fbpx
We’re Young and We’re All About Civic Engagement!
Outcome:
civic activity
City (headquarters):
Biłgoraj
Voivodeship (headquarters):
lubelskie
Dates:
01-02-2021 - 30-04-2022
Status:
completed
Project cost:
53 011,00 EUR
Funding:
50 386,00 EUR
Outreach:
regional
Types of activities:
social actions and campaigns, activities to activate local communities (animation), educational activities, civic participation
Target groups:
youth, local government, local community

Our project was a response to the problem of an overall passivity and low levels of civic engagement amongst young people from towns and villages of Biłgorajski district (Lubelskie Voivodeship). We identified the problem through our own polling conducted in 2020 and from the data provided by local schools. The results have shown that only a couple students in the entire district tried engaging in volunteering work in the past. The project aimed to engage students from six towns in the district: Smólsk, Korytkowo, Sola, Bidaczów, Buków, Hedwiżyn, and Dąbrowica. We divided our actions into three areas: the area of knowledge, of experience, and of action. As part of the area of knowledge we organized civic workshops and an educational campaign called “More Civic.” Workshops taught participants how to create innovation, participate in decision making process about your community, as well as engage the local community. Additionally, participants developed their knowledge about civic culture and learned how to cooperate with authorities and other citizens. The experience area consisted of meetings at city halls, with local NGOs, as well as civic games and Oxford debates. Young participants were able to continue their education through exercise and experience what civic engagement looks like in practice. The action area consisted of 12 civic simulations that participants conducted within their communities. That was their opportunity to implement all the skills they have learned up to that point. Priorities and ideas presented by the youth allowed authorities to get familiar with young people’s perspective. In total we had 196 participants from 6 towns and 33 entities: local authorities and civic organizations. Thanks to surveys and interviews we know that we have managed to successfully address the problem of low civic engagement among young people in the districts we have selected. Our three areas design allowed the participants to expand their knowledge about civic participation and experience it first-hand. Also, other citizens of the engaged communities were motivated into increased activity through their participation in meetings organized by the youth.

How we can help you:

Translate »
Content | Menu | Access panel