A Boost for Global Education

Global education in Iwonicz-Zdrój This is the main focus of the ‘Impulse for Global Education’ project. The Social Impulse Foundation is carrying out activities for 40 secondary school pupils from Iwonicz and Iwonicz-Zdrój. The project began on 1 June 2026 and will run until 30 November 2026. The young people are developing their understanding of global interdependencies. Furthermore, they are learning to analyse information critically and make more informed decisions.

The aim of the project is to increase young people’s understanding of the links between their everyday choices and global processes. Participants will also learn about the importance of responsible consumption, solidarity and honest communication. At the same time, they will develop the skills needed to recognise oversimplifications, stereotypes and misleading media reports.

The project combines learning with practical action. That is why the pupils will not simply attend lessons. They will also produce their own video material and draw up recommendations on responsible behaviour. They will then present the results of their work at a closing event.

Global education in Iwonicz-Zdrój – why is it needed?

The project addresses the needs of young people from smaller towns. Pupils from Iwonicz and Iwonicz-Zdrój have limited access to additional educational programmes. Some worthwhile events take place mainly in larger towns and cities. Transport difficulties, in turn, can make it hard for young people to take part in such activities on a regular basis.

That is why the Social Impulse Foundation is implementing the project directly within the municipality of Iwonicz-Zdrój. Pupils can take part in the activities close to where they live and study. As a result, the project increases access to non-formal education. At the same time, it reduces barriers related to travel and additional costs.

The municipality of Iwonicz-Zdrój has a population of over 10,000. It is also a health resort and tourist destination. Its development is therefore linked to environmental protection, the responsible use of resources and the quality of life of its residents. These issues are linked to the topics addressed within the framework of global education.

Global education helps us recognise the links between local circumstances and developments in other parts of the world. It covers, amongst other things, social, economic, environmental, political and cultural issues. It also encourages critical reflection on the impact of everyday choices on other people and the environment. Further information on this topic is available on the official website Polish aid – global education.

Assessing young people’s needs

The Foundation began the project preparation with a local needs assessment. Fifty secondary school pupils from Iwonicz and Iwonicz-Zdrój took part in the survey. The results highlighted a clear need to develop global education.

Only 24 per cent of those surveyed understood the links between everyday choices and the situation of people living in the Global South. By contrast, 56 per cent of pupils had only a partial understanding. Meanwhile, 20 per cent were unable to identify such links.

Importantly, 82 per cent of those surveyed had not previously taken part in global education activities. At the same time, 60 per cent of pupils cited workshops and practical activities as the most engaging form of learning.

The project therefore makes use of active learning methods. Participants will analyse case studies, solve problems and take part in discussions. In addition, they will prepare their own educational materials. In this way, they will translate the knowledge they have gained into concrete action.

Recruitment of project participants

The first stage of the project involves recruiting 40 pupils. The Foundation is conducting the recruitment process in collaboration with secondary schools in Iwonicz and Iwonicz-Zdrój.

Information about the project is communicated to pupils via electronic class registers, teachers, posters and social media. Applicants apply using a form, in which they describe their motivation and their willingness to take part in the entire programme.

The Foundation also allows applications to be submitted on paper. This enables people with limited access to digital tools to take part in the recruitment process.

The organisers will be assessing, above all, motivation and a willingness to participate actively. They will also ensure that the group is diverse. If necessary, they will open a supplementary recruitment round. They will also draw up a reserve list. Recruitment will run until 30 September 2026.

Global education workshops for young people

The most important part of the project is a series of eight workshops. The Foundation will hold four sessions at each school. Two groups of around 20 people will take part in the sessions.

The trainers will use non-formal education methods. Participants will work in teams, analyse case studies and complete problem-based exercises. In addition, they will take part in moderated discussions and simulation exercises. They will also analyse selected media reports.

The first module will introduce the basics of global education. Young people will learn about the links between the local and global levels. Participants will then consider how events in different parts of the world affect their daily lives.

The second module will focus on everyday choices. Pupils will analyse the impact of consumption, lifestyle and purchasing decisions. They will consider the social, economic and environmental consequences of these choices.

The third module will cover information, stereotypes and responsible communication. The young people will examine how the media portray countries and communities in the Global South. They will also learn to recognise oversimplifications and harmful stereotypes.

The final module will guide participants from theory to practice. Pupils will begin working on their own educational materials. They will also draw up proposals for recommendations on responsible behaviour.

Thanks to the workshops Global education in Iwonicz-Zdrój becomes available without having to travel to a larger town or city. The project gives young people a space to talk, ask questions and draw their own conclusions.

Global education in practice

The next stage involves a competition for a short video on global interdependencies. Pupils may prepare their entries either individually or in teams. Each video will be between 30 and 90 seconds long.

The materials will cover topics such as responsible consumption, solidarity and informed choices. Participants will also demonstrate how local decisions affect people and the environment in other parts of the world.

The competition will help young people put the knowledge they have gained during the workshops into practice. It will also help them develop the ability to create concise and clear messages. Pupils will learn to combine educational value with an engaging format.

The jury will assess the accuracy of the content, the clarity of the message and the creativity. It will also look for evidence that stereotypes and oversimplifications have been avoided. Technical aspects will be of less importance than the content of the material.

As part of the project, at least 10 videos will be produced. The Foundation will award prizes for the best entries. It will then showcase them at a closing event. The videos will also be shared on the Foundation’s social media channels and with schools.

Recommendations from young people in Iwonicz and Iwonicz-Zdrój

Participants will also draw up a document containing recommendations on responsible behaviour. Representatives from both schools will collate the conclusions reached during the workshops. They will then select the most important ideas and proposals.

The document will contain between 5 and 10 recommendations. Young people will address responsible consumption, informed choices and countering stereotypes. In addition, they will propose actions that schools and local communities can take on a day-to-day basis.

The Foundation will present its recommendations in a clear, visually accessible format. This will ensure that the material is also useful to those who did not take part in the project.

The organisers will distribute the document to the schools taking part in the activities. They will also send it to at least 50 secondary schools in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. As a result, the experiences of young people from the municipality of Iwonicz-Zdrój will reach a wider audience.

Closing event in Iwonicz-Zdrój

The project will culminate in an open closing event. The Foundation will organise it in Iwonicz-Zdrój. The event will be attended by pupils, teachers, school representatives and invited guests.

The organisers will also invite a representative from the local authority and people interested in the project’s subject matter. This will enable the young people to present their findings to a wider audience.

During the event, participants will present educational videos and a document setting out recommendations. They will also discuss the key takeaways from the workshops. They will then take part in a moderated discussion on the development of global education at a local level.

The Foundation will also announce the results of the competition. It will present prizes to the authors of the best entries and certificates of participation. Furthermore, it will gather feedback from young people and guests. This information will help to assess the effectiveness of the project.

Results of the global education project

The project aims to increase participants’ understanding of global interdependencies. The young people will also develop the ability to analyse information critically. Furthermore, they will learn how to create responsible and reliable educational content.

Participants will gain a better understanding of the consequences of their day-to-day decisions. This applies to shopping, the use of resources and how they respond to information. The project will also demonstrate that local actions can influence global processes.

An important outcome will be an increased sense of agency. Pupils will not merely be passive participants in the lessons. They will create the sketches themselves, draw up recommendations and present them in public.

The project will also reach at least 1,000 indirect beneficiaries. The Foundation will use social media, school websites and online newsletters. In addition, it will distribute materials to schools in the Podkarpackie Voivodeship.

The materials will remain available even after the activities have ended. Schools will be able to use them during lessons, youth meetings and future initiatives. This means that the project’s outcomes will not end with the closing event.

Global education in Iwonicz-Zdrój – a project currently underway

The Social Impulse Foundation is currently implementing the next stages of the project. The activities will run until 30 November 2026. During this time, young people will take part in workshops, produce video material and draw up recommendations.

The project shows that Global education in Iwonicz-Zdrój It can combine the acquisition of knowledge with practical activities for pupils. What is more, it helps young people to better understand the modern world. It also strengthens their sense of responsibility and their readiness to take informed action.

Information about the next stages will be posted on the Foundation’s website. It is also worth finding out about other projects run by the Social Impulse Foundation. The ‘Projects’ page lists current and planned community and educational initiatives.

Schools, institutions and organisations interested in collaborating can make use of the contact form of the Social Impulse Foundation