Gdynia's birthday is fast approaching, and to mark the occasion, schoolchildren will have the opportunity to take part in a unique initiative. The ‘100 Student Projects for the Centenary of Gdynia’ programme is open to all - young people will create games, films, debates, workshops and social campaigns, among other things. Participation in the project will develop young people's civic competences and strengthen their sense of agency and enhance self-governance.
An exceptional event lies ahead: Gdynia’s 100th birthday. Throughout the year, a wide range of events and activities will be organized. The programme ‘100 Student Projects for the Centenary of Gdynia’ was created especially for the young residents of Gdynia.
A very important aspect of Gdynia's education policy is strengthening pupils’ agency, subjectivity and self-governance. That is why we decided to develop ideas for student projects, i.e. activities related to this unique anniversary, involving young people, says Oktawia Gorzeńska, Deputy Mayor of Gdynia. These could include city games, quests, exhibitions, debates, as well as intergenerational activities. We want students to be the driving force behind these activities.
The programme gives students freedom in how they carry out their projects, allowing them to create, among other things:
• urban and outdoor projects (games, quests, routes of the future),
• historical and cultural projects (exhibitions, films, school archives),
• social and civic projects (debates, volunteering, intergenerational activities),
• artistic projects (performances, photography),
• educational and STEAM projects (prototypes, research, design thinking),
• podcasts, social campaigns, publications, student-led workshops.
Participation in the project will develop civic competences, strengthen students' sense of agency and help build a culture of dialogue and cooperation. It is also an excellent opportunity to integrate the school community and listen to young people's needs and ideas for the development of the city.
We want this celebration of Gdynia's 100th anniversary to be not only a return to the past, but also a debate among young people about what Gdynia should be like in the future, adds Oktawia Gorzeńska, Deputy Mayor of Gdynia.
How to take part?
Public kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools can participate in the programme. Detailed information on how to apply will soon be sent to school offices. Each institution will be able to submit one application per edition - the process will be managed by the Education Department of the City Hall, which has allocated PLN 300,000 for the implementation of the program.
Public kindergartens will receive up to PLN 2,000 per project.
Public primary and secondary schools will receive up to PLN 3,000 per project.
In main photo: Deputy Mayor of Gdynia Oktawia Gorzeńska, Councillor Łukasz Strzałkowski, Councillor Natalia Kłopotek-Główczewska (photo: Magdalena Czernek)