Townhall in School is a European project that promotes the political participation of students in transition regions. As part of the project, a total of 30 project days will be implemented at general and vocational schools in Germany, France, Croatia, and Poland. In addition, one teacher training course will be organised in each of Germany, France, and Croatia. The project will conclude with a final conference in Poland.
The project and its activities focus on a practical exploration of the European Union, with a particular emphasis on EU Cohesion Policy. Cohesion Policy serves as a means of creating a tangible connection between students’ everyday lives and the European Union, which is often perceived as abstract and distant.
During the project days, students from grade 10 onwards develop solutions to regional challenges using a range of interactive methods. These solutions, referred to as “Regional Development Resolutions,” are subsequently presented to and discussed with local politicians during a joint discussion session.
The objective is to foster direct dialogue between young people and political decision-makers. In this process, the students take on the role of policy advisers on their own city or region.
On June 17, 2026, the project’s first Town Hall in School event took place in Essen, Germany. In five parallel workshops, approximately 130 eleventh-grade students from the Maria-Wächtler-Gymnasium explored the importance of EU cohesion policy at various political levels.
In a design thinking workshop, the students analyzed problems they perceived in Essen and developed potential solutions, which were then presented to policymakers. The focus here was, for example, on concrete proposals for affordable recreational activities for young people.
In the picture, students in conversation with:
The next Town Hall in School event will take place on October 8, 2026, at the BBS am Schölerberg in Osnabrück. We’re already looking forward to the exciting exchange between students and politicians!
