Students at the Janusz Korczak II General Secondary School in Bolesławiec hosted Ziemowit Gardynik and Janusz Lewicki, volunteers from the Lower Silesian branch of the Klub Jagielloński, a Kraków-based association whose mission is “to sustain and spread a republican way of thinking about Poland as a valuable part of European culture and a common good deserving the utmost care”.
Several years ago, representatives of the organisation came up with the idea that improving reality in Poland required work at the grassroots. This is how the Modern Patriotism Academy project came into being, also involving Bolesławiec’s II LO. “The project’s creators argue that it is not the case that parliamentarians and local government officials are bad. The classes we conduct in schools are intended to make young people realise that a system exists in this country which ties politicians’ hands,” explains Ziemowit Gardynik.
Students at II LO had the opportunity to take on the roles of parliamentarians and the Bolesławiec authorities. During the meeting, held on 24 May, the project participants were divided into two groups. Each group elected a mayor and then, as the City Council, worked together on the municipal budget. “We make high-school students aware that some funds, such as those allocated to education, cannot be changed anyway. And that Bolesławiec cannot be turned into a land of plenty within a dozen or so years,” Gardynik points out.
The result? Some students taking part in the initiative (Sandra Zarywka, Piotr Rola and Mateusz Sulski) admit that the classes with Klub Jagielloński volunteers have led them to look more understandingly at the work of parliamentarians and local government officials. But there are also differing opinions—that much more should be expected from politicians (Beata Tereszczyn).
That day, there was also a meeting with City Council member Mirosław Sakowski. The head of the Civic Platform councillors’ group spoke about this year’s budget of the Urban Commune of Bolesławiec. “It has been prepared decently,” he stressed. “However, I am concerned about the city’s debt. In my opinion, greater emphasis should be placed on creating jobs, not on building housing. Everything must be done to ensure that young people want to return to Bolesławiec after completing their studies.
The high-school students still have one more meeting as part of the Modern Patriotism Academy. Before it takes place, however, they have been tasked with writing an essay entitled ‘The Poland of my dreams’, creating an online meme promoting Bolesławiec and preparing a social campaign. “We want to make young people aware that everything is in their hands. To become the pebble that can trigger an avalanche, thanks to which something in this country will change,” adds Ziemowit Gardynik.
(information: ii)