On 1 April, a plenary debate was held at Gimnazjum Samorządowe No. 2 in Bolesławiec. It concerned parliamentary elections. The debate consisted of a short introduction to the topic and a discussion session. Its main subject was the low level of political and social engagement among young people.
The meeting was attended, among others, by Arkadiusz Krzemiński, a Bolesławiec City Councilor, an employee of the District Centre for Education and Staff Training, and a graduate of GS No. 2; Zdzisław Mirecki, who is active in the Society of Bolesławiec Enthusiasts and is a retired police officer and vice-president of the Polish Section of IPA (International Police Association); school principal Maria Subik; Ewa Ołenicz-Bernacka, a Polish language teacher and former City Councilor; Krystian Fecyk and Kacper Gąsiorowski; as well as representatives of the Youth City Council: Piotr Filistyński and Roland Szczepański.
The speakers and audience sought to learn the reasons for the low level of political and social engagement among young people by sharing their own views and experiences. Students also took an active part in the debate and could present their opinions at any time. After a long and fruitful discussion, the invited guests began working in groups to develop ideas on how to encourage young people to take an interest in their city, country or the European Union.
The speakers displayed great ingenuity. The aim of the meeting was to make young people in particular aware of the rights they have, since, contrary to appearances, few people realize this. The debate resulted in many valuable statements and produced many genuinely excellent ideas.
“We think that, at least to some extent, we made young people aware of their rights and of why they should vote and take various actions, because every adult has a real influence on the authorities and the environment in which they live,” say the debate’s organizers. “And although sometimes it seems to us that we are unable to accomplish anything, this is not true. Good intentions, patience and ingenuity are enough.”
(information: GS No. 2 Bolesławiec/ii)