Mannheim’s Young Councillors Tackle Democracy in 20th Annual Simulation

What if children ran the city? Mannheim’s long-running simulation puts young minds in charge—shaping policies on education, transport, and justice.

, and Administrator

2025 November 23 . 9:23 PM

1 min read

This image consists of an edited image. It is made has a collage. In which there is a small kid... — This image consists of an edited image. It is made has a collage. In which there is a small kid walking on the road along with a trolley. On the left, there are two persons holding the bicycles. In the background, we can see many trees. On the left, there is a building.

Mannheim’s Young Councillors Tackle Democracy in 20th Annual Simulation

Mannheim has long prioritised policies for young ones, actively implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Recently, the city hosted a simulation game where 23 young participants aged 8 to 12 stepped into the roles of city councillors. The event, now in its 20th year, teaches young participants about democracy and local decision-making.

The simulation, titled 'If I Were on the City Council...', was organised by the Mannheimer Kinderbüro in partnership with the city’s Democracy and Strategy Department. Over the course of the event, the young participants split into three factions to discuss key issues: education, public transport, and social justice.

The simulation has been running for two decades, reflecting Mannheim’s commitment to involving young ones in civic life. By engaging with real-world issues, the young participants gained practical experience in democracy. The city continues to embed child-friendly principles into its policies through such initiatives.