Building bridges in Ridderkerk: Farel Lyceum students delve into democracy just before the elections copy

The kick-off was led by Mayor Oosterwijk of Ridderkerk, who introduced the students to the world of local politics. In his guest lesson, he explained how decisions are made in a municipality and what role residents play in this process.

According to the mayor, democracy is essentially about building bridges between people with different opinions. “You can keep shouting at each other from both sides of the river,” he explained, “but only when you meet halfway on the bridge can you really talk to each other.”

Democracy up close

During the guest lesson, the mayor showed that democracy is much closer than students sometimes think. A municipality deals with issues they encounter every day, such as roads, sports fields, safety, waste, green spaces, and school buildings. With the municipal elections taking place this week, the topic became even more relevant for the students.

The challenge aligns with the educational vision of Farel Lyceum, where students not only learn from books but also work on real-life issues. Within Challenge Based Learning, research, collaboration, presentation, and social engagement are central.

In the coming weeks, the students will continue working on assignments related to democracy, debate, and connection. They will also visit a polling station with their class to see how elections work in practice.

With Bruggenbouwers (Bridge Builders), Farel Lyceum wants students to experience that differences are allowed, as long as you are willing to listen, work together, and seek connection.

Mayor Oosterwijk visited Farel Lyceum for the start of the Bruggenbouwers challenge. After his guest lesson on democracy and municipal politics, he played a game of basketball with the students outside.