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Children’s Capital for Europe

Children’s Capital for Europe

What do we want?

  • We want the children of Europe to meet in a different European city every year. Because we believe that only through real encounters you can develop understanding for others.
  • We want the candidate cities to have to prove that they are serious about children’s participation and having a say when it comes to their rights.
  • We want Europe to involve its children in shaping the future, as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child established back in 1989.
  • We want children to colour Europe colorfully once a year and make the continent smile again.
  • The European Children’s Capital is still a place of longing. But more and more people are helping us to convince the MEPs to make it a great, happy and annually recurring European meeting festival for the children and families in Europe.

“IF WE WANT EUROPE TO HAVE A FUTURE, WE WILL HAVE TO GIVE CHILDREN A SAY.”

Jan Haarmeyer, initiator of the association Children’s European Capital

“IF WE WANT EUROPE TO HAVE A FUTURE, WE WILL HAVE TO GIVE CHILDREN A SAY.”

Jan Haarmeyer, initiator of the association Children’s European Capital

How to participate

If you share our opinion that Europe needs an annual children’s capital to give children and teenagers a voice and involve them seriously in the creation of our future, contact us. Or if you think that your city is the right one to be children’s capital. We are looking forward to all your suggestions, ideas and participation, especially from children and school classes.

Write to us!

OUR VISION

Maybe Europe needs another big idea right now. An idea to make the continent smile again. A project to put a friendly and peaceful complexion on Europe every year. A plan to unite all European countries without exception. Because this is about the future of a united Europe. And ipso facto about our children.

In which direction is this continent developing? We expect answers from the “Conference on the future of Europe”, among others. And these answers will affect our children more than anyone else. Europe’s future will be decided upon in people’s heads – in the heads of our children.

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THE WORLD OF CHILDREN

In 1989, with their “Convention on the Rights of the Child” the international community of states accounted for the fact that the rights of children are particularly vulnerable and that children are not able to enforce their rights the same way adults are. Children are extremely worthy of protection and therefore need different forms of individual support and encouragement.

Establishing a European children’s capital, Europe would set a global example of being serious with fostering and supporting their children – and their future.

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THE EUROPAEAN CHILDREN’S CAPITAL

What should a city do to contest for European Children’s Capital?

How?

What does organizing a European Children’s Capital mean?

Why?

10 REASONS

In 1989, with their “Convention on the Rights of the Child” the international community of states accounted for the fact that the rights of children are particularly vulnerable and that children are not able to enforce their rights the same way adults are. Children are extremely worthy of protection and therefore need different forms of individual support and encouragement.

Establishing a European children’s capital, Europe would set a global example of being serious with fostering and supporting their children – and their future.

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SUPPORTERS

“The house of Europe can only be a good house, if it is a home for the children that offers them protection, opportunities and perspectives. Meetings with a candid look and interest for different people or different ways of life should characterize this home. As part of the European children’s capital this view of a Europe for generations can be emphasized. With this in mind I like being a mentor of the project.”
– Rolf Zuckowski, musician, composer, author of children’s songs and one of the most successful German artists
Credit: Livia Reber
The supporters

EUROPE! EUROPE?

Jean-Claude Juncker, president of the European Commission until November 2019, wrote in March 2017: “The European Union has changed our lives for the better. Now we must ensure that it stays that way for the ones who follow us.”

Maybe we should simply involve the ones who follow us in the shaping of Europe. In a way that meets their requirements: Children are our dearest.

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About

Jan Haar­meyer

I am Jan Haarmeyer. I worked as a journalist in Hamburg for 39 years and have been a songwriter of children’s songs for 15 years. In recent years I have written numerous reports and stories about children. Some were controversial, others triggered changes, and others garnered awards.

What motivates me