There is no recipe for efficient youth lobbying, however, the Local Council of Pupils should be identified as starting point in one city’s youth policy. Young people should be recognised as partners, and they should be involved in the local decision-making processes. The aims of these activities are: more efficient problem solving, making schoolchildren familiar with the rules and procedures of democracy and socialising of young people. The Council is an effective way for promoting active citizenship.

The Local Council of Pupils is a similar body to the General Assembly of the city. Members of the council are elected by pupils in elementary and secondary schools of Tatabánya. The Council has its own mayor and vice-mayor and holds its meetings regularly, mainly weekly.

The basic idea is to involve local young people into local decision-making processes, however, after the General Assembly has adopted a regulation about establishing the Local Council of Pupils, the members of this new body were treated as children and not much attention was payed to them. After two-three years of work the Council achieved to be reckoned as real partner and a body which opinion has to be taken into consideration

Beneficiaries of the practice are pupils who are involved in these processes (learning democracy), pupils of the elementary and secondary schools of Tatabánya (through the lobby of the Council), General Assembly of the City of Tatabánya (new aspects).

City Hall of Tatabánya
Hungary
Phone: +36 34 515 724
http://www.tatabanya.hu
Mrs Ágnes Tromposch

01/01/1999

case

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Education

Secondary education