Program: “Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values” (CERV), within the framework of the “Strengthening Europe with SPLOT Values” project implemented in partnership of the entities that constitute the Grantor.
Project Leader: Stowarzyszenie Rozprawy o Europie
Duration: 01.07.2024 r. – 31.05.2025 r.
The project ,,Świętokrzyskie – European – Youth,” aims to increase awareness of human rights and disseminate knowledge about the rights and values under the EU Treaties and the Charter of Fundamental Rights among young people from the Świętokrzyskie region. The project is financed by EU funds from the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Program, grant fund , “We strengthen Europe with SPLOT values”.
Activities will be implemented by our youth and EU experts.
What is going to happen?
- 6 citizen breakfasts on the grass
- Social research in the form of online surveys
- A concluding conference in Kielce
- A visit to Europa Experience
What behind us?
1. Breakfast on the grass
Breakfast on the grass #1
The first civic breakfast in the framework of the project ,,Świętokrzyskie-European-Youth” behind us… On July 2 at the Pasternik Reservoir in Starachowice we talked about freedom, and the amazing workshop was led by the irreplaceable @jendroska_asia from @fundacja_schumana. The inclement weather did not stop us from meeting!
We started our conversation with what freedom is and how we understand it. We also delved into the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the EU Treaties, defining everyone’s values. It was also time for a yes/no quiz to see if we agreed with given statements about the EU.
Of course, there was also an interesting discussion about human rights and freedoms in various member states.
Thank you for your involvement!
Breakfast on the grass #2
On July 9th, we gathered by the Lubianka Reservoir in Starachowice for the second civic breakfast as part of the “Świętokrzyskie-European-Youth” project. The topic of our discussions was equality, and the workshops were led by our experts!
We started the meeting with an energizer called “Equality is…”—the challenge was to say something that started with the letter the previous word ended with.
Next, we worked in groups to address different cases of inequality we encounter in everyday life and visualized a world without equality. This exercise aimed to highlight the importance of the topic discussed during our meeting.
The final task of the day was a quiz on European Union knowledge. The groups had to decide whether each statement was true or false. The questions were tricky, but all participants managed them excellently!
Breakfast on the grass #3
On July 16th, we gathered at Szlakowisko in Starachowice to discuss the concept of solidarity. This meeting was part of the “Świętokrzyskie-European-Youth” project.
We began our breakfast on the grass with an energizer and a discussion about what solidarity means to us. The energizer, “Rock-Paper-Scissors,” was no coincidence! The game illustrates the feeling of unity and solidarity with other players, as even after losing, we cheer and unite with our previous opponent.
Next, we worked in groups to analyze short excerpts from songs, searching for messages of solidarity in the lyrics and discussing the significance of solidarity in our daily lives.
The penultimate task was a SWOT analysis. Each of us individually identified the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats faced by a person who shows solidarity with others. This was a time for reflection and thinking about different situations in our lives.
Finally, we focused on the Charter of Fundamental Rights. Half of the group received a slip of paper with an article from the Solidarity chapter of the Charter, while the other half received a question related to a specific article. The task was to find your match, discuss the text, and answer the question using your own knowledge and the internet.
Breakfast on the grass #4
Last Tuesday, we gathered at the Amphitheater in the City Park of Starachowice to discuss citizenship as part of the “Świętokrzyskie-European-Youth” project!
We began the workshop with group discussions titled “What Does Citizenship Mean to You?”. We developed our thoughts and complemented each other’s ideas, ultimately presenting the conclusions we reached together.
Next, each group received a different thesis, such as “Citizenship should involve mandatory military or civil service” or “Minors should have full citizenship rights, including the right to vote.” Our task was to find as many arguments for and against each thesis as possible. During the presentations, other groups asked questions, sparking an incredible discussion. This task aimed to develop our argumentation and debate skills while encouraging reflection on various aspects and perspectives of citizenship.
The final part of the meeting was an informal discussion on current issues related to the European Union. We touched on topics such as migration policy, the common currency in member states, and even the imposition of sanctions.
Breakfast on the grass #5
Our fifth breakfast on the grass is behind us! On July 30th, we gathered by the Pasternik Reservoir to discuss justice. This event took place as part of the “Świętokrzyskie-European-Youth” project.
After a brief introduction, we moved on to the workshop portion of the event. We began by discussing the Charter of Fundamental Rights, focusing specifically on the chapter titled “Justice.” We exchanged examples and reflected on the significance of the articles contained in this chapter.
Next, in groups, we were tasked with discussing the values that an ideal just world would encompass. What principles would guide such a society? After the presentations and exchange of views between the groups, we engaged in an open discussion. Step by step, we explored the values of a just world from the topic of our meeting, to equality, respect for human rights, and solidarity, all the way to responsibility. We supported our discussions with real-life examples from everyday life as well as from a European perspective.
We thank Europe Direct Kielce for conducting the workshops on such an important topic!
Breakfast on the grass #6
The last breakfast on the grass as part of the “Świętokrzyskie-European-Youth” project is behind us. On August 6th, we gathered by the Piachy Reservoir in Starachowice to discuss the topic of dignity.
The workshop was conducted by our wonderful expert – @kamakepczynska.
What is linguistic dignity? We talked about self-esteem and respect for oneself, as well as dignity as a title and honorable function. We also learned how the word “dignity” sounds in other languages—for example, in French, it is “dignité.”
Additionally, we touched on the topic of language dignity, specifically how dialects become recognized as regional languages.
We didn’t shy away from a rather controversial debate! We were tasked with individually deciding which side we were on—whether we believe the Silesian dialect should rightly be considered a regional language, or whether we disagree. We discussed and tackled difficult questions, trying to convince members of the opposing team to switch sides.
2. Social research
The next stage of the “Świętokrzyskie-European-Youth” project is ahead of us.
Right after the unique breakfasts on the grass, where we talked about the Charter of Fundamental Rights, it was time for social research.
Together with the Youth City Council, we developed a survey aimed at examining the needs of young people in the Świętokrzyskie Province.
What next?
The survey will result in reports that will be sent to local authorities and European institutions.
YOUR VOICE MATTERS!
The #jawypelniamSPLOT campaign
Because the voice of every young person in the province is extremely important to us, we decided to organize a special social media campaign to reach as many young people as possible and encourage them to actively participate.
The main goal of the campaign was to motivate you to take a creative approach to filling out the surveys – we wanted you to show that it can be done in unusual, interesting places and have a lot of fun at the same time. Your creativity exceeded our wildest expectations! We received many interesting photos.
We would like to thank you for your commitment and willingness to participate in our initiative. It is thanks to you that the campaign was a success! Below we present your ideas.
Our volunteers also showed their creativity by preparing a funny video inspired by trending films. Thanks to their ingenuity and commitment, they created dynamic material that perfectly captures our spirit. See how they did!
https://www.instagram.com/p/DFNs_boMPl2/
3. Conference in Kielce
At the Museum of Dialogue of Cultures, we presented the results of social research aimed at examining the needs of young people from the Świętokrzyskie Province. We saw where engagement and motivation are lower and certainly need action in this direction.
Then we moved on to a competition testing knowledge about the European Union. Participants competed for prizes, showing that the European Union is no stranger to them!
There were also table workshops! Groups discussed the values enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights.
4. Visit to Europa Experience in Warsaw
In May, we visited the Europa Experience center, which offers a modern, multimedia perspective on the activities of the European Union and its institutions.
We participated in a simulation of a European Parliament session. We were divided into four fictional political parties and worked in thematic committees, preparing positions on important issues. By taking on the role of MEPs, we had the opportunity to see how difficult, but also how fascinating, the work of parliamentarians can be. The debates, negotiations, and voting gave us a real sense of influence on policy-making.
This experience not only broadened our knowledge of the EU, but also sparked our curiosity and engagement in social and civic issues.
The program is financed by the European Union. The opinions and views expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the funding body can be held responsible for them.
Grant funded by the European Union as part of the SPLOT WARTOŚCI project.
