Following the example of larger and smaller play towns all over the world, Clemens Scheerer from the District Youth Council, Caterina Maurizi from the Ebersberg Foreigners’ Aid and the Third Mayor Lakhena Leng want to establish a similar project in Ebersberg during the 2023 summer holidays. To start with, they are inviting children between the ages of seven and 15 to develop their own ideas at a workshop as part of the “Ebersberg holiday fun” on September 6th.
SZ: Ms. Leng, how did you come up with the idea of opening a play town in Ebersberg?
Lakhena Leng: Because I have children of my own, I have often looked at the concept – also in Rosenheim. As a child, I couldn’t take part in something like “Mini-Munich” – it was just too far away and too much effort. At the same time, I often asked myself: How can we support children to become responsible people? Especially since children and young people have incredibly little influence on the world that we shape, even in a democracy. We decide what they can or can do.
And then…?
…I was sitting with Clemens Scheerer from the district youth council. We talked about how the focus has not been on the children for the last three years and yet it would be nice to offer something new for the children right now. On the other hand, the question naturally arose: is it possible to do something like this in a small town like Ebersberg compared to Munich? Is that thinking too big? Is it fundable, manageable, coordinateable?
Apparently you could answer “Yes”. What is the plan now?
We have a basic concept but haven’t started the project yet. First and foremost is the idea that the children should be involved right from the start and say what they would like to have – not in the way we adults imagine it to be. Here the children rule.
The third mayor, Lakhena Leng, wants a play town to be built in Ebersberg during the summer holidays.
(Photo: Peter Hinz-Rosin)
How does this differ from the activities in an adventure playground?
It really is a small town where you can experience democracy in a playful way. The city is in the foreground, building and working happens on the side. Because the concept is open-ended, we don’t even know whether there will be an “employment office,” for example. And: Do you even need a mayor or do the children have a different idea of how the city works?
As city and district councilor for the Greens, what do you expect from this concept?
My party is irrelevant here. The play town belongs to the children and therefore it must be free of partisan politics.
As a mother, what fascinates you about this project?
The idea that children can invent their own world and try it out right away to see if it works that way. You notice immediately what is good or bad and can adapt accordingly.
What age group should it be aimed at?
As in Munich, from seven to 15 years. Then we’ll see where things are headed and what we can offer the older ones in particular. Maybe there will be coaching so that they also have something directly for their future.
And how many children will be able to participate?
We would start with 60, from across the county – that wouldn’t be too big and not too small.
Do you already have plans for the place and time?
Because we favor the Volksfesthalle, the last week of the holiday is set. We want to start with five days plus half a day where the adults can join to see the city. But all this is not fixed yet. If it develops, it could also go longer in the future.
What about cooperation partners?
As we are still looking for sponsors, it may be a little smaller in the first year. We are in a crisis and it is not known whether companies are willing to support us. We are hoping for support from the city and to get funding.
Could you also get involved beyond a financial contribution?
Absolutely! We want to work with the clubs and are very happy to work with craftsmen who give the children practical instruction. Because educational work should definitely also be part of it, we would also like to see mentors and coaches from industry for workshops and short presentations. People from different research areas or nature conservation. And the media. It doesn’t have to be just adults – we would also welcome teenagers with experience in school magazines.
Mini Munich is free, how much will Mini Ebersberg cost?
That depends on the sponsors. But it will be an amount that everyone can afford.
In Mini-Munich you pay with “MiMü” – will you have “Ebers”?
We will definitely have a currency. And all children, unlike in the adult world, get the same no matter what they do. We will roughly work out exactly what our money is called at the workshop in September.
What other things can the children think about?
About what exactly our city should be called, about the logo, and about what they would like to have. What do you want to experience? How do they want to deal with each other and what should the city look like?
Are there still free places?
20 children between the ages of six and 13 have already registered, but we still have ten places available. Above all, we would like to invite those who want to help shape the first game town. They can then present their ideas to Mayor Ulrich Proske, who will visit us that day.
Workshop “Mini Ebersberg”. Tuesday, September 6, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., elementary school on Floßmannstraße, Ebersberg. Cost: 7 euros. Registrations via [email protected]