In Olsztynek, a meeting was held as part of the D-Effect project dedicated to preparations for the Youth Democratic Festival (YDF). Young people, representatives of public institutions, non-governmental organizations, and local communities worked together on the concept of the event, identifying the needs of young residents and developing proposals for activities and program elements. The meeting was conducted in the form of a Round Table and formed part of the process of strengthening intergenerational dialogue in the municipality of Olsztynek.

Joint work on the YDF concept
The event in Olsztynek was implemented within the D-Effect project, which aims to develop youth participation mechanisms and create spaces for co-decision-making on local matters.
The meeting focused on preparing the assumptions for the Youth Democratic Festival. Participants analyzed what type of event would respond to the needs of young people, which topics should be included, and what forms of activity could increase engagement within the local community.

Youth voice and diagnosis of local needs
The first part of the meeting was dedicated to the work of young people from Olsztynek. Participants identified elements that are important for their daily life in the town, as well as areas requiring change or further development. Young participants then developed proposals for the Youth Democratic Festival, indicating possible activities, thematic directions, and solutions that, in their view, should be included in the event programme.

Perspective of institutions and local partners
The second part of the meeting brought together representatives of public institutions, non-governmental organizations, educational units, and local social initiatives. Based on the youth’s conclusions and proposals, the feasibility of implementing individual ideas was analyzed, and the potential contribution of partners to the future YDF was discussed.
The discussion focused on combining institutional experience with the perspectives of young residents and building a coherent event programme based on cooperation.

Key areas of work
During the meeting, particular attention was paid to identifying the needs of young people in the municipality of Olsztynek, defining possible themes and formats of the Youth Democratic Festival, designing activities engaging different social groups, and strengthening cooperation between youth, institutions, and local organizations.
The meeting created a space for direct dialogue and joint development of solutions based on local resources and experiences.

Next stages
The developed proposals will be discussed again at the next Round Table in Olsztynek, scheduled for the summer period. Based on them, the programme of the Youth Democratic Festival will be developed as a result of joint work between young people and local partners.
The event was attended by representatives of, among others, the Municipal Office in Olsztynek, Mayor of Olsztynek Robert Waraksa, members of the Municipal Council, School and Preschool Complex in Waplewo, OSP Olsztynek, Start Olsztynek – Club for People with Disabilities, Senior Council in Olsztynek, Active Municipality initiative, Association “Po godzinach,” Municipal Social Welfare Center in Olsztynek, Mayor’s Plenipotentiary for Prevention, University of the Third Age, Municipal Library in Olsztynek, Association of People with Diabetes, and students from schools in the municipality of Olsztynek.

About the D-Effect project
The D-Effect project supports the development of youth civic participation tools, including Round Tables and Youth Democratic Festivals (YDF). Its aim is to strengthen cooperation between young residents, public institutions, and social organizations in local decision-making processes.

A meeting within the D-Effect project was held in Elbląg, bringing together young people, representatives of institutions, and local organisations. The main objective was to summarise ongoing activities and develop the framework for the autumn edition of the Youth Democratic Festival (YDF).

Review of key conclusions from the first Round Table

The meeting began with a review of the main outcomes from the first Round Table involving youth and institutional partners. Participants revisited identified needs related to youth participation in decision making processes and the quality of cooperation between sectors.

The discussion also highlighted lessons learned from previous collaboration experiences. These showed both strong potential for cross sector partnerships and areas requiring improved coordination, clearer communication, and earlier involvement of young people in planning processes.

Evaluation of the pilot Youth Democratic Festival 2025

A detailed evaluation of the pilot YDF edition held in 2025 in Elbląg followed. Participants analysed the applied working methods and the level of youth engagement, which was assessed as high and active.

At the same time, several organisational and communication barriers were identified. These included coordination challenges between partners, logistical issues, and the need to better align the event format with the expectations of young participants. The conclusions will be used to refine future editions of the festival.

Developing the concept for the autumn YDF edition

The next part of the meeting focused on designing the upcoming autumn edition of the Youth Democratic Festival. The session had a workshop format and included mapping program ideas alongside available institutional and organisational resources.

Participants identified potential thematic areas for the festival and matched them with concrete capacities of partner organisations. This allowed for linking conceptual ideas with realistic implementation possibilities in terms of human, organisational, and institutional resources.

Key discussion areas

The discussion centred on several guiding questions related to the future shape of the event. These included what young people want to contribute to the festival, how institutions and organisations can support their involvement, and what resources are already available within the local ecosystem.

Another important topic was the next steps in the cooperation process, with emphasis on ensuring a more coherent and structured preparation phase based on a partnership driven model.

Conclusions and significance of the meeting

The outcomes and ideas developed during the Round Table will form the basis for the framework of the autumn Youth Democratic Festival in Elbląg. The meeting reinforced the importance of strengthening youth participation structures and further developing local cooperation mechanisms between young people and institutions.

Participants

The meeting gathered representatives from:

• Centre for Art Galeria EL,
• Elbląg Technology Park,
• Fabryka Dobra,
• University of Applied Sciences in Elbląg,
• AMiSNS,
• Volunteer Centre in Elbląg,
• Centrum Wolontariatu in Elbląg,
• the Social Consultation Office of the Elbląg City Hall,
• the Municipality of Olsztynek,
• student representatives,
• Sylwia Bożyk, the Mayor’s Plenipotentiary for Youth Affairs.

March was an opportunity for us to practice the Round Table method as part of the D-Effect project—Lessons in Democracy and Civil Society: Bringing a Youth Perspective to EU Policy-Making.

Over 60 students from elementary and secondary schools in Elbląg actively participated in a meeting regarding the upcoming Youth Democratic Festival (YDF), which is a continuation of the 2025 edition.
First and foremost, the participants—with the support of Association staff and the meeting moderator—discussed:

• interesting event formats in which young residents would like to participate
• key themes that might interest their peers
• the Festival’s format and central theme

Next step? Summarizing the conclusions and recommendations from the school community and inviting representatives from the local government, cultural institutions, NGOs, and informal groups to further discussions.

The goal? Joint dialogue and co-creation of an event that addresses residents’ needs while engaging diverse groups—that is precisely what the YDF method is all about.

The activities of the D-Effect project enable young people to learn intergenerational and intersectoral dialogue, develop social skills, and actively engage in the life of the local community through collaboration with schools, participation in workshops, and the formulation of practical recommendations.

Cooperation and experience-these are the cornerstones of the Regional Offices’ effective work in Brussels.
Regional offices play a key role in representing their regions’ interests on the European stage, building international relationships, and supporting educational and networking initiatives
Excellent examples are the Regional Office of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship and the Regional Office of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, which not only operate actively in Brussels but are also able to effectively join forces .

Organizing a visit for over 60 participants from 5 countries is a major logistical and substantive challenge.
In such situations, cooperation takes on particular importance—and it was precisely thanks to the joint commitment of both Offices that it was possible to professionally host the guests at the East Poland House in Brussels.
It was the experience and expertise of the teams from both Offices that ensured the program’s high substantive quality, meeting the participants’ needs and fostering a valuable exchange of knowledge and experiences.
We extend special thanks to Ms. Małgorzata Wasilenko and Anna Drążek for their dedication from the planning stage through to the actual meeting in Brussels.
Their support was invaluable to the trip’s organizers and significantly contributed to the success of the entire event.
Thank you for your cooperation and professionalism!
“Pomerania in the European Union” Association
Regional Office of the Warmian-Masurian Voivodeship in Brussels