Youth Participation in Aachen: The District Youth Conference Aachen-Haaren 2025

Youth Participation in Practice: The District Youth Conference Aachen-Haaren

Youth participation is a central element of modern urban development, especially in urban areas like Aachen, where the future of the city strongly depends on the active involvement of the younger generation. In 2025, the first District Youth Conference took place in the district of Aachen-Haaren – a project aimed not only at strengthening youth participation but also at providing concrete impulses for local development.

Structure and Objectives of the Conference

The District Youth Conference Aachen-Haaren took place on 28.06.2025 at the KOT-Regenbogen in Haaren and was directed at young people aged 12 to 29. With 27 participants, mostly from the age group 12–15, the event marked a first step towards integrating the younger population into political and social processes within the district.

In cooperation with the District Office, the Department of Youth and Education, and local actors, the conference was organized. The goal was to create a platform for discussing youth-relevant topics, developing ideas, and strengthening dialogue with the district council. The event was promoted through various channels: postal invitations, posters, social media, and the city of Aachen's participation portal.

Results and Proposals from the Youth

The event offered various formats to actively involve the participants. A "Market of Opportunities" introduced local associations, while flipcharts on topics such as leisure, safety, and sustainability provided initial impulses. In working groups, concrete project ideas were developed, some of which were pursued even after the conference.

A central outcome was the proposal for sports and leisure facilities, including ideas such as a basketball court with an adjustable hoop, a beach volleyball court, and covered sports areas. Particularly striking was the demand for meeting spaces for queer youth as well as for graffiti walls that can be legally used. Another focus was on housing: a dormitory for students and trainees was proposed.

The city of Aachen took first implementation steps with a budget of 19,500 euros, which funded ideas such as a shelter, basketball hoop, and hammocks. The event was documented and presented to the district council of Aachen-Haaren.

Evaluation and Future Perspectives

The feedback from the youth was largely positive: all 14 surveyed participants would attend the conference again. The event is assessed as a "significant first building block" for youth participation in the district of Aachen-Haaren. It shows that structured participation formats are not only possible but also desired.

At the same time, it becomes evident that youth participation in Aachen is still in its early stages. While the city's demographic concept primarily focuses on the aging process, the active inclusion of the younger population remains a potential to be developed. The District Youth Conference can play a central role in this, provided it is continued regularly and in a structured manner.

Outlook

The experiences from the District Youth Conference Aachen-Haaren show that youth participation can be designed not only symbolically but also concretely and sustainably. If the city of Aachen holds further conferences in the coming years and integrates the results into political decision-making processes, it could take a pioneering role in youth policy – not only for Aachen, but also for other municipalities in North Rhine-Westphalia.