Children and Youth Office Wolfsburg

International Children's Day was celebrated in Wolfsburg on September 20, this year under the motto "Children's rights - building blocks of democracy". Numerous children, young people and families came together on the forecourt of the Scharoun Theater to experience a day full of play, community and creative activities. The event highlighted the importance of children's rights for democratic coexistence and the relevance of the participation of children and young people in Wolfsburg.

A key moment of the day was the appointment of the new Children's and Youth Advisory Council by Head of the Youth Division Katharina Varga and City Youth Officer Janik Fuge. The advisory board members started with a short question and answer session: In small groups, they answered randomly drawn questions ranging from funny topics to their ideas on the development of the city. The children's advisory board in particular would like to focus intensively on the topic of environmental protection and nature conservation in the future and thus contribute concrete ideas for more sustainable urban development. The Youth Advisory Council has shown an ongoing interest in the topic of "mental health" during this term of office, and topics such as the culture of remembrance and vacation planning are also coming to the fore this year. Overall, these participatory bodies offer young Wolfsburg residents the opportunity to help shape Wolfsburg and make their concerns and ideas heard. Both advisory boards are already extremely motivated and are strongly committed to making the city of Wolfsburg more attractive for young people.

The City of Wolfsburg's youth development department was delighted with the great interest shown by children and young people, especially as the advisory boards are full this year. The event surrounding the appointment was also perceived as very lively and varied thanks to the creative hands-on activities.

The Children and Youth Office of the City of Wolfsburg will continue to support the advisory boards during this term of office and help them to realize their ideas and projects.

We need you as an expert!

On the Children's Advisory Council, you can not only advocate for the implementation of children's rights in Wolfsburg, but also contribute your own ideas and suggestions for improvement.

Here are a few examples of what the Children's Advisory Council has done in recent years:

• Campaigns on sustainability and environmental protection
• Visit to the Lord Mayor to ask questions
• Playground checks and playground participation
• Trip to the Bundestag in Berlin

The Children's Advisory Council runs for one year at a time and always starts with the new school year. We usually meet once a month. Does this suit you?

• Are you between 10 and 14 years old?
• Do you want to implement your own ideas and topics?
• Would you like to help shape your Wolfsburg?

• Register directly online under the following link

We need you as an expert!

In the Youth Advisory Council, you can not only contribute your own ideas and suggestions for improvement for the city of Wolfsburg, but also discuss your wishes and opinions with politicians four times a year in the Children and Youth Commission. This way, adults don't decide about you, but with you!
Your voice counts!

Here are a few examples of what the Youth Advisory Council has done in recent years:

• Actions on the topic of places of fear in Wolfsburg
• Production of the short film "F*ck Sexism"
• Video conference on the topic of "Digitalization in schools"
• Workshops (for example on the topic of "Cyberbullying")
• The Youth Advisory Council runs for one year at a time and is linked to the school year. We usually meet once or twice a month (on site, hybrid or digital).

The Youth Advisory Council runs for a year and always starts with the new school year.

Is this a good fit for you?

• Are you between 14 and 27 years old?
• Would you like to discuss youth-related issues with the administration and politicians on an equal footing?
• Do you want to bring about change in Wolfsburg?

• Register directly online under the following link

The Child-Friendly Municipality is a project of the "Child-Friendly Municipalities" association, which is supported by UNICEF Germany and the German Children's Fund.

The project focuses on the municipal implementation of children's rights in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child with the participation of children and young people. The participating cities can be awarded the "Child-friendly municipality" seal during the course of the project. It is valid for a total of four years, after which the city must reapply for the seal.

The city of Wolfsburg has been a child-friendly municipality since 2014 and is one of the first cities in Germany to take part in the project.

• Child friendly municipality

The rights of the child were adopted by the member states of the United Nations on November 20, 1989. The United Nations is also known as the UNO (United Nations Organization). This gives children worldwide their own rights. These rights were summarized in the so-called Convention on the Rights of the Child, which consists of 54 articles (sections on specific topics). All countries except the USA have signed the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and have been striving to comply with these rights ever since. In Germany, children's rights have been in force since 1992.

A selection of the most important children's rights:

• Right to education
• Right to parental care
• Right to privacy and non-violent upbringing
• Right to participation
• Right to protection (for example in war and when fleeing)
• Right to play, leisure and rest
• Right to equal treatment
• Right to health

• Children's rights explained in a child-friendly way
• Children's rights in wording

There are around 180 playgrounds and football pitches in and around Wolfsburg, which are equipped in different ways and geared towards the various interests of children. The playgrounds are looked after and maintained by the city of Wolfsburg.

The Children and Youth Office is in regular contact with the Green Division and discusses what needs to be done next on the playgrounds and football pitches.
In addition, regular playground checks are carried out in which the participating children can rate the playgrounds they visit. The results of the playground checks are then taken into account for maintenance, redesign and new planning.

Playground participations are held for new playgrounds so that children can help decide what the finished playground should look like.

• Map with all important places relevant for children and young people

In the children and youth office you will find

Lea Sophie Becker
Social worker/social pedagogue (B.A.)
Phone: 05361 28-2738
E-mail: lea-sophie.becker@stadt.wolfsburg.de

Ida Brandes
Social worker/social pedagogue (B.A.)
Phone: 05361 28-1528
E-mail: ida.brandes@stadt.wolfsbug.de

Bianca Liegner
Graduate social pedagogue
Phone: 05361 28-1498
E-Mail: bianca.liegner@stadt.wolfsburg.de

Johanna Klemt
Voluntary Social Year Politics
Phone: 05361 28-2945
E-mail: johanna.klemt@stadt.wolfsburg.de

Have you finished school?

Are you between 16 and 27 years old?

Would you like to find a career, work with children and young people and get to know administration and politics at the same time? Then apply for the FSJ Politics at the Wolfsburg Children and Youth Office!

You can expect:

• Writing press releases, homepage, Facebook and Instagram posts
• Preparation, support and implementation of participation projects (e.g. children's advisory board)
• Opportunity to realize your own project
• Planning and implementation of events (e.g. World Children's Day)
• Collaboration on the "Child-friendly municipality" action plan
• 12 months full of new impressions on September 1
• In addition to the many insights into youth development and the work of the Wolfsburg Children's and Youth Office, the FSJ also offers political support:
• Social insurance
• Entitlement to child benefit
• Monthly allowance

• Application information

Every year in March, a social worker/social pedagogue joins our team to gain state recognition.

The recognition year offers insights into a comprehensive field of work in which the focus is on the realization of children's rights and children's interests within Wolfsburg. There are not only personnel resources for child and youth participation, but also for play area planning.

What does the work at the Children and Youth Office involve?

• Involvement in the implementation of planning participation
• Representing the interests of children and young people within the city administration
• Support and participation in the Play Space Commission and the Children and Youth Commission
• Initiating, supporting and advising on participation projects
• Organization and implementation of committee meetings (Children's Advisory Council and Youth Advisory Council)

Among other things, we offer

• Independent work in a supportive team
• Creative freedom and realization of ideas
• The opportunity to shadow in various areas of the city administration
• Getting to know a wide range of administrative processes and networking opportunities

For further information, please refer to the current job advertisement.

• Flyer Children's Advisory Council
• Flyer Youth Advisory Council
• Flyer children and youth office
• Monitoring Report 2021 Child and Youth Participation
• Action plan "Child-friendly community of the city of Wolfsburg - Interim report on implementation 2019 - 2021".
• Child Friendly Community Action Plan 2019 - 2021
• Action Plan "Child-Friendly Municipality 2014 - 2018

• Children's Matters
• Geolino
• ZDF Logo
• Blind Cow
• Kuppelkucker (Children's portal of the German Bundestag)
• Mitmischen (Portal to the Bundestag)
• Strong sides
• Outdoor kids
• German Children's Fund

City of Wolfsburg
Children and Youth Office
Youth Division
Seilerstraße 3
38440 Wolfsburg

Telephone: 05361 28-2738 / -1528
E-mail: kijubuero@stadt.wolfsburg.de