Building a vibrant local democracy together
On Friday evening, February 27, 2026, the Leiden Support Desk for Migrants (LSM) brought together dozens of residents and local politicians for a special edition of Connecting, Eating, and Talking. A packed hall hosted a joint iftar—a moment of encounter, connection, and shared values. But this evening went beyond sharing a meal.
https://leidssteunloket.nl/event/jouw-stem-telt-democratie-in-actie-2/
The topic was the future of Leiden.
After breaking the fast together, a substantive debate ensued between council members from various factions. Topics that directly impact residents’ daily lives were central: affordable housing, a fair energy transition, a humane parking policy, and the future of the Volkshuis on Apothekersdijk. Three Leiden residents opened the discussion with personal stories—stories that demonstrated what policy means in practice.
This meeting is part of the series “Your Voice Counts – Democracy in Action,”
within the LSM project “Multilingual, Vibrant Local Democracy.”
Our vision is clear:
a strong democracy can only exist if everyone can participate.
People with diverse backgrounds and languages live in Leiden’s neighborhoods. We don’t see this as a challenge, but as a strength. The prerequisite is that everyone has access to information and feels heard. Language shouldn’t be a barrier—it must be a bridge.
The city council makes decisions about housing, education, employment, healthcare, and our neighborhoods. Therefore, it’s essential that residents know what’s going on and actively participate in the democratic process. Democracy doesn’t happen by itself. We build it together.
With this project, LSM lowers barriers to participation, makes local politics understandable, and creates space for encounters and dialogue. We are building a new form of participation and integration—not just as a temporary project, but as a movement. A movement in which people feel free to express their opinions, contribute their ideas, and take shared responsibility for their city.
Inclusive. Connecting. Future-oriented.
We invite every resident to be part of this movement.
Don’t stay on the sidelines. Ask questions. Join the conversation. Go vote. Help others to participate as well.
Because democracy doesn’t start in city hall.
Democracy starts with us.
And together we make it live.
Rayan Younis’s speech
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,
a warm welcome to everyone.
It’s wonderful that we’re here together—residents, candidates, organizations, and volunteers. Your presence shows that local democracy is alive and well. And that’s what this evening is about: participating, having your say, and making decisions.
This meeting is part of a series of evenings:
“Your voice counts – democracy in action,”
within our project
“Multilingual, vibrant local democracy”
by the Leiden Migrant Support Center.
Our message is simple:
a strong democracy only works if everyone can participate.
People with different languages and backgrounds live in our neighborhoods. That’s not a problem; it’s a strength. But only if everyone feels heard, if information is clear, and if language isn’t a barrier, but a bridge.
The city council makes decisions about our daily lives: about housing, education, work, healthcare, and our neighborhoods. That’s why it’s important that everyone knows what’s going on and can make their voice heard. Democracy doesn’t work by itself—we create it together.
With this project, we want to lower barriers, explain local politics, and create space for encounters and dialogue. Because your voice matters.
Fortunately, we’re seeing a positive trend: more and more people want to participate. People want to share their opinions, improve their neighborhoods, and find solutions together. That’s the power of a vibrant democracy.
That’s why I invite you tonight: get involved. Don’t just sit on the sidelines. Join the conversation, ask questions, vote, and help others participate as well. Together, we make democracy stronger and more inclusive.
Tonight is a great example. Candidates will debate each other, ideas will be shared, and different perspectives will converge. Not to compete, but to strengthen each other. Differences of opinion actually strengthen democracy.
Let us listen with openness, speak with respect, and meet each other with curiosity. Because democracy doesn’t begin in city hall—democracy begins here, with us.
I wish you an inspiring and lively evening.
Democracy belongs to all of us—let’s make it live together.
Thank you very much.