San Luis Potosí: Children with a Voice, Leaders of Today

Children with a Voice, Leaders of Today was a strategy of the Municipal Government aimed at strengthening local democracy through the active participation of children in the public life of the city. It promotes citizenship education from an early age through spaces for representation, community participation, and access to public information adapted for children.

The initiative was progressively developed through various municipal programs. In 2022, the Children’s City Council (Cabildo Infantil) was created, a representative space where children learn about the functioning of the municipal government, engage in dialogue with authorities, and present proposals to improve their communities. Subsequently, the Future Entrepreneurs program was launched, through which children from rural communities developed skills to identify challenges in their surroundings and transform them into productive projects with the support of teachers. This initiative received the “Transforming Mexico from the Local Level” Award in 2022 from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Building on these experiences, the Children’s Well-being Squad (Escuadrón de Bienestar Infantil) was established. This program enables children to participate in community missions related to environmental care, civic coexistence, and urban well-being. The program also incorporates technological tools, including a platform where each participant has both a physical and digital ID card, registers participation through QR codes, and accumulates points that allow them to progress through different ranks.

To date, 570 children have registered, participating in 121 activities across more than 50 neighborhoods of the municipality. These activities include reforestation campaigns, the recovery of public spaces, and community educational initiatives. Through these actions, children have become active agents of transformation within their communities, generating a multiplier effect that also involves their families and social environment.

The strategy is complemented by civic education and transparency initiatives such as child-friendly versions of the Municipal Development Plan and the Government Report, which explain the functioning and results of the municipal government in accessible language. Together, these actions form an ecosystem of child participation that strengthens democratic culture, social responsibility, and community engagement from an early age.

More information:
https://sitio.sanluis.gob.mx/EBIM/

https://www.oidp.net/docs/repo/doc1913.pdf