Youth Advisory Council Kerkrade

The Youth Advisory Council Kerkrade (JARK) gives advice on all kinds of issues and developments that occur within the municipality. Young people thus have an official voice towards the municipal government. We do this under the motto: "by young people, with young people, for young people.

Through the Youth Advisory Council, the municipality wants young people between the ages of 12 and 27 to have a say in policy making. The objective of the JARK is to encourage youth participation and receive signals and advice from young people. The JARK can ensure that ideas and suggestions from young people reach the local government more quickly and that the interests of young people are well represented.

Themes

Young people are asked to contribute ideas and advice on important issues for Kerkrade's young residents, such as poverty and debt, young family caregivers, VIE and the prevention of personal problems. Through the Youth Advisory Council, young people themselves can raise issues that can then be taken up by the municipality or municipal council. The municipality and cooperation partners can also submit issues to JARK.

The genesis

The idea to create a youth advisory council grew out of the Speaking Minds project, a project to get young people involved in thinking about how to combat poverty and debt.

The municipality is working with Vista College, VMBO Holz, The Martin Buber and Impuls' welfare work (Youth and Youth Work) to recruit young people for the JARK.