The Research from Jarocin XXI Association shows that Jarocin District (Wielkopolskie Voivodeship) lacks support for youth initiatives, with middle aged individuals typically removing themselves from the civic and cultural life due to work and other commitments. Data shows that Jarocin’s downtown has an untapped potential. Th association recommends civic initiative aiming at elevating the awareness of the role of civic and cultural life for the community, as well as creation of a space for active members of the society.

We want to address this recommendation by creating the University of Culture, or a series of diverse micro-projects – picnics, markets, outdoors cinema, or support and discussion groups that engage citizens. We will organize a series of debates about important subjects for individuals living in Jarocin, women’s involvement in the local community, and a series of educational meetings for parents and their children. We will engage leaders from varying age groups and environments into the project. We will employ spaces that, according to our observations, have been rarely used until now. We will also create the Active Citizen’s Guidebook that will include the documentation of all the micro-projects, the conclusions, and a list of best practices.

Jarocin Municipality Public Library will be our partner. It will provide us with space for meetings and trainings, as well as support us with its rich experience in animating civic engagement. Separate branches of the library have small civic centers that naturally attract interested and active citizens of Jarocin. The library has the necessary know-how and is part of a network that will be helpful in implementing the project. Echo Cinema and the Film Café will also serve as spaces for the project.