3rd Round Table in Elbląg – Young People and Adults Jointly Develop the Programme for the Youth Democracy Festival

On 7 October 2026, the third and final Round Table meeting was held in Elbląg as part of the D-effect project, focusing on preparations for the Youth Democracy Festival (YDF), scheduled for November. During the meeting, young people and adults worked together to develop the festival programme, drawing on experiences from previous festivals and ideas generated during earlier consultations.

The meeting marked the culmination of several months of preparations based on intergenerational dialogue and active participation of the local community. Its main objective was to turn the collected proposals into a preliminary festival agenda, ensuring that the event would not only be aimed at young people but, above all, developed with their direct involvement.

An important part of the meeting was the exchange of experiences among young people who had previously participated in Youth Democracy Festivals held in Kretinga, Lithuania, Odsherred, Denmark, and Olsztynek and Dzierzgoń, Poland.

The young participants identified both the most valuable aspects of these events and areas for improvement. They highlighted the importance of international integration, appropriate division of participants into groups, communication in English, and maintaining a balance between workshops, discussions and time for informal conversations.

They also emphasised the need for greater youth involvement in organising events, reducing the length of panel discussions, and preparing alternative activities in case of unfavourable weather conditions.

These conclusions provided a foundation for further work on the programme of the festival in Elbląg.

Democracy, Disinformation and Intergenerational Dialogue

During the workshops, participants developed numerous proposals concerning both the themes and format of the upcoming event. Ideas included a mock trial addressing the issue of hate speech, workshops on disinformation and the manipulation of health-related information, debates on cultural differences, and activities focusing on civic education and the functioning of e-government services.

Intergenerational relations also played an important role in the discussions. Participants proposed activities that would enable young people and senior citizens to exchange experiences and discuss their mutual expectations and challenges.

Participants stressed that the festival should combine education with active participation and social integration. This led to proposals for intercultural quizzes, dance workshops, artistic events and even a stand-up comedy performance focused on democracy.

The First Outline of a Two-Day Festival

One of the most significant outcomes of the third Round Table meeting was the development of a preliminary programme for the Youth Democracy Festival.

Participants jointly selected priority activities, arranged them along a timeline and discussed how the different parts of the event should unfold. The draft programme included thematic workshops, group activities, opportunities for social interaction and accompanying events.

Participants also worked on a name for the festival. Among the suggestions were "Demokraton" and "Discokracja", reflecting the ideas of democracy, youth engagement and the inclusive nature of the event.

Another important stage of the workshops involved testing the programme "through the eyes of a participant". This exercise allowed participants to assess the planned event from a young person's perspective, considering its attractiveness, accessibility and organisation.

The resulting agenda is preliminary and will serve as a basis for further preparations for the festival in November.

Young People Not Only Participate but Also Help Make Decisions

The third Round Table meeting demonstrated the importance of genuinely involving young people in decision-making processes when organising civic events. Their experiences, needs and ideas became the main reference point for shaping the programme of the upcoming festival.

This approach lies at the heart of the participatory Youth Democracy Festival methodology, developed within the D-effect project. It aims to create opportunities for dialogue, intergenerational cooperation and active youth participation in social and civic life.

The Youth Democracy Festival in Elbląg, scheduled for November, will provide another opportunity to put this methodology into practice and demonstrate that young people can have a real influence on the events organised in their city.

More information about the Youth Democracy Festival methodology and the tools developed as part of the D-effect project can be found at:

D-Effect Toolbox

International Youth Democracy Festival in Olsztynek and Dzierzgoń

On 23–24 September 2026, Olsztynek and Dzierzgoń became spaces for discussing how young people can actively participate in the life of their local communities. The International Youth Democracy Festival combined workshops, discussions and work on specific local challenges, demonstrating in practice that young people can not only make their voices heard but also contribute to developing solutions that affect their immediate surroundings.

Young people as co-creators of local initiatives

One of the main objectives of the event was to introduce the YDF – Youth Democracy Festival method, based on dialogue, cooperation and active youth participation. In this approach, young people are not simply recipients of a pre-designed programme. Instead, they are given space to express their opinions, identify their needs and work together to develop solutions.

The Festival provided an opportunity to put these principles into practice. Participants discussed issues directly related to their everyday lives and local communities and then worked together on their own ideas and recommendations.

From discussing needs to developing concrete ideas

An important part of the programme consisted of workshops addressing various aspects of young people’s lives. The topics included access to psychological support, sports infrastructure and activities in Olsztynek, the D-effect project and local self-governance.

The workshops went beyond discussion. Participants analysed problems together, exchanged experiences and developed concrete ideas and recommendations, including proposals related to a film and the local budget. This gave them an opportunity to see how their opinions and experiences can contribute to planning activities within their local community.

Democracy in practice

The International Youth Democracy Festival presented democracy primarily as an opportunity to speak up, engage in dialogue and influence issues that directly affect young people and their communities.

This format enables young people not only to talk about their needs but also to listen to different perspectives, seek solutions together and take responsibility for the ideas they develop. At the same time, it creates space for direct exchange between young participants and people involved in public and community life.

Open discussion with Marcin Kruszewski

Another part of the programme was a meeting with Marcin Kruszewski, creator of “Prawo Marcina”. The open discussion gave children and young adults an opportunity to ask questions directly, share their opinions and discuss issues that are important to the younger generation.

The meeting complemented the practical character of the Festival, which focused on creating conditions in which young people could freely express their views and participate in discussions about matters that concern them.

A space for dialogue and participation in decision-making

The events in Olsztynek and Dzierzgoń demonstrated that youth civic engagement can begin with very concrete, local issues – access to support, sports opportunities, decisions on how local funds are spent and opportunities to influence activities undertaken in their communities.

The Youth Democracy Festival format combines civic education with practical experience of cooperation and participation in decision-making. It helps young people see that their role in community life does not have to be limited to passive participation and that their ideas can become a starting point for concrete action.

55th Extraordinary General Meeting of the Members of the Association of Polish Communes Euroregion Baltic - Experience, the Future and New Forms of Cooperation

Nursecoast II, the future of local government cooperation, preparations for the Association’s 30th anniversary, and new approaches to youth engagement – these were the key topics of the 55th Extraordinary General Meeting of the Members of the Association of Polish Communes Euroregion Baltic, held on 22 September 2026 in Mierki near Olsztynek.

The meeting was designed not only as a formal event of the Association, but above all as a space for discussing what has already been achieved and how the experience gained in recent years can contribute to future joint initiatives. The two-day agenda therefore combined project and organisational matters with the exchange of experience, planning of future activities, and exploration of new methods of cooperation.

Nursecoast II – from experience to future projects

One of the first and most important parts of the meeting was the presentation of the results of the Nursecoast II project, which addressed a specific challenge: the seasonal pressure of tourism on wastewater treatment systems. In tourist destinations, the number of people can increase several times during the high season, while the infrastructure is primarily designed to serve the permanent population.

The project responded to this challenge through six pilot investments in Denmark, Poland, Latvia and Finland, testing different ways of adapting technologies to changing seasonal conditions. These included, among others, constructed wetland solutions, nanobubble aeration, monitoring and remote management, as well as the reuse of treated wastewater for irrigation.

A common conclusion from the pilots is also highly relevant from the perspective of local authorities: there is no single universal solution for wastewater treatment systems operating under seasonal conditions. The technological response should depend on the timing, scale and duration of peak loads. Outside the high season, energy efficiency, stability and automation may be more important, while during peak periods the focus may shift towards process intensification, buffering and monitoring. As highlighted in the presentation of the project results, system resilience to seasonal fluctuations depends just as much on appropriate control and design as on the resources available.

The results and recommendations presented were therefore intended to demonstrate not only what had been developed within the project, but above all how this knowledge could be taken forward. Nursecoast II delivered not only pilot results and good practices, but also valuable experience in assessing and transferring solutions and exploring their potential application in other locations. This knowledge became a starting point for discussions on future initiatives within Euroregion Baltic – particularly those related to the green transition and the search for solutions addressing real local challenges.

30 years of the Association – an anniversary as the beginning of a new chapter

Another important item on the agenda was the preparation for the 30th anniversary of the Association of Polish Communes Euroregion Baltic, which will be celebrated in 2027.

However, the aim is not simply to organise anniversary events. Participants were invited to jointly develop the concept for the celebrations and, above all, to consider how the anniversary could serve as an impulse for defining new directions of cooperation.

For this reason, co-creation was at the heart of this part of the meeting – jointly designing future activities. Discussions focused on what events should be included in the anniversary programme, how to involve the Association’s members and partners, and which initiatives should become particularly important in 2027.

The 30th anniversary is therefore intended to be more than a summary of the Association’s history to date. It is also an opportunity to look ahead and consider what kind of local government cooperation Euroregion Baltic will need in the years to come.

D-effect and YDF – democracy through participation and joint action

The final major element of the first day was an introduction to the YDF – Youth Democracy Festival methodology, implemented within the D-effect project.

Participants were introduced to an approach based on co-creation, dialogue and active participation. One of its key principles is moving away from a model in which young people are merely recipients of activities prepared for them. Instead, they become part of the process – taking part in discussions, co-creating events, and contributing their own ideas and perspectives.

This approach fits well within the broader discussion about the future of local cooperation. Local governments do not operate in isolation from their communities. Involving different groups, listening to their needs and creating opportunities for joint action can help build more active and engaged local communities.

For this reason, the presentation of the YDF methodology was not merely a theoretical part of the programme. The very next day, on 23 September, participants had an opportunity to see the approach in practice during a study visit to Olsztynek.

YDF in practice – study visit to Olsztynek

On the second day, participants moved from the meeting room into spaces where they could see the practical effects of the YDF approach.

The study visit began with participation in the International Democracy Festival in Olsztynek, whose official opening was combined with a panel discussion on youth participation in local governance.

Participants then explored local initiatives and good practices connected with the D-effect project. The programme included workshops organised around several thematic tracks, including activities related to 3D printing, handicrafts and the work of local Rural Women’s Associations.

The subsequent parts of the visit demonstrated that discussions about democracy and civic engagement can extend far beyond traditional meetings or debates. The programme also included a visit to the Municipal Social Welfare Centre and a free psychological counselling service for young people, as well as a walk through Olsztynek and joint herbal workshops at the Museum of Folk Architecture.

In this way, the second day became a natural continuation of the first: on 22 September, participants were introduced to the principles of the YDF methodology, while on 23 September they could see how the ideas of dialogue, co-creation and active participation translate into concrete local activities.

From experience to the future

The two-day meeting in Mierki and Olsztynek brought together several perspectives – experience gained through project implementation, planning of future initiatives, preparations for the Association’s 30th anniversary, and the search for new ways of engaging residents and young people.

The common denominator across all these topics was cooperation – cooperation based on experience gained through project implementation, cooperation needed to develop future initiatives, and cooperation that requires openness to new ideas and new groups of participants.

The 55th Extraordinary General Meeting of the Members of the Association of Polish Communes Euroregion Baltic was therefore more than a meeting devoted to current matters. It also provided an opportunity to look ahead – from future projects and the green transition, through the Association’s 30th anniversary, to cooperation with the younger generation and new ways of building active local communities.

Youth Democracy Festival in Denmark - Young People for Democracy Across Borders

On 10–11 September 2026, we participated in the Youth Democracy Festival in Odsherred, which brought together young people engaged in discussions about democracy, civil rights and freedom of expression.

Together with young people from Denmark and Sweden, we co-created workshops dedicated to freedom of expression, which were part of the YDF – Youth Democracy Festival events held on 11 September. It was an opportunity not only to exchange views, but above all to work together, listen to different perspectives and seek answers to questions that matter to the younger generation.

Democracy in Action

Participation in the festival showed that democracy is not only about voting and taking part in elections. It is also about the opportunity to express one’s views, engage in dialogue, cooperate, take responsibility and have a real influence on issues that affect us and our communities.

Thanks to the D-Effekt project and the Youth Democracy Festival method, young people can not only participate in events, but above all co-create them from the very beginning – choosing topics that matter to them, preparing workshops, engaging others and speaking out on issues concerning their local communities, Europe and the future of democracy.

Cooperation Across Borders

The meeting in Odsherred was also an important experience of international youth cooperation. The joint preparation of workshops by young people from Poland, Denmark and Sweden showed that, despite linguistic and cultural differences, we can work together to create a space for dialogue and action.

D-Effekt connects young people across borders and provides them with tools for active participation in civic life. The festival in Odsherred was another example of how, when young people are given space, trust and the opportunity to take action, democracy becomes something we not only learn about, but something we experience and co-create.

The D-Effekt Project

D-Effekt supports the development of young people’s civic engagement, their participation in democratic life and international cooperation. Through Youth Democracy Festivals, young people from different countries can jointly create engaging events and discuss issues that genuinely matter to them – both locally and internationally.

The 3rd Round Table in Olsztynek as part of the D-Effect project—joint preparations for the Youth Democracy Festival

The third roundtable discussion took place in Olsztynek as part of the D-Effect project and focused on preparations for the Youth Democracy Festival (YDF), which will be held in September of this year. Representatives of youth groups, local institutions, and local governments worked together to develop the agenda for the roundtable event.

Third Roundtable

On August 5, 2026, the Third Roundtable was held in Olsztynek under the slogan “We’re Planning the Festival of Democracy”; it was dedicated to preparations for the Youth Democracy Festival. This was the final meeting of its kind, summarizing several months of consultations involving representatives of student councils, teachers, local government officials, and representatives of institutions and nongovernmental organizations. The meeting was a working session aimed at developing the program for the medium-scale, international festival.

Workshop

The main part of the meeting was a brainstorming workshop, during which participants collaboratively developed proposals for attractions and activities that could be included in the program of the Youth Democracy Festival. Ideas were written down on flashcards and then organized collectively in the most chronological order possible, creating a preliminary schedule for the event. The workshop was led by Kacper Chyła from the Proste Założenie Foundation, who moderated the discussion and supported the participants in developing a coherent concept for the festival program.

Results and Conclusions

The participants’ work resulted in the development of a preliminary schedule for the Youth Democracy Festival in Olsztynek, as well as the collection of numerous suggestions for attractions and activities that could be included in the event’s program, and a definition of the experience we want participants to take away from the event.

The outcomes developed during the Third Roundtable represent an important step in the preparations for the Second Youth Democracy Festival.

Coordination Meeting of the Polish Partners in the D-Effect Project

On July 20, 2026, a meeting of the Polish partners of the D‑Effect project took place in Elbląg. The event was attended by representatives of the partner institutions involved in the project.

The purpose of the meeting was to summarize activities to date and plan the next steps. The current status of the project was presented, and the results of the Roundtable Discussions, along with the conclusions and recommendations for the near future, were discussed.

Particular emphasis was placed on preparations for the Youth Democracy Festivals scheduled for September–November 2026, including the coordination of activities and the division of tasks among partners from Olsztynek, CSE Światowid, Dzierzgoń, and Elbląg. The project’s indicators, the schedule of activities for fall 2026 and the first quarter of 2027, and issues related to the reporting period on the Polish side were also discussed.

Preparations for the OSI closing conference scheduled for March 4–5, 2027, were discussed, and key challenges and project needs were identified. The meeting served to exchange experiences, strengthen cooperation among partners, and establish specific tasks and deadlines for the coming months.

The outcomes of the meeting will form the basis for further actions and project documentation and will be implemented in the subsequent phases of the D‑Effect project.

We invite you to follow the project’s next steps and learn about the project’s results and the methodology of the Youth Democracy Festivals https://eurobalt.org.pl/d-effect-toolbox/ .

2nd Round Table on the Festival of Democracy in Dzierzgoń - young people co-create the future event

A 2nd Round Table dedicated to the preparations for the Festival of Democracy was held in Dzierzgoń. Representatives of young people, local authorities, and local institutions worked together on the concept of an event designed to respond to the needs and ideas of young residents and to strengthen their participation in public life.

On 3 June 2026, the 2nd Round Table on the Festival of Democracy took place in Dzierzgoń. The event gathered representatives of student councils, teachers, local government officials, and people engaged in promoting youth civic participation. The meeting had a working character and aimed to develop proposals concerning the structure of the future festival, its programme, and ways of involving young residents.

Course of the meeting and key assumptions

The event was opened by the Mayor of Dzierzgoń Jolanta Szewczun and representatives of the Młodzieżowa Rada Miejska Gminy Dzierzgoń.

In their introductory remarks, they emphasised the importance of intergenerational dialogue and the role of young people in shaping local democracy.

An important part of the programme was an expert panel on the impact of social activity in the school environment on the further educational and professional development of young people. Experiences were shared by the Mayor of Dzierzgoń Jolanta Szewczun and the Mayor of Olsztynek Robert Waraksa.

Workshop and youth work

A key element of the programme was a training and motivational workshop for student council representatives, led by Kacper Chyła from Fundacja Proste Założenie.

Participants worked on tools supporting effective action in the school environment as well as methods of engaging peers in social initiatives.

The most important part of the meeting was the round-table debate. Working in groups, young people developed proposals for the future Festival of Democracy. Discussions covered, among others, potential attractions, invited guests, event locations, and ways of using urban space in Dzierzgoń.

Outcomes and conclusions

The work of the participants resulted in a wide range of ideas and recommendations, which were presented during the final summary session. It was highlighted that young residents demonstrate strong creative potential and are ready to actively participate in social life, provided that they are given real opportunities for co-decision-making.

The meeting confirmed that the preparation process for the Festival of Democracy is based on cooperation between different stakeholders and the genuine inclusion of young people in decision-making processes.

Mid-term meeting of the D-Effect project partners

On May 14–15, a mid-term meeting of the partners in the “D‑Effect – Lessons in Democracy and Civil Society” project took place. The purpose of the two-day meeting was to review activities to date, assess the progress of tasks according to the schedule, and discuss budgetary and communication issues, as well as the plan for the project’s conclusion.

During the working sessions, the partners reviewed the progress of task implementation, the financial status, and planned promotional activities. The discussions also covered the schedule for the next phases of the project and the mechanisms for monitoring and reporting results.

Closing Conference (OSI)

A key highlight of the meeting was the organization of the project’s Closing Conference (OSI—Operations of Strategic Importance Event), which is intended to serve as the culmination of the YDF (Youth Democratic Festivals) approach, based on the Round Table methodology. The conference is scheduled for March 4–5, 2027, in Hässleholm and aims to engage young people and create a space for dialogue among nations, generations, and sectors, showcasing the power and potential of civic dialogue.

Pilot Project During Almedalsveckan

The partners also discussed a strategy for promoting the Round Table and YDF methods in a way that is accessible to a broad audience, ranging from young people to those working with the younger generation and decision-makers. A pilot presentation of the methods is planned during Almedalsveckan (June 22–26, 2026)—Sweden’s largest event on civic participation. As part of this initiative, the partners will present jointly under the D‑Effect logo.

Conclusions and Next Steps

The meeting allowed the partnership to effectively summarize the first half of the project and coordinate activities for the coming months. Communication priorities, the schedule for preparations for the OSI, and tasks related to the pilot at Almedalsveckan were agreed upon.