From our observations, it appears that there is a lack of activities engaging young people in environmental actions in the Podlaskie Voivodeship. At the same time, the Hajnówka County, where we operate, faces excessive deforestation, air, and water pollution. The Environmental Protection Program for the City of Hajnówka for the years 2017-2022, with consideration for 2023-2026, describes the issues of low groundwater levels, pollution, and the impact of industrial and municipal buildings on air quality, not only in Hajnówka but also in other localities within the Hajnówka County. From our conversations with school principals in the county and municipal offices, it is evident that there is a lack of support and opportunities for young people to engage in environmental actions.

In response to these problems, we involved youth and teachers from 10 schools in the Hajnówka County in environmental activities. In each school, we formed youth volunteer groups and conducted workshops on environmental education. With the support of facilitators, the youth organized one-day events in their schools, promoting environmental care. Local government authorities were invited to these events. We created an “Eco-Bus,” which visited each event and provided necessary educational materials, including games and educational activities. We also organized meetings for the youth regarding conducting social consultations and diagnosing local issues. We supported the youth in writing petitions to six municipalities and the Hajnówka County, urging them to include ecological and educational actions in the budget for 2022, targeting children and young people.

The main goal of the project was to establish eco-volunteer groups in schools, which was successfully achieved. Before the project, such groups existed, but they were not very active in environmental matters. After the workshops, the youth learned about many other types of actions related to environmental protection.