37 young people made fit for the local elections

For the third time, Bocholt Comprehensive School has awarded certificates to committed pupils who have successfully taken part in the two-day training programme to become "First Choice Professionals" in social science lessons.

A total of 37 young people prepared specifically for their first participation in the 2025 local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia - many of them took the opportunity to cast their vote on election day. One participant even became a poll worker herself after the training and played an active role in organising the local elections.

Björn Volmering, First City Councillor of the City of Bocholt, and Isabel Testroet, Director of the Bocholt-Rhede-Isselburg Adult Education Centre and the Junge Uni Bocholt, were responsible for the ceremonial presentation of the certificates. Both emphasised the importance of political education for young people.

"With this training, young people have not only gained knowledge about democracy, but also the self-confidence to use their voice. This strengthens our society", explained Volmering. At the same time, he called on the newly trained first-time election professionals to also cast their vote in the run-off election on 28 September or to get involved as election assistants.

The Bocholt comprehensive school emphasised the good cooperation with the city and the adult education centre and stressed that the project should be continued in the long term in order to pave the way for future first-time voters to actively participate in politics.

The "Erstwahl-Profi" project is being carried out with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Science.