Youth participation: From idea to implementation!
On May 27, Trambaanpad in Hellevoetsluis was enriched with a can catcher. A can catcher is a type of litter bin in public spaces to prevent litter.
The idea came from enthusiastic students of the Penta Jacob van Liesveldt in Hellevoetsluis. During the unveiling, the creators were: Marlies, Jasmijn, Lieke and Donna-Lynn with Alderman Daan van Orselen was present to see the result of their own idea being implemented.
Since the 2023-2024 school year, the youth participation project has been running, an initiative of the PUSH Foundation in collaboration with the municipality Voorne aan Zee . This project involves second-year secondary school students in a playful and accessible way in local politics. During two lessons, young people are introduced to the administrative process and learn how they can actively contribute to their living environment. The best ideas are then developed into a presentation and presented to the board of mayor and aldermen. And if the idea is feasible, it is actually implemented!
The idea of Marlies, Jasmijn, Lieke and Donna-Lynn to tackle the litter problem on Trambaanpad is a wonderful example of how youth participation can lead to concrete results. With great enthusiasm, they presented their plan to the college, after which it was implemented by the outdoor space maintenance team. The end result shows how valuable and fun it is to really bring young people's ideas to life!