100,000 euros for children and young people in Hoogkerk – Hoogkerkonline.nl

During meetings on April 10, 13 and 16, residents from Hoogkerk, Leegkerk, Gravenburg, Vierverlaten and the Buitenhof divided the Sterk Hoogkerk budget of 300,000 euros over five themes. Two themes stood out: Children and Youth with 100,000 euros and Sports and Exercise with 90,000 euros. From Monday April 22 to May 20, everyone can submit ideas within the chosen themes viastronghoogkerk.nl.

In the village hall, Max and Tjeerd brotherly put a name sticker on each other. It is the closing evening of phase 1 of the Sterk Hoogkerk citizen budget. Tonight, residents of Hoogkerk, Gravenburg, de Buitenhof, Vierverlaten and Leegkerk will decide what they want to spend the 300,000 euros available for the district on next year. Previously, there were similar meetings in the Kreukelhof playground and in the De Verbinding church building, so that as many people as possible can participate.

At the beginning of each meeting, Marian Hegeman explains the steps to distribute the budget. The five themes have already been chosen: Sports and exercise, Children and young people, Safe Hoogkerk, Traffic and Clean Hoogkerk. To divide the money between these themes, participants each slide ten chips of 5,000 euros until there is agreement at the tables, as the rules prescribe.

Young people are at the forefront

The first meeting on April 10 is specifically for young people. Strangely enough, in the Kreukelhof the teenagers initially do not place a single token on the theme of Children and young people. “A lot is already happening for children in Hoogkerk,” says one of the boys at the table. After some hesitation, they all place one token on the theme and this gives the theme a bit of a budget.

The adults who participate on April 13 and 16 are clearly more interested in the theme of Children and Young People. They put chips on it en masse. Otto and Agnes from the Moluccan neighborhood explain why this theme is important to them. ‘Because the young people in our neighborhood don’t have enough space,’ says Otto. ‘We do not see young people as a nuisance. We want to renovate our square, so they are welcome there.’ They also attended the meetings around Sterk Hoogkerk last year. Agnes: ‘We are very happy with this initiative!’

It’s adults’ turn

The theme of Traffic is very popular at the two adult meetings. For example, participant Harry would prefer to see a zebra crossing in front of his house on the Zuiderweg. ‘For the many walkers, because they often walk on the wrong side of the road.’ Martthieu and Patricia also focus on this theme: “In some places people often drive too fast, more speed bumps would be good.” At the end of this meeting there will be a large stack of cards on the theme of Traffic. But Sports and exercise also receives a lot of support.

Rash

Based on the results of all three meetings, a final result will be drawn. The participants all chose the following distribution:

1. Children and young people €100,714
2. Sport and movement €90,714
3. Traffic €61,429
4. Safe Hoogkerk €34,286
5. Schoon Hoogkerk €12,857

An explanation of the outcome can be read atstronghoogkerk.nl

Satisfied residents

Afterwards, the participants look back positively on the meetings. The consultation with their neighbors went smoothly and the groups are satisfied with the results at the tables and the way in which the themes important to them were chosen.

Tjebelina, coordinator of the Kinderwijkaad Hoogkerk, is very happy with the results. “One third of the budget goes to Children and young people. Or actually even two-thirds, because sports and exercise are also for young people. And the youth themselves chose the Clean Hoogkerk theme and were the only group to allocate a budget to it. This theme is alive and well with them.”

Participants are very pleased with Sterk Hoogkerk. Benne explains that participation is very important. “It is important that as many people as possible participate in deciding what happens in the village and the surrounding neighborhoods. After all, it is about our own living environment. It gives me a good feeling that we can help decide what the money is spent on and that we really have an influence on it.”

Photos: Alma Streefkerk and Janny Wierenga

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