Miaoli Launches Children's Participatory Budgeting Program 'Childlike Cooperation'

Miaoli County is fostering democratic engagement among its youngest residents with the launch of its "Childlike Cooperation: Net-Zero Transformation Grand Battle" participatory budgeting program. This initiative also includes training university students as "youth partners" or "child leaders" to guide elementary schoolers.

Nearly 40 university students are participating in the training, which involves expert lectures, board games, and mock proposals. These students will act as facilitators in "net-zero fun days," school tours, and proposal summer camps. Their role is to help children focus their ideas and encourage them to express their observations about the world, transforming them from "activity assistants" to "companions and guides."

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The county's Industrial Development Bureau pointed out that children's participatory budgeting aims to cultivate students' ability to observe daily life, discuss public issues, and participate in democratic decision-making.

The county's Industrial Development Bureau explained that the children's participatory budgeting aims to cultivate students' ability to observe daily life, discuss public issues, and participate in democratic decision-making. Last year's program in the coastal areas yielded fruitful results, generating several creative proposals for environmental sustainability. This year, the program is expanding to mountainous regions including Toufen, Nanzhuang, Sanwan, Touwu, Zaoqiao, Shitan, and Gongguan.

The county hopes to hear more children's perspectives on sustainability. A "net-zero fun day" is scheduled for July 18 at the Gongguan Township Library, and recruitment for the "proposal summer camp" in August is ongoing. More details can be found on the "Full Miaoli Saving Electricity" Facebook page.

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This year, the program's scope will be expanded to mountainous areas such as Toufen, Nanzhuang, Sanwan, Touwu, Zaoqiao, Shitan, and Gongguan, hoping to hear more children's sustainable viewpoints.