CHILDREN EXPERIENCE LOCAL DEMOCRACY IN THE "RAISE YOUR VOICE!" WORKSHOP

As part of Human Rights and Democracy Week, Eskişehir Metropolitan Municipality's Fairy Tale Castle introduced children to local democracy through a rights and values workshop titled ''Raise your voice !''. During the event, the young champions of local democracy came together and had the opportunity to learn about human rights and the right to participation through game-based activities.

Designed for children aged 6-8 and led by instructor Mehlika Yazgıç, the workshop enabled participants to experience the importance of expressing their ideas, being heard, and making decisions together through engaging and enjoyable activities. By casting their votes at a mock democracy ballot box, the children actively participated in the process by sharing their suggestions to make their city more livable.

The workshop was carried out in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). Within this framework, children not only learned about their rights but also became aware that they are active participants in local democracy.

In addition, organized in line with the 2025 theme of the European Local Democracy Week (ELDW), "Engaging Citizens in Local Democracy," the workshop demonstrated that a participatory urban approach and decision-making processes include children as well. By freely expressing their views, the children highlighted the importance of encouraging participation in local governance from an early age.

The "Raise Your Voice!" workshop contributed to making children's voices heard in line with a child-friendly city vision. The shared message that emerged at the end of the event once again underscored that children are an integral part of local democracy: "Children,too,have a right to have a say!"