From our observations, it appears that many young people in the Poddębice County (Łódzkie Voivodeship) are afraid of public speaking, especially when they have to express their own opinions. They often perceive differing opinions from others as attacks. Furthermore, a survey conducted among students of the General Secondary School in Poddębice showed that as much as 85% of them believe they have no influence on their surroundings, and 95% assess their level of self-expression skills as very low. They all admitted to being unfamiliar with the basic principles of constructive dialogue but expressed a willingness to learn them.
In response to this issue, we conducted workshops for 20 individuals aged 15-19 from the Poddębice County on self-presentation, public speaking, and good communication practices. We organized workshops on self-expression through art, where participants designed artistic activities to express their views on selected topics. We established the Youth Debating Center at the Poddębice school, where young people could practice the art of argumentation, develop public speaking skills, and effective communication. We also organized two Oxford-style debates on topics important to young people, allowing them to practice their newly acquired skills. The young participants themselves came up with the debate topics. We also provided training to participants on journalism skills, including preparing radio broadcasts, asking questions, and writing articles. A school radio hub was established where young people discuss important topics during broadcasts. Additionally, we organized four study visits to media editorial offices in Łódź, where the youth learned about the work and engagement of journalists and artists and had the opportunity to engage in conversations with them about their work and involvement in public affairs.
Evaluation surveys indicate that participants have strengthened their skills in self-presentation, communication, participation in debates, and other public speaking engagements. Furthermore, they have become more courageous in expressing themselves.
