© Diana Hoffmann
As part of Democracy Week, students at the Lycée Privé Émile Metz in Dommeldange took part in the Centre for Political Education's Super Election Fair, an interactive event designed to help young people understand and experience democracy through discussion, games, and hands-on participation.
At the start of the workshop, one of the facilitators from the Centre asked the group what came to mind when they heard the word democracy. The goal, she explained, was to encourage conversation and to help students realise that democracy is not just something decided far above them, but a process they can take part in.
One of the activities, called fishing for ideas, invited students to discuss current issues and exchange viewpoints, showing them how everyone can take part in shaping decisions. Another station, titled balance, focused on the core values of democracy such as freedom, equality, and tolerance.
Claire Enders from the Centre for Political Education explained that the initiative was designed to show students that politics is not limited to government level: even if they are under 18 and cannot yet vote, they still have a voice. She pointed out that students can already take part in democratic processes within their schools, for instance, by expressing their opinions or participating in a student committee.
For Pascal Thill, Director of the Lycée Privé Émile Metz, the event fitted perfectly into the school's schedule during Democracy Week. He noted that young people are far more engaged and aware of social and political issues than many assume. He stated that there is often a belief that young people are disconnected from what is happening around them, but he rebuked the claim, adding that, during this week, they saw how much pupils think about these topics and want to take part in the conversation.
The students, for their part, thoroughly enjoyed the experience, trading their classroom for an interactive learning space outside. Many left with new ideas and a better understanding of what democracy means in practice. At the end of the session, they were invited to write down a wish for their school, representing a small exercise in collective voice and civic participation, true to the spirit of democracy.
