Youth Participation in Dinslaken: How Young Voices Shape Urban Development

Youth Participation as a Central Element of Urban Development

Youth in Dinslaken are not only part of the city's social fabric – they actively shape its political and societal development. The Youth Council (Kijupa) is a central instrument for incorporating young voices into decision-making processes. In February 2026, the 16th session took place, during which not only the executive board was re-elected, but current topics were also discussed and proposals were formulated.

Structure and Process of the 16th Session

On February 5, 2026, the Kijupa met in the council chamber of Dinslaken City Hall to work through the agenda. In addition to the opening remarks and the approval of the minutes, the presentation of the executive board's responsibilities and the election of the new board were at the center. The event "Decide for Once!" gave young people the opportunity to actively engage in urban development.

The election of the executive board is a crucial process that determines the future work of the Kijupa. Jonas Overländer was re-elected as the 1st Chairperson, supported by Alexis Wolf (1st Vice Chairperson) and Emily Bohnenkamp (2nd Vice Chairperson). Tim Riedel takes on the role of secretary, ensuring that the meetings are transparent and well-documented.

Youth Participation in Practice: Challenges and Opportunities

The work of the Youth Council is not self-sustaining. It requires both structural support and the willingness of the city administration to engage with the ideas and suggestions of young people. One of the biggest challenges is the long-term involvement of young people in political processes. Often, there is a lack of sustainability in implementing proposals from the Kijupa into concrete projects or measures.

However, there are also opportunities: Youth participation not only fosters political interest, but also social competence and self-confidence in young people. It allows topics such as education, climate, leisure activities, and inclusion to be examined from a young perspective – often with innovative solutions.

Outlook: Youth Participation as an Investment in the Future

Dinslaken sends an important signal with the Kijupa. The city demonstrates that it takes the opinions of the younger generation seriously and actively involves them in shaping the future. In February 2026, this was once again impressively evident. For the future, it is necessary to further consolidate the structures and consistently incorporate the suggestions of the youth into political practice.

The experiences from the 16th session of the Kijupa show: Youth participation is not only a democratic added value, but also an investment in the future of the city. With the support of the Youth and Children's Promotion Service and committed board members like Jonas Overländer and Alexis Wolf, Dinslaken has good prerequisites to continue being a role model in youth participation.