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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Youth on Europe 2050 – Mid-Range Youth Democracy Festival in Kretinga, May 13–15, 2026 • Kretinga, Lithuania

The Youth Democratic Festival (YDF) took place in Kretinga from May 13–15. The city, which recently served as the Youth Capital of Lithuania, provided a space for discussion, the exchange of experiences, and workshop-based work on the challenges of the future.

Participants from Lithuania, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, and Germany worked in thematic groups, discussing topics such as artificial intelligence, climate change, the influence of large corporations, and mental health. Each topic was analyzed through a workshop-based approach, which allowed for the development of specific observations and recommendations.

The common conclusion reached by representatives from all countries was the need for a greater sense of security in a rapidly changing world. The young people emphasized the need for support in the areas of digital literacy, mental health protection, and transparency in the actions of institutions and companies.

Participants had the opportunity to work with experts in youth work, civic engagement, and digital literacy. Additionally, sessions were held on expressing concerns and actively participating in the life of the local community. Organizations working on behalf of the younger generation and local initiatives also presented at the event.

The D-Effect Project and Next Steps

The festival is part of the D-Effect project—Lessons in Democracy and Civil Society—which aims to incorporate the youth perspective into the EU policy-making process. The project includes a series of three Youth Democracy Festivals: a pilot, a medium-scale, and a large-scale event in each of the partner countries. The next stage in Lithuania will be the Large-Scale Youth Democracy Festival, based on the conclusions from the Round Tables and previous events.

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.