A new school year marks the start of a renewed Children's Municipal Council in Menen. On Wednesday, October 28, the new members were officially installed in the Council Chamber of the City Hall. The children took their oath in the presence of the mayor and were immediately given the opportunity to share their first ideas for the city.
The Children's Municipal Council brings together children from Menen's primary schools and gives them their own voice in the city's policy. During the installation meeting, each representative gets two minutes to pitch a concrete idea with which he or she wants to get to work in Menen, Lauwe, or Rekkem.
The central themes this year are online safety, nature and climate in the neighborhood, every child can participate and play, sports, and meeting. Children can think about topics such as cybersecurity and online bullying, more nature and shade in the neighborhood, accessibility and affordable leisure, or better play, sports, and meeting places.
Schools were asked to submit their two representatives and supervisors by October 21 and to select two themes immediately. Children are encouraged to prepare their ideas together with their class. It doesn't have to be complicated: the answer to the question "Why would this be an added value for Menen, Lauwe, and/or Rekkem?" is central.
Mayor Kasper Vandecasteele, responsible for Youth, emphasizes the importance of the Children's Municipal Council: "Children know better than anyone what is going on among their peers and in their neighborhood. Their ideas and experiences are therefore an important source for our city policy. As a city that wants to live up to its Child-Friendly City label, we want to work not only for children, but also with them. The Children's Municipal Council gives children a real place at the policy table and the chance to think along about how we can make Menen, Lauwe, and Rekkem even more child-friendly."
The new Children's Municipal Council will meet a total of five times during the 2026-2027 school year. After the installation meeting on October 28, meetings will follow on January 20, March 3, April 14, and May 26, 2027. One of the meetings, on April 14, will be linked to the Outdoor Play Day 2027.
