44 pupils honoured for their commitment to the European elections

44 schoolgirls from Bocholt Municipal Comprehensive School have now been honoured. They were particularly involved in the European elections on 9 June and received their certificates for the so-called "First Voter" project. Seven of them were also honoured for their commitment as election assistants.

As part of the promotion of democracy, the pupils had dealt intensively with the topics of democracy and the European elections. The main focus was on learning about democratic processes and the practical exercise of conducting an election at a polling station. Six pupils and one pupil took the opportunity to volunteer as polling assistants for the European elections at the beginning of June. This allowed them to put their theoretical knowledge into practice.

The pupils were supported by their teachers Maike Schulten and Johanna Ebeling, who had previously undergone further training at "Haus Rissen", a further education institute specialising in international politics and business from Hamburg.

Bocholt's First City Councillor, Björn Volmering, thanked the pupils who had voluntarily completed the training as part of the extracurricular project and presented the certificates to applause together with the head of the adult education centre, Isabel Testroet, and project manager Fatma Boland. Seven pupils who worked as polling assistants on the day of the European elections also received bags with small surprises. "Democracy is alive when everyone participates. For us as an administration, it is wonderful to see that young people are committed to living democracy - both at school and beyond. Because we can only help shape things if we are active ourselves", commented VHS Director Testroet.

Teachers Schulten and Ebeling were also honoured for their commitment as so-called multipliers.

Organisers and supporters

The "First Voter" project was jointly organised by the Bocholt-Rhede-Isselburg Adult Education Centre (VHS) in collaboration with the "Haus Rissen" from Hamburg and the Bocholt Municipal Comprehensive School. The "First Voter" project is supported by the Ministry of Culture and Science.

Information on the project and the VHS programme can be found at www.vhs-bocholt.de.