According to research conducted by the Central Statistical Office in the Leszno County (Wielkopolskie Voivodeship), 24% of the residents are individuals aged up to 19 years old. However, only one out of seven municipalities had a youth council in place. From our conversations with the youth in this county, it became evident that they have limited opportunities for social engagement, and they are eager to expand their knowledge and acquire new skills in this area. So far, their involvement in volunteer activities has been primarily limited to school-related initiatives.

Therefore, we directed our efforts towards the youth from several municipalities within our county. We engaged facilitators who conducted a diagnosis of local problems in the identified municipalities. In each municipality, we recruited young leaders and accompanying volunteers. We conducted a series of workshops for them on social participation and local project development. Each of the 10 teams implemented a local initiative in their respective communities, and a short film promoting youth engagement and activities was recorded for each initiative.

Finally, we published a booklet that described all the initiatives and showcased the project’s outcomes. We also organized a trip to the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Voivodeship for selected leaders and representatives of local governments, where numerous youth organizations were active. During the trip, an integration workshop was held. At the end of the project, we organized a conference to present the results of our activities.

According to the evaluation surveys, we learned that the project activities resulted in an increased level of knowledge among the participants in topics related to participation, social project development, and teamwork. Additionally, a space for exchanging experiences and building connections among young individuals was created.