Municipal council Students Build Their Own Village

From February 14 through 20, members of the Voorschoten City Council and Executive Committee welcomed eighth-grade classes from six elementary schools. In the council chamber of the “ town hall ,” the students participated in the educational “ programme ” program “Democracity.” Through play, they formed political parties, made democratic choices, and built their own village.

The Cardboard Village

With Democracity, 8th-grade students, under the guidance of a guest instructor from ProDemos, work together to build their own city or town. Because the budget is limited, not everything can be included, so the students have to choose between, for example, a school, a supermarket, and a windmill. In addition, the students can ask questions of the city council members, the mayor, and the aldermen. This way, they learn how things work in the real municipal council.

GRVI and VOZ

To reach a consensus on their choices, the students form political parties, write brief party platforms, and engage in debates with one another. Some truly wonderful party names emerge, ranging from Equal Rights for Everyone (GRVI) to Safety, Education, and “ Health ” (VOZ). The students even come up with slogans, such as: “Voorschoten is a great place to live—as long as it’s safe, green, and healthy.” Finally, a vote is held, and the town can be completed.

Thinking Ahead

“It’s nice to see how interested the children are in democracy,” says Mayor Nadine Stemerdink. “It’s great that through this ‘ programme ,’ we can let them experience how it works—whether it’s using the interjection microphone, the voting process, or discussing the choice between a park and a hospital. It’s also wonderful to see how they think ahead, for example, by asking how many more decisions about facilities are still to come.”

Learning Through Play

Democracity is played using a game mat and cardboard blocks representing public facilities. Students take their seats on the council benches behind the microphones. Over the course of two hours, they learn through play that a democratic society requires consultation, reasoning, majority rule, and consensus. In this accessible way, they are introduced to local politics and democratic decision-making in their own city or town.