Do young people today have a real influence on what is happening in Poland? Do schools, local governments, media, and public institutions truly listen to their voice?
The Foundation for Innovative Education (Centrum Innowacyjnej Edukacji), in partnership with NGOs, local governments, and business partners, invites people aged 16–24 to take part in the debate “Is Anyone Listening?”, organized as part of the Youth Voice Poland 2026 project.
Event details
- Date: September 22, 2026, 3:30 PM
- Venue: Jan Nowak-Jeziorański High School in Warsaw, 11/15 Hoża Street
- Who is it for: people aged 16–24
Registration
Register for the debate
What will we talk about?
This meeting is the first in a series of debates being organized across Poland, aimed at creating a space for conversation about how the young generation thinks about the future, the state, education, democracy, and their own impact on their surroundings.
The debate will be an opportunity to hear from experts, researchers, and journalists — but above all, it is a chance for young participants to speak up. The organizers want to discuss not only the problems, but also concrete solutions: what should change in schools, local governments, public administration, social media, and the digital environment, so that young people feel their opinion truly matters.
Why is this debate needed?
As shown by the findings of the “Youth 2025” report by the CBOS Foundation, many young people are not turning away from public affairs — but they increasingly feel uncertainty, distance, and a lack of agency.
46%
of final-year secondary school students believe the situation in Poland is heading in the wrong direction
10%
rate the direction of change in Poland positively
26%
of respondents can name the political party closest to their views
These figures show that the challenge is not a lack of interest, but a lack of trust and a sense that young people’s voice translates into real decisions.
“We want to invite young people to a conversation that doesn’t end with symbolic listening. We are interested in what they really think about their future, about Poland, and about the institutions that shape their everyday lives. Youth Voice Poland 2026 aims to show that young people are not merely recipients of decisions — they can be their co-creators.”
— Joanna Bochniarz, President of the Foundation for Innovative Education
From conversation to recommendations
During the meeting, participants will discuss how to rebuild trust in public institutions and create conditions in which young people want to engage in civic life. An important element of the debate will be working together to develop recommendations for schools, local governments, the government, the media, and digital platforms and AI-based solutions.
The conclusions of the debates organized within the project will be compiled into a report that the Foundation for Innovative Education will publish in October 2026. The report will be presented in Poland and at the European Parliament.
Who is it for?
The debate is aimed at people aged 16–24 who want to say what kind of future they want, what kind of state they want to live in, and what kind of society they want to help build. Taking part in the meeting is a chance to talk with peers, confront different perspectives based on credible sources, and add your voice to a nationwide discussion about an environment that supports the social development of young generations.
