Should a city have a mayor?
If you asked this question to any citizen, they would most likely say yes. But why?
A mayor holds the city together, talks to many different people, and makes sure all the right policies are in place.
Now, let's imagine: should a young child be a mayor?
If you asked this question to any citizen, they would most likely say no. But why?
Maybe because they are ‘’too young’’ to get into politics. Maybe because they lack experience. Or maybe because they don’t understand the world around them yet.
For the Gemeente of Amsterdam, all these ‘’maybes’’ don’t exist. Children cannot vote yet, but they can for sure make their voices heard in the big city where they grow up.
The Kinderraad (Children’s Council) makes it possible for children to express all of their wishes, plans, and fun ideas to make Amsterdam a better place. And being the children’s mayor comes with a lot of responsibility! He or she gets to talk to the (adults) mayor, the alderman, and give speeches at commemorations, always representing the needs and wishes of all children.
And guess what? It was the children’s mayor who awarded us the Omarm Prijs van Amsterdam for our passion and commitment to including children in education. We met him in October, and last Saturday he warmed our hearts with a visit to our project.
We were expecting to welcome someone who does what he does: a small mayor. But we got so much more than that. We welcomed a child, like any other child from our project. Kiyaro talked about his routine. His dreams. His hobbies. He tried guaraná, paçoca, feijoada, pão de queijo, coxinha, and brigadeiro for the very first time. He played and interacted with our children, answering all their questions.
They asked him: What are three things you would change in Amsterdam?
And he wishes there would be less discrimination in Amsterdam and that everyone would be treated equally. Also, that the city would be safer, and we would think more about education.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Kiyaro!
It is amazing to see our passion for inclusivity and justice so well represented by him and all the other children in the Kinderraad.
We hope that our adult politicians are learning from them, too.
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