Why?
Democracies depend on voter participation and distribution of power, but Emmen faces barriers on both fronts. Over half of its residents cannot vote because they are too young or not Swiss. Even among eligible voters, turnout is at times just 25%.

What?
The Amt für Unmögliches (AFU) cultivates social and spatial change from the ground up. Citizens get support to turn seemingly impossible ideas into real projects. The AFU itself will be co-created over four years as a research project together with Emmen’s municipality and civil society.

How?
The AFU is a point of contact where citizens with ideas receive guidance and support to realize them. By supporting civic innovation, it builds strong connections between the community and municipality, making collaborations between the municipality and civil society feel smooth and empowering.

For whom?
We design this service alongside Emmen’s citizens and public administration, with a special focus on those typically excluded from formal politics, such as non-citizens. Our goal is to ensure everyone has a meaningful voice in shaping the city.

Impact?
The AFU acts as a “relationship machine”, bringing the municipality, civil society, and university together. It aims to increase participation, empower excluded citizens to co-design their city, and make Emmen a pioneer for civic innovation.