Shaping together: Strengthening democracy in everyday life
City presents new concept for remembrance and participation
How do we want to live together in Wolfsburg? How do we remember - and how do we strengthen democracy in everyday life? This is exactly what the new municipal concept "Democracy - Remembrance - Resilience" is all about, which for the first time creates a common framework for remembrance work, the promotion of democracy as well as prevention and intervention. The Wolfsburg City Council will discuss the concept at its meeting in February.
Democracy should be tangible in everyday life
The goal is clear: we want to strengthen the democratic culture of everyday life in Wolfsburg in the long term. Democracy should not just occur in individual projects, but be firmly anchored in the city's actions. To this end, we are bundling existing offers, developing them further and taking a close look at what really works. At the same time, we want to reach people who previously had little access to democracy promotion.
Remembering and thinking about the present together
The Institute for Contemporary History and City Presentation (IZS) plays an important role.
It combines an examination of the city's history with current social issues. This brings memories to life - and helps to consciously live democratic values today.
Mayor Dennis Weilmann makes it clear: "Democracy begins here on the ground - in our daycare centers, schools, clubs, districts and neighborhoods. With the new concept, we are creating a common basis for an urban society in which remembrance and democratic participation are lived - openly, in a diverse and binding manner."
Clear standards, strong cooperation
City Councillor Iris Bothe, Head of the Department for Youth, Education, Integration and Social Affairs, also emphasizes the new approach: "We are focusing on clear standards, binding cooperation and tailor-made offers - so that democracy education does not remain selective, but has a structural effect and its quality is ensured in the long term. It is particularly important to me that we consider all areas of life - especially those that have not been reached enough so far."
Culture as a space for exchange and participation
Democracy thrives on dialog - and art and culture also make an important contribution to this. First City Councillor and Head of Cultural Affairs Kai-Uwe Hirschheide said:
"To promote the development of democracy, art and culture can also make a significant contribution. Cultural offerings create opportunities for encounters, exchange and participation, promote an understanding of diversity and strengthen democratic awareness."
What happens next
In the coming months, we will make the quality standards for democracy promotion, remembrance and community work developed in the concept publicly available - also digitally. We are also planning workshops for specialist departments, sponsors, cultural institutions and educational stakeholders in order to deepen the standards together and implement them in practice.
This year, the first pilot projects will show what effective democracy promotion can look like in Wolfsburg. The concept has been developed across departments and strengthens cooperation between prevention, remembrance work, cultural education, youth welfare and district work.
Democracy concerns us all - and we shape it together.