more environmentally friendly behavior and less paper waste. The opinions of the younger generation are clear: real participation is required. A survey by the PROSOZ Institute shows that two thirds of children want to have a say in local decisions. Current trends suggest that the voices of young people should be more integrated into political processes, for example through children's parliaments. Urbia In this context, documents that many children are ready to become active and advocate for environmentally friendly measures.

Participation of children is not just a nice idea, but a central theme of social development in the 21st century. The responses from children from Willich, students from Cologne and numerous other places express clear demands and needs. It is important to take this seriously and create structural anchors that enable children to have real participation. The Federal Agency for Civic Education provides comprehensive information on the topic of child participation, which is often not yet sufficiently implemented, especially in municipal areas.

A step in the right direction

By accepting the wishes of the Willich children, Mayor Pakusch has taken an important step towards a more child-friendly city. He promised to incorporate the suggestions into the city's future planning. This makes it clear how central the voice of the youngest is not only for the community, but also for the development of society as a whole. The card campaign will continue on September 21st at the children's festival, and it remains to be seen how the proposals can be further fleshed out. It will be exciting to see which impulses from the youth in Willich will flow into political decisions in the long term.