Project info
Operator: Catholic Young Community (KjG) in the diocese of Speyer
founded 1970
2 full-time employees, 14 volunteers
Contact person: Kristin Loibnegger, Bildungsreferentin KjG
Location: Speyer – Children’s Week: Bad Dürkheim
Project: Children’s Week 2024 in the diocese of Speyer: “Loud and clear – children to power”
Our funding: Contribution to the costs of this project in the amount of 5000 €
Funding period: November 2023 to September 2024
The Children’s Week aims to encourage children and young people to act independently and teach them about democracy and co-determination. A central element is the children’s parliament, in which representatives from four mixed-age groups make decisions about the day’s activities. Each child has a vote, and the final decisions are made in parliament.
The program offers the children a lot of freedom. In addition to a few fixed points such as games to get to know each other and spiritual impulses, they can choose workshops and activities according to their own interests and design their own program points in free times.
The project operator
The KjG (Catholic Young Community) is a community of young Christians that promotes democracy, equal rights and co-determination. Members, regardless of age, elect the leadership and help shape the content. The KjG offers space for encounters, responsibility and joint action so that children, young people and young adults are taken seriously.
It supports its members in taking on responsibility independently, developing their own perspectives on life and living the Christian faith on their own responsibility. The KjG advocates co-determination in church and society and is committed to democratic, just and solidary structures. It promotes an ecological and just way of life, works in partnership with other associations and stands up for equal rights and against exclusion.
The Children’s Week is now in its fourth successful year, organized by the KjG together with the JUNGE KIRCHE SPEYER (JUKI).
Children’s week: Loud and clear – children to power
The children’s week was held for 60 children aged 7 to 12 with 12 volunteer supervisors aged 16 and over and two full-time employees in Bad Dürkheim from August 12 to 16, 2024. In addition to association members, children who do not belong to a youth association were also addressed. Many participants have little experience of participation and self-determined action in their everyday lives.
This year, the Children’s Week took place under the sub-theme “Time travel”: “From dinosaur adventures to visions of the future – an exciting journey through time”, see also speyer.kjg.de/blog/2024/08/19/bericht-der-kinderwoche-2024.
The annual Children’s Week focuses on teaching democratic decision-making processes through play. The children experience self-efficacy by implementing their decisions in the program. They are also encouraged to stand up for their rights and take responsibility in the community.
The low-cost vacation program supports families who cannot afford larger vacations. The participation fee is kept low through subsidies.
In view of the ongoing fight to enshrine children’s rights in the German constitution, it is important to us that extracurricular activities are created for children and young people where children can learn about their rights and participate in what is happening!
Michael Schnell, Diocesan Director of the KjG Speyer
Why we are committed to the project
What we particularly appreciate about this project is the emphasis on self-determined action, practiced democracy, equality and co-determination. The plan is to set up a children’s parliament for each day, which will offer the opportunity to help shape the week individually.
Our foundation supports this initiative and is pleased that the low-cost offer also reaches children and families who are affected or threatened by poverty.
Outlook
We were very happy to support the children’s week, which enabled the children to have democratic, participative and self-effective experiences.
