Germany's center-left government wants to lower the voting age for nationwide elections from 18 to 16. Many young people support the idea, but the majority of the population has expressed skepticism.
The three parties in Germany's coalition government don't see eye to eye on several key policy issues, including the "Basic Child Security" plan to combat child poverty. What does it entail?
The three parties in Germany's coalition government don't see eye to eye on several key policy issues, including the "Basic Child Security" plan to combat child poverty. What does it entail?
Until December, Germany had resisted calls to close schools, but when COVID-19 cases spiked, students were sent home. That has exacerbated the strain on youth, who are now subject to strict limits on inter-household mixing.
Child advocates say not enough attention has been given to kids’ social and emotional needs. To fill the gap, ordinary citizens and private charities are offering online and in-person opportunities to gather. Their goal is to help children to weather the pandemic at a time when they should be around peers learning to navigate conflict and develop emotionally.
Why We Wrote This
Germans expected the government to watch out for their kids. But seeing gaps in support, citizens have stepped up in new ways during the pandemic to look out for children’s emotional needs.