Description and functions
Intergenerational volunteering in Dzikowiec brings together residents who want to work for the good of their community. Many people are already helping their neighbours, supporting older people and getting involved in local organisations. Furthermore, residents organise events, run fundraising campaigns and respond to the needs of those in their immediate community. However, some of these activities remain largely unseen.
That is why the Social Impulse Foundation is running the ‘Social Impulse for Volunteering’ project. We want to bring together young people, adults and older people in joint action. At the same time, we are creating a space for the exchange of experiences, mutual support and better utilisation of residents’ potential.
The project will run from 15 June to 30 September 2026 in the municipality of Dzikowiec. We will involve at least 21 volunteers representing three generations in the activities. Each group will bring different skills, experiences and perspectives on local needs to the project. This will enable the participants to work together to develop an initiative that highlights the importance of everyday community involvement.
Why are we bringing three generations together?
The municipality of Dzikowiec has great community potential. There are schools, rural women’s clubs, voluntary fire brigades, parishes, cultural institutions and local leaders active here. What is more, many initiatives are launched thanks to people who devote their time to other residents without remuneration.
At the same time, different communities often operate in isolation. That is why the project creates a space for young people, adults and older people to work together. Participants will not only get to know one another, but will also carry out specific tasks together.
Young people will bring energy, fresh ideas and digital skills. In addition, young volunteers will help with promotion, online communication and photographic documentation.
The adults will take charge of the organisation, logistics and liaising with local institutions. Drawing on their experience, they will also help to plan the teams’ work and ensure the schedule is adhered to.
For their part, the older residents will share their knowledge of the local community and the relationships they have built up over many years. They will help the teams to reach out to residents, local community activists and older people. Furthermore, they will support the teams during interviews and when collecting stories.
This division does not create rigid boundaries. On the contrary, participants will learn from one another and plan activities together. As a result, volunteering will become a space for a genuine exchange of knowledge, skills and perspectives.
Volunteer recruitment
The first stage of the project involves recruiting at least 21 volunteers. The Foundation will invite young people aged 13–18, adults and senior citizens aged 60 and over to take part.
To reach different groups of residents, we will offer several ways to apply. Applicants will be able to complete an online form, apply by telephone or submit a paper form. This will ensure that people who use the internet less frequently can also take part in the project.
In addition, the Foundation will provide information about the recruitment process to schools, the Rural Women’s Clubs (KGW), the Volunteer Fire Brigade (OSP), the library, the Community Cultural Centre (GOK), the Social Welfare Centre (GOPS), parishes and village leaders. Working in partnership with local communities will help us reach residents from different towns and of different age groups.
Each volunteer will sign an agreement setting out the scope of their duties, the duration of their involvement and the terms of cooperation. Parents or legal guardians, meanwhile, will give their consent for minors to take part. The Foundation will insure the participants and will keep attendance records and a record of working hours.
At the same time, we will carry out all activities in accordance with the Foundation’s volunteering policy and child protection standards. This will ensure that participants are familiar with clear and safe guidelines for working together.
Preparing for joint action
Once the recruitment process is complete, the Foundation will organise a six-hour training session. Participants will learn about the concept of volunteering, the rights and responsibilities of volunteers, and the principles of working with the organisation.
Next, we will discuss safety, the protection of personal data and the rules governing the use of images. In addition, volunteers will learn how to keep records and the rules regarding the participation of minors.
The second part of the training will focus on intergenerational cooperation. Participants will consider how to make the most of the potential of each age group. At the same time, they will discuss potential difficulties and ways of overcoming them.
Later on, the volunteers will practise conducting interviews, asking questions and taking notes. They will also learn how to identify the most important information and prepare short summaries of local stories.
Finally, the participants will form five intergenerational task forces. Each team will be given specific tasks relating to liaising with local residents, documentation, promotion and preparing materials for the finale. This will enable the volunteers to begin their work with a clear division of responsibilities.
The ‘Stories That Bring Us Together’ outreach campaign
The project’s key activity will be the outreach campaign ‘Stories that Bring Us Together’. Intergenerational teams will reach out to residents, local community activists and organisations operating within the Dzikowiec municipality.
The volunteers will visit, amongst other places, the Women’s Rural Clubs, the Volunteer Fire Brigades, schools, parishes and local institutions. They will also speak to village leaders, senior citizens and people known for helping their neighbours.
The teams will be looking for examples of everyday volunteering. These may include activities supporting older people, helping neighbours, school-based activities or initiatives run by organisations. At the same time, the volunteers will focus on small-scale actions that do not make the news but which genuinely strengthen the local community.
As part of the project, we will collect at least 12 stories from local residents and organisations. First, volunteers will contact the selected individual or organisation. They will then conduct an interview, take notes and select the most significant quote. In addition, they will collect photographs and obtain the necessary consents for the use of statements and images.
The teams will also receive six hours of mentoring support. The mentor will help with preparing questions, organising materials and resolving any difficulties that arise. However, they will not carry out tasks on behalf of the volunteers. This will enable participants to gain experience and develop their skills independently.
Intergenerational volunteering in Dzikowiec It will not, therefore, be limited to taking part in the training. The volunteers will reach out to local residents on their own initiative, conduct interviews and produce materials. As a result, they will highlight the people who strengthen the local community every day.
Project finale
We will present the stories we have collected during the final intergenerational initiative. The Foundation will invite local residents, volunteers, and representatives of organisations, schools and local institutions to the event.
The volunteers will present the stories through photographs, display boards, quotations and presentations. They will also put together a small exhibition showcasing various examples of local involvement.
During the final, the participants will discuss volunteering and intergenerational cooperation. They will also demonstrate how local residents can get involved in future community initiatives.
The Foundation will present volunteers with certificates confirming their participation in the project. In addition, it will award the ‘Volunteering Social Impulse’ honour. This will be awarded to a story or initiative that particularly well illustrates the power of local engagement.
Ahead of the final, the youth, adults and seniors will produce a short promotional video. The video will invite local residents to the event and showcase the project’s concept. This will ensure that the project’s activities also reach those who are unable to attend the final.
What will remain once the project is complete?
The project will not end with the finale. After the event, the Foundation will organise a debriefing session. Volunteers will discuss how the activities went, the results achieved and the difficulties encountered.
Participants will then identify the tasks that best harnessed the potential of different generations. They will also share ideas for future initiatives.
The Foundation will gather feedback and expressions of interest in further cooperation. On this basis, it will create a database of people interested in volunteering. At the same time, it will draw up a plan for at least two further community initiatives in the municipality of Dzikowiec.
The project will therefore result in a team of at least 21 trained volunteers. There will also be five intergenerational task forces and a collection of at least 12 local stories. Furthermore, the Foundation will retain the forms, agreements, worksheets and other tools required to carry out future activities.
As a result, the ‘Social Impulse for Volunteering’ will mark the start of a long-term partnership, rather than being a one-off event.
Project funding
The Foundation is implementing the project as part of the ‘Volunteering Brings Generations Together – a regranting programme for the development of intergenerational volunteering’ call for proposals. The call for proposals is managed by the CREO Association for the Development of Civic Education.
The project is funded by the National Institute for Freedom – Centre for the Development of Civil Society. The funding comes from the Government’s NOWEFIO Civic Initiatives Fund Programme for 2021–2030.
The total value of the project is 7,000 PLN. The grant covers training, mentoring, materials, promotion, insurance for volunteers and the organisation of the final event.
A good project doesn’t end when the schedule does. It leaves behind people, relationships and a readiness to take further action.