The Silesian Park, located in Chorzów, is one of the largest urban parks in Europe, a green oasis amid the heavily industrialized Upper Silesian metropolitan area in the most industrialized region of the country. This park is very important to the residents of the region, and many people are engaged in activities to support it. In 2011, a senior volunteer initiative was established – initiated by interested individuals – and it continues to exist today. However, according to research conducted by the Regional Center for Social Policy, only 4% of older people in the Silesian Voivodeship are involved in any organization. Youth, as our observations indicate, are more active in volunteering, but have limited contact with nature.
In response to these challenges, we created an intergenerational volunteer program for environmental conservation and the Silesian Park. We conducted a series of workshops for both young people and seniors on nature conservation and eco-volunteering and engaged them in cleanup patrols within the Silesian Park and plant care activities. We also conducted an online survey to gather opinions and ideas for improvements in the Silesian Park, with 100 respondents participating.
As a culmination of these efforts, we organized a debate where participants could share their views and engage with the opinions of presenters. The main topics of discussion revolved around safety, orderliness, and collective responsibility for the park. Our partner in this initiative was the Silesian Park Foundation, with whom we have been cooperating since 2018. The foundation provided workshop facilities and equipment (binoculars, microscopes, bicycles) needed to carry out activities in the park. Furthermore, the Silesian Park Foundation has all the necessary permissions to conduct social activities within the Silesian Park and to utilize its resources.
From the evaluation surveys, we know that through the workshops, participants increased their knowledge in areas such as air pollution, waste, and volunteering. Moreover, thanks to the work of the eco-patrols, there was greater intergenerational integration among participants, and their social activity has also increased.
