In 2019 we have completed a project aiming at activating the youth from Lubuskie Voivodesip in civic participation. We have noticed a new kind of problem. As result of the education reform and dismantling of middle schools, the primary schools were forced to take on the responsibility of teaching the kids about volunteering. Until now, middle schools were the place designated to teach that kind of civic engagement, because majority of children in primary schools were deemed too young. After the reform, introduction to volunteering became a new kind of challenge for the primary schools. According to surveys conducted together with Lubuskie NGOs Federation, the local youth has very little knowledge and experience with volunteering.

We will address this challenge by supporting and promoting already existing School Volunteering Groups (SGW) from across Lubuskie Voivodesip. We will invite 12 groups (each from a different district), which together will create a network of SGWs for Lubuskie Voivodeship. We will facilitate workshops for 120 volunteers on how to organize a series of school events that will be attractive and engaging for other students. We will also create the “Youth Activity Town” that will be composed of two tents, sound systems, exhibits and games and other entertainment engaging in fun activities and promoting volunteering. The “town” will travel to each of the student-organized events. The SGW Network will conduct an Voivodeship-wide campaign on activating the youth and will encourage students to celebrate the International Volunteer Day. We will create a website with educational materials pertaining to the school volunteering programs – how to create a school volunteering group, legal regulations surrounding volunteering, and examples of activities and tools useful in activating potential volunteers. It will serve as a source of inspiration for both students and teachers. As part of the project, we will organize Lubuskie SGW Forum and Gala.