Story contest and curriculum - What does democracy mean to you?
Democracy lesson and story contest for schoolchildren
The municipality of The Hague thinks it is very important that young people are also well informed about the big meeting being organized in the World Forum. It is mainly about the protection of our democracy and consequently our freedoms and rights.This includes questions such as: What does democracy mean to you?
For decades, many took our democracy for granted. In the Netherlands we will celebrate 80 years of peace in 2025. But now many are also concerned about our security. Democracies are under pressure.
Of course, young people are also concerned. In our city The Hague, city of international peace and justice, and more broadly in our democratic society, it is vital that citizens actively participate in our democracy.
Democracy is more than just 'voting once every 4 years'. Active citizenship must be stimulated as much as possible. That is why all kinds of activities are being organised for all residents of The Hague in the run-up to the summit.
Digital lesson package and story competition
Road to Summit has therefore offered a digital lesson package to schools in The Hague for all pupils in primary school classes 7 and 8 and the first year classes of secondary schools. The lesson package also includes the story competition 'Long live our democracy!'. The pupils can express their vision of Peace and Justice in their own way in this story competition.
We watched this lesson about democracy and the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague at Basisschool Statenkwartier:
Assignment story competition
• Students can write a story about our democracy and freedom in a group (max. 4 students) or individually. Why is democracy important to you? What is so good about it for you? What can be improved?
• Students have a great deal of freedom in this competition. You can write an essay, a visual story or photo collage with a short text, a comic strip, a poem, etc.
• The story can be set in your own area of The Hague, the Netherlands or elsewhere in the world.
• Teachers and students received a special digital teaching package 'Long Live Our Democracy' to use parallel to this.
• Schools select the winner of their school themselves. Schools are asked to submit their winning story digitally no later than 4 June 2025. If digital submission is not possible, the stories can also be sent to the city hall or handed in at the reception desk.
• A jury will assess the entries and announce the prize winners.
• The best entries will be selected. The winners will be invited with their teachers and parents to present their findings to the jury.
• The final will take place on June 17. This final round will take place in the afternoon and the winner will be announced at a beautiful location in The Hague
Video Long Live Our Democracy'-lesson during school
The lesson package also includes a video with which a 'Long Live Our Democracy' lesson can be shown in the classroom, especially for groups 7 and 8 of primary school and the first year of secondary school.
