Young People’s Voices Matter!
The Forum was designed so that participants would not merely be recipients of the discussion, but would actively engage in conversations about the future of education. The programme included, among other elements, a presentation of the photographic projects “Photovoice: Szkoła oczami młodzieży” [Photovoice: School Through the Eyes of Young People], a panel discussion, as wellas a debate involving the audience.
A series of strategic workshops during which participants worked in groups to develop their own proposals for changes in schools was also an important component of the event. At the end of the Forum, these proposals were presented and put to a vote.
Bringing Different Perspectives Together
At the 1st Youth Democratic Forum, “Quo Vadis Edukacjo? Młodzież jako partner w tworzeniu szkół przyszłości”, representatives of different generations took the floor, including high school students, university students, teachers, educational specialists, psychologists and representatives of the political sphere. All of them came together with one shared objective: to seek solutions regarding the future of education.
During the expert panel, the following speakers shared their observations on the role of young people in shaping the schools of the future:
- Dr Andrzej Śliwerski, Certified Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist,
- mgr Bogumiła Cichacz, Headteacher of Primary School No. 70 in Łódź and a pioneer of education,
- Maja Włodarczyk, City Councillor of Łódź and Chair of the Participatory Budget,
- Kacper Trusiński, Chair of the Student Science Club of Family and Guardianship Law.
The Forum is a part of the international YOUROPE project, implemented under the Horizon Europe programme. The project is being carried out in seven European countries and aims to create spaces in which the voices of young people are heard and taken into account in decision-making processes.
Link to the website pof the project: YOUROPE
Interview with the project leader: Liderzy w Horyzoncie [Leaders in Horizon] | dr hab. Mariusz Granosik
