Leading children’s and youth organizations support choice initiative ‘U18’ Berlin, December 2008 U18 youth choice initiative makes it possible that can nine days before the election in 2009 give expression to all people under 18 years old her political opinion and go to an own choice. What was established twelve years ago as a regional idea in Berlin and in 2005 for the first time nationwide has been tested on a small scale, has become the largest political formation campaign for children and young people in Germany. At the federal level the U18’s politically independent choice initiative is supported by the German Federal Youth Council, the German children’s charity, the Association of Evangelical youth in Germany e.V., the German youth fire brigade, the Federation of Scouts and Scouts (BdP) e.V., the Association of Christian pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder (VCP) e.V. and the Foundation of Democratic Youth. Also include six land youth ring and the Foundation SPI, gangway e.V., the kids ring Berlin e.V. and the Berlin network involved U18 for youth selection. Already at the start of the U18 campaign over six million children and adolescents are addressed by the supporting organisations directly.

To come many hundred thousand young people who participate at the local level, for example, in youth centers, schools or sports clubs, their own initiative. U18 lead children and teenagers to engage in politics. Many experienced for the first time, what democracy actually means, as their rules of the game are, and what’s with the own rights of participation and co-determination. Already has shown in 2005, that the interest in politics among young people is greater than many adults believe. Because despite the elections and thus very short preparation time succeeded U18, to move 50,000 children and young people to vote for the early parliamentary election. Expected for the election next year the initiators expect high voter turnout for 2009 with a much higher turnout.