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Students learn about politics in Democracy Week

BBC Four people are on a stage in front of a projector which says Demoracy Week. One woman is standing and speaking into a microphone while the others are seated. Students are sat on black chairs in a hall looking at the politicans. The Hall is a converted church and there's a stained glass window in the background.BBC
A group of politicans visited Highlands College to speak to students and take their questions

Students in Jersey have been learning about how politics works in the island as part of Democracy Week.

Politicians have been visiting schools across the island to speak to young people and answer their questions.

A group of deputies visited Highlands College on Thursday to help students there understand how they can become involved in politics and have their voices heard.

Students asked them about the future of the hospital and support for apprentices trying to find work in the construction industry.

Safia smiles at the camera as she stands in the college hall with the black chairs behind her. She's wearing a white knitted jumper with the college lanyard around her neck. Safia wears her hair in two buns at the top of her head.
Safia wanted to know how politicans would define democracy

Safia, 16, was one of the students who asked the politicians a question and wanted to know what democracy meant to them.

She said “everyone thinks differently” and wanted to hear “what they think democracy is and should be in Jersey”.

“I think young people often don't get to have their say enough so I think this is really helpful to learn that you shouldn't be afraid to get involved and that your vote will be taken into account,” Safia added.

Highlands College hosted two visits from Jersey politicians as part of Democracy Week.

Sam smiles at the camera with a projector with Democracy Week projected on it. The stage with the seats and tables politicans were using are in the background. Sam is wearing a dark blue jacket with a white shirt and he has a visitor lanyard on with a red collar.
Deputy Mézec wants politicans to engage as much as possible with younger generations

Deputies Sam Mézec, David Warr, Carina Alves, and Mary Le Hegerat attended the school during the visit.

Housing Minister Deputy Mézec said: “It's really important that politicians are constantly engaging with young people.

"Initiatives like democracy week means there’s more opportunities for students to meet directly with politicians and ask tough questions”.

He added: “We absolutely need to be engaging with young people at places like Highlands because there's a great diversity of courses and young people so we're more likely to get a great perspective of how young people feel about issues.”

It is the fifth time Jersey has run the Democracy Week campaign, which involved several different events across the island.

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