URL: http://www.bpb.de/veranstaltungen/netzwerke/nece/66854/juniorvoting

JuniorVoting

JuniorVoting is a project offered to schools free of charge and on voluntary basis. In schools, two main pillars carry the project: the lectures and the actual election. On the one hand, the teachers deal with the subject in their lectures, and on the other hand the students organise the election themselves. To enable an easy implementation of JuniorVoting, the project provides schools with comprehensive study material and supportive facilities such telephone hotline, election announcements, election directories, information leaflets, directories, videos, seminars, polling booths or an on-line election platform.

Primarily JuniorVoting focuses on political education. JuniorVoting aims at encourage and enable adolescents to take democratic responsibility. The youth has to grow up experiencing democratic processes and practise how to form a political opinion. The election forms the climax of the project, however, from an political educational point of view its preparation and follow-up during lectures is of primary importance because this imparts knowledge and the ability to participate to the students. JuniorVoting is not merely an election; it is a practical concept for political education. Instead of writing an exam at the end of the project, a real election is carried out.

Within the initiative at the NECE Conference in 2008 in Strasbourg, "JuniorVoting" aimed creating a European network of and close co-operation between all institutions and organisations that were implementing the JuniorVoting project in their countries alongside the European Election 2009.

To get inspired teachers have access to a variety of proposals as to the possible content of lessons - all focusing on the topic of European election. The highlight of the project is a simulated election carried out amongst schools all over Europe one week prior to the European Election. Results are disclosed at the same time than those of the European Election. Goals of the JuniorVoting project are to raise awareness amongst the younger generation of the significance of Europe and to make a lasting contribution to encouragement to participate in elections.

Following organisations and institutions are responsible for implementing the pupil elections in the various European countries: in the Netherlands the Dutch Centre for Political Participation, in Poland the Center for Citizenship Education, in Finland Allianssi, the Finnish Youth Co-Operation Organisation, and in Germany Kumulus e.V.

The initiative "JuniorVoting" aims to encourage new organisations and institutions in the various countries that have not yet participated in the JuniorVoting project.

More information available at:

»www.juniorvoting.eu/network.php«
»www.juniorwahl.de/«
»www.kumulus.net/projekte.html«

Also, you may find information about JuniorVoting at the NECE Website Events/Documentation (Networking Conference in Strasbourg 2008).

Contact:

juniorvoting/Kumulus e.V.
Gerald Wolf
E-Mail: gerald.wolff@kumulus.net