People and politics

Hungary
September 2008
Vesterbro/ Kgs. Enghave
 Vesterbro / Kgs. Enghave
 Two of 15 neighborhoods in
Copenhagen
 Population: appr. 51.000
 Youth event
 Cooperation between the
Settlement, The volunteer centre
and the local committees.
 March 2009
 Young people – age 13-17.
 Local politicians
 Focus: communication methods
What are the local committees of
Vesterbro and Kgs. Enghave?
 The local committees – a new site for democratic development

 The committees are established to strength the democracy in the

city of Copenhagen by securing a increased dialogue between the
citizens in each part of Copenhagen and the politicians at the City
Hall of Copenhagen.

 Each committee holds 23 members – they are all volunteers.

 The concrete assignments for the committees is:

 They are hearing-parts
 They, in collaboration with the citizens, work out
plans/strategies/visions for the city parts
 They have a certain amount of money, that they can distribute to
different projects in the neighborhood, which enhance local activities
regarding to culture, democracy and network in the city parts. All
inhabitants are entitled to apply for this money.
 Beside that they theme self enhance projects which can benefit the
environment or the social, cultural life in the city-parts.
 Aim and objective
 1: To involve young people in the
development of the neighborhoods.
Create active citizens!

 2: Communication between young

people and local politicians.

 3: Networking activities
What has been the challenges so
fare…

 Difficulties with getting in contact

with the young citizens
 Process vs. product
 Difficulties with getting the members
to commit to the project
 Volunteering
 Don’t see them self as politicians
Different cultures – how can they
meet??
 Developing tools for dialog between
different cultures

 Dialog meetings (different themes

and a framework for
communication)
 Translator
 Forum theatre
 Open space – working in themes
with development of the local areas.
 Photo exhibition