Young people are heard

Mayor Sven Schulze presented the results of the 1st Chemnitz Youth Meeting today. In mid-December 2023, he discussed what a youth-friendly Chemnitz could look like with around 50 interested young people in the university library of Chemnitz University of Technology. The 1st Chemnitz Youth Meeting followed a youth survey in which around 1,800 young people took part at the beginning of 2023.

"It was a very informative exchange. The young people were very engaged and contributed well. We realised that the young people really had a lot to say and walked through their city with open eyes. In addition to various aspects that the young people appreciate in Chemnitz, such as the red benches, planters, events such as the Hat Festival and the Park Summer, as well as democracy projects, there were also topics where they would like to see improvements," said Lord Mayor Sven Schulze.

Many of the young people had a very clear picture and presented their ideas, wishes and needs at the youth meeting. Culture, festivals and events, such as the Kosmos, were at the top of the list. The topic of how and when young people are out and about in the city is also important to them. This relates to better public transport connections and timetables as well as further expansion of the cycle path network and a car-free or quiet city centre.

As in the youth survey, it also became clear at the 1st Chemnitz Youth Meeting that young people often leave the city to choose study programmes that are not available in Chemnitz. These include teacher training for grammar schools, law or creative study programmes.

Another important issue for young people is the creation or qualification of recreational areas in the city centre. With the intervention areas in the course of the European Capital of Culture Chemnitz 2025, this topic is already being advanced and, for example, places by the river - as requested at the meeting - will be created. In addition to the desire for a green, sustainable and climate-friendly city, the young people mentioned democracy, openness to the world, accessibility and a clear commitment by the city against right-wing extremism.

The market tree, the planters with benches on the Neumarkt and the red benches in the city centre were praised. The topic of safety and order played a lesser role at the youth meeting than in the youth survey.

At the end of the event, there was constructive and very positive feedback from the young people, combined with the desire to organise further youth participation and a youth meeting of this kind again. Sven Schulze would also like to remain in dialogue with the young people and is looking forward to the next meeting. "I think the dialogue is very important. We will definitely maintain the format of the youth meeting," said the Lord Mayor.

The results of the 1st Chemnitz Youth Meeting have already been presented to all mayors and the mayoress as well as interested city council groups. Specific topics will be discussed with the relevant specialist departments, committees and network partners. There will also be a youth consultation on the city centre framework plan in the near future.

The results of the youth meeting will be published on the City of Chemnitz website at

Background:
In February/March 2023, 6,000 young people aged between 16 and 19 with their main place of residence in Chemnitz were asked to take part in a youth survey. 1,834 took part. It became clear that many young people would like to leave Chemnitz after completing their training. This prompted us to enter into dialogue with the young people and ask them about their ideas for a youth-friendly Chemnitz.