Leisure centre

Children experience and shape democracy

How does the give and take work in society? And how does a democratic election work?

4 August 2023 by Sandra Berges
Julie Pröpper is presented with a key by other children
  • Julie Pröpper with the symbolic leisure centre key that the creative group, led by Sabrina Bücker, made and presented to her.

This week, 35 children aged between 6 and 13 took part in the "Learn and experience democracy" project at the Neubeckum leisure centre as part of the holiday programme and got an idea of how hard work can pay off.

In addition to playing, having fun and chilling out, they organised their own day in different working groups: they cooked lunch for everyone, took care of housekeeping, organised sports and entertainment or games.

Earn and spend points
This allowed them to earn points that they could redeem for food or great offers from other groups. In this way, they worked for the common good "just like in real life" and consumed again. Of course, they also had plenty of free time.

Leisure centre mayor is Julie Pröpper
They have also elected a leisure centre mayor from their ranks. Julie Pröpper is now the first point of contact for the leisure centre team, a mediator and mouthpiece for the other children. She will now remain in office for one year. She was allowed to award points to other children for special commitment during the last week of the holiday.

The children had a lot of fun with the project, which was supervised by 17 team members from the leisure centre.