Political mentoring program starts

The mentoring program started on 5 November in the rooms of the children's and youth parliament in the town hall pavilion. First, the twelve girls and young women are welcomed by the mentors and the Women's and Equal Opportunities Officer of the City of Offenbach, Dr. Inga Halwachs. The mentors and mentees then have time to get to know each other before the political tandems are formed.

These tandems are at the heart of the mentoring program, which runs until summer 2023. This ensures that the mentees receive close personal support and insights into the work of a local politician. Participants also learn the tools of the political trade at monthly meetings and are given the opportunity to expand their own networks.

The project "Empowerment through political mentoring for girls and young women in Offenbach" was launched by young female city councillors across political groups to support girls and young women interested in politics and give them an insight into local politics. "We want to promote political engagement and 'form bonds'," the mentors explain together. "This means that we, as young female local politicians with similar experiences, want to serve as multipliers to give other women and girls an insight into political procedures and processes and thus pave the way for them into politics."

The Office of the City Council is responsible for the organization of the mentoring programme. It is aimed at girls and young women between the ages of 13 and 25. The twelve participants were selected by lot from all the applicants.