Child and youth participation as part of the ISEK
"What kind of city do we want to live in?" The city of Hof would like to discuss this question with young people and offer them a platform where they can share their views on the development of their urban space. After all, children and young people are important producers of spaces and places that need to be taken seriously. By changing perspectives, the city of Hof hopes to find answers as to how children and young people in Hof perceive their living environment and how they make their urban space their own.cities and municipalities are facing major challenges. Issues such as demographic development, climate change, digitalization, economic development and the creation of the best possible opportunities for all children and young people require far-reaching social changes. With the Integrated Urban Development Concept (ISEK), the city of Hof is taking a close look at these future issues and is aiming for sustainable development by 2040. The opinions of all Hof residents are of great importance, especially those of children and young people.
Hof 2040: The future camp on July 6, 2024
The highlight of child and youth participation is the Future Camp on July 6, 2024 as part of the open-air experience BÜHNE RAUS in the future Schillerquartier. The event is organised by the Stadtjugendring Hof and the city of Hof. Under the motto "You make the future!", all young people aged 12 and over are invited to share their ideas and visions for the future of their city. The event offers a varied program with creative workshops and plenty of space to exchange ideas and celebrate. Registration is not required.
In three interactive workshops, the young people will discuss how they would like to live together in Hof in the coming years. The focus will be on topics such as urban development, community and sustainability. And so that the implementation of an idea can begin immediately, there is €5,000 in start-up funding, which will be voted on directly on site.
The event offers not only content-related but also atmospheric highlights. A DJ will ensure a good atmosphere with hip beats. The program is complemented by hands-on workshops such as "Paint your Vinyl", a photo box, festival tattoos and a reaction game. The event is organized by young people.
Participation is free of charge! Further information on content, ongoing processes and other opportunities for participation can be found at www.hof.de/2040. This project is funded by the Bavarian Youth Ring from the "Democracy Budget" of the Bavarian State Ministry for Family, Labor and Social Affairs.
What has happened so far
The city of Hof has developed two projects to actively involve young people in the Hof 2040 urban strategy. The results are incorporated into various concepts, e.g. the ISEK (integrated urban development concept), the climate mobility plan, the youth welfare planning of the city of Hof and many others.
Primary school children from the third and fourth grades have developed subjective maps at their schools that depict their living spaces and favorite places. With the help of the self-drawn and painted maps, individual meanings and perceptions of the district or living environment, such as places to play and spend time or even areas of fear, were made visible. And best of all: all participating schools received €500 as a thank you, which the elementary school can use to implement smaller wishes of the children.
Young people from the fifth grade onwards were involved in the process through the "Hof 2040 - Show us!" project. Each class received a "Hof 2040 - Show us! - Box", which included an anonymous opinion survey on the future of the city of Hof. In two lessons, the pupils developed models for a youth-friendly city.