Around 35,000 euros for Bocholt democracy projects

The city of Bocholt has once again received financial support from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia totalling 34,920 euros for its educational work. Mayor Christian Mangen and Isabel Testroet, Head of VHS and Junge Uni, accepted the funding decision for the project "Diversity (co-)design - Focus 2026: Strengthening educational pathways democratically, professionally, jointly and sustainably" in Münster.

The funds will be used for programmes aimed at strengthening cooperation and inspiring young people with democratic values, among other things.

The ceremonial handover took place on the premises of the Münster district government, where District President Andreas Bothe distributed the decisions to a total of 14 organisations from the region. He emphasised that education must constantly evolve in order to strengthen cohesion in society. For Bocholt, this is the fourth time since 2022 that the city has successfully received funds from this special funding pot for regional educational development.

The money will be used for the project "Shaping Diversity", which will create a dense network of offers for citizens and pupils in particular over the coming months. The aim is to firmly anchor democratic culture in Bocholt and to provide more modern and personalised support for educational pathways in the city. The culture of remembrance also plays a central role here, which is to be conveyed through new and lively formats. "We want to make democracy tangible for all generations and are delighted that we can now realise further exciting projects thanks to the state funding", says Isabel Testroet. "With this programme, we are creating opportunities for young people in particular that go beyond traditional learning and raise awareness of open-minded cooperation."

The programme is backed by a broad alliance of local stakeholders. The adult education centre and the Junge Uni are working closely with the town museum, the town archive, the town theatre and the local heritage association. The Borken district and the Borken adult education centre are also on board as partners. This close networking ensures that the projects reach many people in the region and can incorporate different perspectives.

The first highlight of the programme is already scheduled for 29 April. This is when multimedia readings for schools based on the graphic novel "Three Stones" will take place and send a clear signal against right-wing radicalism. The reading will be accompanied by an exhibition for young people from the eighth grade upwards. Schools still have the opportunity to register for these dates.

Further events are planned for the second half of the year. In autumn, the exhibition "Germany. Israel. Insights" will be shown in autumn. The city will also be taking part in the Intercultural Week. The new VHS season will kick off on 10 September with an event dedicated to cultural diversity in Bocholt in an entertaining way.