1 Mar '16

Gatz launches Citizen’s Cabinet for youth

Summary

After the success of last year’s Citizen’s Cabinet for Culture, youth and culture minister Sven Gatz is launching a similar initiative for young people and youth workers

Urban contexts

Flemish youth and culture minister Sven Gatz has launched a new Citizen’s Cabinet initiative, this time focusing on youth in the region. The goal, he said, is to bring together a group of 150 people to discuss youth affairs and policies. “I am calling on everyone to come and discuss the youth work of the future,” he said.
 

The initiative echoes the call made by Gatz last summer for a Citizen’s Cabinet to give people a voice in culture policy. That initiative produced a document containing 36 ideas for general discussion and 17 concrete recommendations, including more lessons on culture in schools and the creation of a Flemish cultural ombudsman.

Youth work in Flanders is admired worldwide, Gatz said. “But we must not rest on our laurels.” One of his priorities is diversity, which is reflected in the criterion added just last week to applications for government subsidies: looking at how youth organisations approach their own urban contexts to address social challenges.

“The more socially vulnerable groups live in cities, and are often from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds,” Gatz said. “An average of one in four children in Flanders has a migration background. That presents youth workers with exceptional challenges.”

The Citizen’s Cabinet for Youth is gathering ideas and feedback online until 15 April. Leading contributors will be invited to the Flemish parliament on 6 May to debate proposals and make recommendations to the minister.

Photo courtesy eutrio.be

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Government of Flanders

Belgium is a federal state with several regional governments. The northern, Dutch-speaking region of Flanders is governed by the Flemish government, which was created when the Flemish Region and the Flemish Community joined forces in 1980. A minister-president presides over the government of Flanders, and Brussels is the capital city.
Competences - The government of Flanders is responsible for the economy, foreign trade, health care, energy, housing, agriculture, environmental concerns, public works and transport, employment policy, culture, education and science and innovation. Flanders also has the power to sign international treaties in these competencies.
Sole legislator - The powers of the Flemish government and of the federal government do not overlap. Therefore, only one government serves as legislator for each policy area. Flemish laws are called decrees. Decrees apply in co-ordination with federal laws.
Official holiday - 11 July is the official holiday of the Flemish Community, in commemoration of the Battle of the Golden Spurs in Kortrijk on 11 July 1302, when Flemings defeated the army of the French king. Flanders’ official anthem is “De Vlaamse Leeuw” (The Flemish Lion).
6

million people live in the Flemish Region.

5

provinces constitute the Flemish Region: West Flanders, East Flanders, Flemish Brabant, Antwerp and Limburg.

5

number of years for which the Flemish Parliament is elected. Its elections coincide with those of the European Parliament.

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