Join Marburg's Youth Council: Shape Local Decisions Now

Youth in Focus: Have a Say, Make Decisions, Shape the Future—Applications Open for Marburg-Biedenkopf District Youth Council 2026–2028

Marburg's Youth Council Opens 2026–2028 Applications for Teen Changemakers

Marburg-Biedenkopf – Young voices are strengthening democracy: The application phase for the District Youth Council (KJP) in Marburg-Biedenkopf has begun. All 12- to 18-year-olds from the district's 21 municipalities are invited to take responsibility, contribute their own ideas, and represent the concerns of young people at the district and state levels. An information session will be held on March 14 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the district administration office in Marburg. Applications to run as a candidate are open until March 31 via the following link: www.kreisjugendparlament.de.

Every two years, young people aged 12 to 18 from Marburg-Biedenkopf are called upon to stand for election to the District Youth Council (KJP). For over 27 years, this platform has given young people a voice, allowing them to advocate for the interests and ideas of their generation in district politics and beyond.

The KJP consists of 48 elected youth representatives, each serving a two-year term. The council meets every six to eight weeks at rotating locations across the district. During these sessions, members independently develop political, cultural, and charitable initiatives, funded in part by an annual budget of €10,250. This budget enables them to implement their own programs, support other youth initiatives, and organize educational trips—such as a visit to the Bundestag in Berlin. The KJP has full autonomy over how these funds are used, with decisions made through democratic voting after open discussion. Past allocations have included support for local clubs, with donations to TSV Wohratal and VfB Wetter improving their football facilities. At the state level, KJP members have met with representatives from Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf's youth council to discuss youth policy issues. Another meeting in Berlin is planned as part of an educational trip and to mark the end of the current term, during which a financial contribution will be made to support the Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf KJP. Internationally, the council continues to assist its long-standing sponsored children in Haiti and Guinea-Bissau using funds from its annual budget.

Through regular seminar weekends followed by public sessions, young representatives have the time and space to debate key issues. The KJP also has the right to submit motions to the district council and, if necessary, call on it to act in the best interests of all children and adolescents in the region. Once a year, KJP members report on their work directly to the district council and hold voting rights in the Youth Promotion Committee.

Over the past two years, the KJP has championed numerous current and relevant issues. During the State Youth Congress in November 2024—where KJP delegates joined other young people from Hesse—key demands were developed for the state parliament. Topics included mental health, youth participation, education and schools, migration and integration, mobility, and social justice.

These themes continued to shape the KJP's work throughout its term. In the area of education, members pushed for standardized "heat-free day" regulations in Hesse's schools, as well as clear guidelines for schools in Marburg-Biedenkopf. The council also met with student representatives from the district's secondary schools to discuss academic pressure and its impact on mental health.

A similarly crucial aspect of the Youth County Parliament's (KJP) work is its ongoing engagement with mobility issues and the improvement of local public transport. Through discussions with First Deputy District Administrator Peter Neidel and Volker Haupt, head of the Mobility and Transport Infrastructure Department, the KJP presents its perspective at the district level. As part of this effort, the KJP advocates for a universal Hessenticket—a regional transport pass that would include all children and young people and eliminate the controversial 3-kilometer rule. The KJP also participated in the public hearing for the 2025 Local Transport Plan, supporting the reactivation of the Salzböde-Bahn rail line to enhance mobility in the region.

Within the KJP, it becomes clear that political processes and the fundamentals of democracy are not just theoretical concepts but actively lived experiences. For the young representatives, democracy is more than a principle—it's a way of life. Participating in the KJP means consciously experiencing democratic values firsthand. Beyond offering a platform for political and social engagement, the KJP provides an opportunity to get involved alongside friends, meet new people, form friendships, and share exciting, enriching experiences in an open community. With young people's interests at the forefront, fun is never in short supply.

So for those eager to contribute their own ideas and turn their vision for a better community into action, it's worth keeping an eye on the mailbox in the coming weeks: All eligible voters will receive their polling notification by post. Young people aged 12 to 18 who live in one of the municipalities of Marburg-Biedenkopf County—excluding the university city of Marburg—can take part and even stand as candidates. Each municipality is allocated two base seats, with a third added for 500 or more eligible voters and a fourth for 1,000 or more.

All young people and interested parties are warmly invited to attend the KJP's information session at the District Administration Office in Marburg on Saturday, March 14, from 2 to 4 p.m. Candidate registrations will be accepted until March 31 and can be submitted online at: www.kreisjugendparlament.de.

For direct inquiries, the KJP office can be reached at: Im Lichtenholz 60, 35043 Marburg, phone: +49 6421 405-1938, or via email at [email protected]. The contact person is Pablo Höfer. Further insights and updates about the KJP are available on its website and Instagram: @kjp.marburg.biedenkopf.