Młodzi@Forum Attendees at the Local Government Forum in Zakopane
On November 25–26, young leaders from across Poland participated in the Local Government Forum in Zakopane. The event, organized as part of the Młodzi@Forum project, brought together more than 50 young participants who traveled from 10 provinces to contribute their energy, knowledge, and the perspective of the younger generation to the discussion.
The young people represented a broad cross-section of groups involved in public life. Present in Zakopane were young council members serving on municipal, county, and city councils; youth council members from regional assemblies and youth councils; youth affairs representatives; representatives of foundations, associations, and civic initiatives; the winner of the Economic Forum’s Young Leader Award; and students representing universities from all over Poland. Such a diverse group demonstrated just how many communities of young people are actively participating in public debate today and helping to shape local social life.
The presence of Młodzi@Forum was clearly evident in the event’s program. As part of the event, six partner panels were held under the Młodzi@Forum banner, and nearly 20 presentations by young experts and female leaders took place across more than 10 discussion panels throughout the Local Government Forum. Young people spoke out on issues related to public health, administrative cooperation, social responsibility, electoral systems, the resilience of local communities, migration, youth policies, and the challenges facing young local government officials just starting out. They addressed the topics most important to them—the ones they face on a daily basis.
Among the panels featuring young participants were, among others:
– “Public Health Safety in the Hands of Local Government—Cooperation, Planning, and Crisis Management,”
– “The Power of Social Responsibility—Non-Governmental Organizations as Catalysts for Local Change,”
– “Outdoor Advertising and Urban Aesthetics—Finding the Right Balance,”
– “The Future Belongs to Us—Young Leaders Facing Poland’s Development Challenges,”
– “Safety and Resilience of Local Communities,”
– “Decentralization and State Power—Cooperation Between Local Government and Central Administration,”
– “Electoral Systems in Local Governments—Effectiveness, Representativeness, and Controversies,”
– “Young People in Adult Councils – The First Term from the Perspective of First-Time Local Officials,”
– “New Neighbors, a Shared Future: Migration and Local Communities,”
– “Partnerships That Drive Change,” – “How to Attract and Retain Young Residents?”
Each of these presentations demonstrated that the younger generation brings not only a fresh perspective to the local government debate but also mature, substantive proposals.
Many of the participants are responsible for actual projects, initiatives, and decisions in their towns and cities, which makes their voices extremely important in discussions about the future of local communities.
A highlight of the Młodzi@Forum community’s program was a networking event that brought together several dozen young participants. It served as a space for the free exchange of experiences, establishing contacts, and building cooperation among young leaders from various regions of the country. The turnout confirmed just how important it is for young people to have the opportunity for genuine dialogue with one another, as well as with representatives of public administration.
The participation of the Młodzi@Forum community at the Local Government Forum once again demonstrated that young people are ready to help shape local public policies and bring value to the local government debate—a value that not only complements the voices of adult local government officials but often inspires new ways of thinking.
This is not the end of our joint efforts. The next opportunity to meet and continue these discussions will be the 11th European Congress of Local Governments, during which young people will once again make their presence felt and make their voices heard in the public debate.
