This afternoon, Mayor Hillenaar together with Alderman Fokke appointed the new childrens council and the new child (deputy) mayor. The new childrens council will consist of 11 members from group 7 of 6 different Maastricht schools for the coming year. From the council, Liv Paanakker (BS Wyck) is the new child mayor. The deputy child mayor is Teun Piters (Kindcentrum Amby).
The childrens council will meet 6 times in the coming year. During the meetings, they discuss 2 self-chosen themes, on which they give advice to the Maastricht city council and the college of mayor and aldermen. They also participate in events such as the arrival of Sinterklaas, the Jäögmachsuverdrach, and Remembrance Day.
Alderman Manon Fokke (Citizen Participation): “It is so nice that children are enthusiastic again this year to participate in the childrens council. It is a way to introduce children to how our democracy works. And I am very curious about their valuable advice.
Childrens Council 2025 - 2026
The childrens council this year consists of the following members.
- OBS Binnenstad: Kaatje Stollman, Elina Keiler
- BS Wyck: Liv Paanakker (child mayor)
- BS Manjefiek: Joris Spier
- BS John F. Kennedy: Abdulgani Ahmed, Raf Rutten
- Kindcentrum Amby: Teun Piters (deputy child mayor), Niven Haex, Emma Schelling
- IKC El Habib: Menesse Demir, Muhammed Mermi
