Program: Citizenship, Equality, Rights and Values 2021-2027 CERV Program
Project Leader: Reflections on Europe Association
Project duration: March 2024 – August 2025
Partners:
- Croatia – Nansen Dialogue Center in Osijek
- Spain – IDEA Alzira
Project description:
Together with our partners from Croatia and Spain, we are launching a series of initiatives aimed at engaging seniors in activities alongside young people. Our goal is to strengthen intergenerational integration and create a space for the mutual exchange of opinions, experiences, and perspectives. We also aim to spark interest in European Union-related topics among both age groups.
Based on our observations, as well as insights shared by our partners, we have identified a clear generational gap in worldview that often hinders joint civic engagement at the local level. We believe that by working together on activities focused on the history and values of the European Union — presented in an engaging and interactive way — we can help bridge this divide.
In the cities and organizations of our project partners, intergenerational initiatives are currently not being implemented to a satisfactory extent. That is why we are committed to filling this gap by emphasizing European education through the use of innovative and creative methods and tools.
Project goals:
- Increasing integration between seniors and young people
- Exchanging experiences and opinions between the generations
- Increasing interest in the subject of the European Union among both generations
Main activities:
First Activity – Three-day workshops for participants from each country, led by experts. These workshops will focus on moderating discussions, self-presentation, and the art of debating. The aim of the workshops is to prepare participants to lead discussion meetings for young people, residents, and seniors.
Second Activity – A series of 5 discussion meetings/workshops in each country (Poland, Spain, Croatia) conducted by young people with the support of EU experts, engaging youth, seniors, and local residents.
Meeting Topics:
- First meeting – History of the EU – key milestones that shaped the community.
- Second meeting – European integration – from the ECSC through Croatia to candidate countries – what is the future of integration?
- Third meeting – European values – what they are and why they are so important.
- Fourth meeting – European Parliament, Council of the European Union, European Commission – understanding EU institutions.
- Fifth meeting – What next? How we see the future of the European Union + elections to the European Parliament.
Each meeting will start with a short quiz on the topic (e.g., using Kahoot), and additionally, we will use Mentimeter during the meetings to ask questions to the experts.
Third Activity – The EU Competition – 5 “tournaments” on the European Union in each country. Each tournament will be thematically linked to the discussion meetings.
Fourth Activity – An intergenerational study visit to Brussels.
What is behind us?
1. Meeting in Poland on EU history
From 25.04 – 29.04 the first meeting of the project took place. It focused on the history of the European Union, its values, but also on developing soft skills of the participants. The event was held on the grounds of the Karczówka Monastery in Kielce – the capital of the Swietokrzyskie Voivodeship.
On the first day, all participants had a joint dinner, after which a representative of the ROE showed the guests around the site, telling them about the idea of the project and the rules in place.
The next day was the first workshop! The amazing Basia Biskup from the Regional Volunteer Center prepared many team-building activities for the young people from Poland, Spain and Croatia. The workshop began with a game, where participants divided into teams of three were to ask each other questions to get to know each other better. Then it was time for the “Mission impossible” field game. All participants had half an hour to complete a long list of tasks together, which were designed to integrate them and teach them the principles of effective teamwork. After this activity, we smoothly moved on to talking about what counts in cooperation. Based on this, the participants created a list of rules for the next days of the project.
The next highlight of the day was an extremely interesting debate. Basia introduced the participants to the story, which featured 6 characters. The youngsters’ task was to create a ranking, in which they were to decide which character contributed most to the death of the main character. This task showed that everyone has different views and principles that they follow in life, but one should respect each other’s opinions. Finally, Basia created a timeline on which all participants were to place the most important events for them.
The next day began with energizers to stimulate the participants. The workshops were then led by Piotr Kaczynski – an expert on the European Union. The first point of the workshop was a discussion on the impact the Union has on the lives of young people. Later, Piotr presented the structure of the European Union in a way that was accessible to young people, so that participants could understand how the various organs of the Union work. Then, divided into groups, the young people prepared posters on European values. Later there was a discussion about rights which every European citizen has. The expert devoted the last moment of the workshop to a short history lesson on the origins of the European Union. An Intercultural Evening was held, during which each country presented the traditions it is famous for.
The last day dedicated to workshops was led by the indispensable Kama Kępczynska together with a volunteer from France – Quentin. Kama focused on teaching the participants the principles of effective self-presentation and performing on stage. To begin, the youngsters were to present themselves in pairs so that the other person would remember as many interesting facts as possible. Later, the groups from each country were to present a senior relevant to each country, based on the tips given by the expert. The next activity was led by Quentin. He prepared a debate for the participants, the topic of which was the ban on voting in elections for people over 65. Each group had a designated speaking time to convince the rest of their point.
In the afternoon, the ROE representation told the participants about the idea of the project and the next planned activities. It was agreed that each member country will organize discussion meetings and teleseminars involving young people and senior citizens. The main topic of the meetings will be the European Union and how it works, as well as connecting generations.
In conclusion, the event in Kielce was not only a valuable lesson on the European Union, its history and values for the participants, but also a dose of information on the project. Everyone understood the issues of the project and together planned the next activities, the results of which you will be able to see soon!
2. Meetings in Poland
Workshops in Technical High School No. 2 in Starachowice
On May 27, the first of a series of 5 meetings was held in one of Starachowice’s high schools. The purpose of the meeting was to establish a dialogue on the subject of the European Union between young people and seniors. The generations were able to share their experiences, as well as gain knowledge during a workshop conducted by Europe Direct Kielce.
The event began with a Kahoot contest on EU knowledge. It consisted of 20 short questions. Of course, the winners were rewarded with interesting gadgets 🙂
Then it was time for a presentation by Ms. Karolina from Europe Direct Kielce. It was a short lecture on the history of the European Union, the most important events that influenced the image of today’s Union. The presentation was a prelude to the workshop and discussion in groups about what benefits the EU gives to both young people and seniors. Students from the Technical School, together with seniors from the University of the Third Age in groups, created posters on various issues related to the European Union. One of the important topics covered by the groups was the Europarliamentary elections – why vote?
The workshop was very interesting, mainly due to the age diversity of the participants. Young people and seniors liked this form of work very much, and both age groups were able to learn a lot from each other and jointly develop interesting conclusions.
A discussion meeting at the Stanisław Konarski Private High School in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski.
This time, seniors and young people gathered at the Stanisław Konarski Private High School in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski. It was the second of a series of five meetings, organized with the invaluable help of @mrm.ostrowiec.
The event began with a short Kahoot quiz on knowledge about the European Union, and we identified three winners!
The main highlight of the meeting was an intergenerational Oxford Debate. Two teams, consisting of both seniors and young people, debated the motion “The expansion of the EU to include new member states is a necessary step in the development of the European community.” All participants were well-prepared and knowledgeable on the topic, which made the debate highly substantive and interesting.
Interestingly, before and after the debate, a poll was conducted to see which side the audience supported. Both before and after hearing the debate, the majority of votes supported the team opposing the motion, leading to their victory.
The best speakers of the debate were also selected. By just one vote, Michał Domańczyk won, followed closely by Jakub Gawlik.
Next, Dr. Grzegorz Gil delivered a short lecture on the European Union and its structures. It was incredibly engaging due to the expert’s interactive approach, focusing on audience participation and discussion. This allowed people of all age groups to better understand how the EU functions and why voting in elections is important.
A discussion meeting at Plac pod Skałkami in Starachowice.
Today’s workshop began with a quick activity—a quiz about the European Union. It was an exciting and engaging warm-up that allowed us to smoothly transition into the educational part of our event.
As you know, our Tuesday meetings on the grass are a perfect opportunity to expand our knowledge about the European Union. Today, Joanna Jendrośka (@jendroska_asia) from @fundacja_schumana led a workshop on the values of the European Union and their importance.
We explored this topic by creating “value trees.” Each group had the chance to express their opinions on which values are most important and which, while less critical, are still significant. Starting from the roots, which are the foundation of functioning, to the crown of the tree, this group exercise facilitated open discussion and allowed us to view the issue from different perspectives, broadening our horizons.
Following this exercise, we were introduced to one of the articles of the European Treaty, which we focused on, and we began an open forum discussion. We addressed many important topics and exchanged experiences and opinions on:
- generational differences
- gender equality
- women’s rights
- global migration
Importantly, since this project is about connecting generations, our meeting included seniors from the University of the Third Age in Starachowice. Their presence made the discussions even more enriching and engaging.
Discussion Meeting at Pałacyk!
During today’s meeting of the “The EU – Connecting Generations” project, we once again gathered in great numbers at the welcoming halls of the Centrum Kreatywności Pałacyk to explore European topics together and continue building bridges between generations.
We kicked off the event with a short Kahoot quiz, which allowed participants to test their knowledge about the European Union. Despite the varying levels of difficulty in the questions, everyone showed impressive engagement and achieved remarkable results.
The highlight of today’s meeting, however, was a conversation with a very special guest – Member of the European Parliament Mr. Adam Jarubas. His presence was a great honor and provided a unique opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how EU institutions operate, seen through the eyes of someone who actively contributes to their work.
Mr. Jarubas presented the structure and responsibilities of the EU’s key institutions – the European Parliament, the European Council, and the European Commission – in a clear and accessible way. As Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, he also shared valuable insights into the committee’s objectives, challenges, and its role in shaping European health policy.
Through his engaging presentation, we were able to take a rare look behind the scenes of the EU – beyond theory, into the reality of day-to-day work in European politics. Following the presentation, we held a Q&A session where participants had the chance to ask questions and clarify doubts regarding the EU’s operations and policies.
Among the topics we discussed were:
- the goals and pillars of the European Green Deal,
- the nature and significance of EU directives,
- global health challenges faced by contemporary societies,
- and the structure and locations of the European Parliament and the way it conducts its sessions.
Today’s meeting was not only a valuable source of knowledge, but also an inspiration to reflect on and discuss the important role that both younger and older generations can play in shaping the future of Europe.
Discussion Meeting at the University of the Third Age Headquarters
On August 27th, a meeting took place as part of the “The EU – Connecting Generations” project. The event was attended by local youth and representatives from the Starachowice University of the Third Age.
We started the workshop with a short quiz to test participants’ knowledge about the European Union. The quiz not only energized the atmosphere but also highlighted areas where further knowledge was needed.
After the brief activity, we moved on to a lecture titled “Let’s Talk About the Future of the EU,” led by Ms. Karolina Plutka – Consultant at EUROPE DIRECT Kielce. Our guest provided a detailed overview of the recent crises faced by the European Union, including the migration crisis, economic difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the UK’s departure from the Union. We also discussed how these crises impacted the stability of the EU and what actions have been taken to address and prevent future threats.
At the end of the meeting, participants engaged in group work, where they were tasked with coming up with solutions to the problems facing the EU.
The workshop provided participants with valuable insights into the functioning and future of the European Union. Through a detailed analysis of recent crises, attendees gained a better understanding of the political and economic issues facing the EU.
3. Meetings in Croatia
4. Meetings in Spain
5. The EU Competition
We’ve officially launched a unique series of events – a knowledge-based game show on the European Union, where 6-person teams compete not only on their understanding of EU topics, but also on focus, reflexes, and teamwork!
From History to the Present – The European Union in a Nutshell
The very first event in this series took place at I Liceum Ogólnokształcące in Starachowice, where a team of students from I LO faced off against a well-prepared group from the University of the Third Age.
Our intergenerational meeting, titled “From History to the Present – The European Union in a Nutshell,” began with a short presentation featuring key information about the EU. This served as an introduction and warm-up before the real competition began.
Then, it was time for the quiz – a dynamic team game with six diverse questions exploring the EU’s history, institutional structure, and current challenges. Emotions ran high as both teams showcased remarkable engagement, impressive knowledge, and quick thinking.
All participants received small tokens of appreciation, and we extend our heartfelt congratulations to I LO’s team on their victory! This event was not only a friendly competition, but also a fantastic opportunity to strengthen intergenerational bonds, share experiences, and learn through play.
European Integration – What Unites Us in the European Union?
On March 6th, the second event in our educational quiz series took place at II Liceum Ogólnokształcące in Starachowice. This time, the central theme was European integration – what brings us together within the EU, as well as the differences that occasionally emerge between member states.
We began the meeting with a brief knowledge recap on the European Union, placing particular focus on the core values that form the foundation of the EU, alongside the challenges that sometimes create divides. It was the perfect warm-up for the next part of the event.
Then came the much-anticipated competition! The University of the Third Age team faced off against a spirited group from II LO in an interactive quiz, where success depended on both knowledge and quick reflexes. The rules were simple: after hearing a question, participants had to press the buzzer as fast as possible to see how many points the given answer had earned – scores were previously assigned by our online audience!
Although some of the questions were tricky, the participants showed excellent preparation and infectious enthusiasm throughout the game.
European Values
This time, we gathered at III Liceum Ogólnokształcące in Starachowice to explore the topic of European values together.
The meeting began with an inspiring discussion on the values considered to be the foundation of the European Union – such as democracy, solidarity, equality, and the rule of law. Together, we reflected on how the EU promotes these ideals among its citizens and how they play a role in the daily lives of Europeans – regardless of age.
But of course, no Congeniada would be complete without an exciting quiz showdown!
In this edition, the University of the Third Age team went head-to-head with a group of students from III LO in Starachowice. Despite the questions being both thematic and thought-provoking, they posed no major challenge for our participants, who impressed us with both their knowledge and quick reflexes.
European Institutions – A Closer Look at the EU’s Key Bodies
This time, we had the pleasure of visiting the Vocational School Complex No. 2 in Starachowice, where on March 14 we gathered to explore the topic of European institutions together.
The central theme of the meeting focused on the institutions of the European Union – their structure, responsibilities, and the real impact they have on the daily lives of citizens. Participants learned about the roles and functions of the European Parliament, the European Council, and the European Commission, gaining insight into how the decisions made by these bodies shape everyday realities across EU member states.
Once again, our trusted team from the University of the Third Age stepped into the arena to compete with a spirited team from ZSZ No. 2. The quiz questions focused on the functioning of EU institutions and required not only solid knowledge but also sharp reflexes. Both teams performed brilliantly, and the competition was filled with energy, learning, and mutual respect.
The Future of the European Union
On March 19, at the welcoming Creative Center “Pałacyk”, we held the fifth and final edition of our intergenerational quiz series dedicated to the European Union.
This time, the stage was set for a unique encounter between two exceptional groups: the Youth City Council of Starachowice and the ever-reliable participants from the University of the Third Age. It was a dynamic clash of experience and youthful energy, where the true reward was not only victory, but also shared learning and meaningful reflection on the future of Europe.
The central theme of the meeting was the future of the European Union – we explored the upcoming challenges, potential benefits, and the values that will shape the Union in the years to come. Participants exchanged insightful views, showing that generational differences can be a powerful driver for creative dialogue.
The highlight of the event was the much-anticipated quiz segment, where teams tackled six thought-provoking questions, with answers evaluated based on polls conducted among our online community. Knowledge, reflexes, and teamwork all played a crucial role – and the atmosphere was filled with excitement and anticipation.
We’re thrilled to announce that the Youth City Council of Starachowice emerged victorious in this grand finale – congratulations to the winners!
