Speak Out: Activating European Citizenship – A new ESN Poland project for 2025

At the start of 2025, ESN Poland is excited to announce the launch of its new initiative Speak Out: Activating European Citizenship.

Building on the achievements of the Erasmus Generation in Action project, Speak Out focuses on fostering deep and lasting intercultural ties by actively engaging young people from various countries in the life of local communities. The project aims not only to promote intercultural integration but also to:

  • Combat stereotypes – Through education and joint activities, the project aims to break down prejudices and promote openness to cultural diversity.
  • Counter disinformation – Special attention is given to the impact of misinformation on young people's perceptions of Europe, with activities focused on media literacy and promoting reliable information sources.
  • Encourage civic engagement – The project seeks to inspire young people to take an active role in public life and community initiatives at both local and European levels.
  • Strengthen European values and solidarity – Speak Out emphasises key values such as democracy, human rights, inclusiveness, and shared responsibility for Europe's future.

Addressing key challenges

Speak Out aims to tackle some of the primary barriers that prevent international students from actively engaging in local communities, including:

  • Low youth participation in public life.
  • Lack of awareness about the opportunities offered by the European Union.
  • The spread of disinformation that undermines democracy in Europe.

Through targeted actions, the project will empower young people to overcome these obstacles and actively shape Europe's future.

Project activities

Project implementation will be split in two phases:

  1. Understanding perceptions and raising awareness - In the first phase, ESN will collect and analyse data on young people's perceptions of Europe and the opportunities offered by the EU. Special attention will be given to the role of misinformation and stereotypes in shaping opinions. Additionally, this phase will include identifying barriers to youth engagement in civic and community activities. To address these challenges, the project will offer training sessions, workshops, and webinars for young people, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to engage effectively in civic initiatives, such as running social campaigns, building dialogue with policymakers, and working in international teams.
  2. Collaboration with policymakers and recommendations - In the second phase, Speak Out will focus on engaging youth in discussions about Europe’s future through conferences, workshops, and meetings (both online and offline) with policymakers, representatives of European institutions, local authorities, civil society organisations, and academia. These events will provide a platform for young people to share their insights and experiences and collaborate with experts and policymakers to develop solutions for identified barriers to civic engagement. This approach ensures that the voices of young people are not only heard but also considered in decision-making processes addressing key European challenges. 

The role of ESN Poland

As part of the project consortium, ESN Poland will play a key role in promoting democratic participation and active citizenship. The planned activities include:

  • A series of webinars on promoting democracy and encouraging greater youth engagement.
  • Events at Polish universities aimed at increasing the involvement of international students in the democratic life of the European Union.
  • A National Policy Dialogue, a conference summarising the Polish part of the project, scheduled for spring 2026. During this event, ESN Poland will present project results and recommendations for higher education institutions and civil society organisations.

The launch of the project coincides with Poland’s Presidency of the Council of the European Union, offering a unique opportunity to highlight the importance of active citizenship in shaping Europe’s future.

International collaboration

ESN Poland is proud to be part of this project coordinated by ESN International. The consortium includes European Alternatives and ESN member organizations from countries such as Ireland, Hungary, Portugal, Italy, Albania, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The project is co-funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV), established by the European Union to support initiatives promoting civil rights, equality, democracy, and social engagement.

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We hope that through the implementation of Speak Out: Activating European Citizenship, young people will become more confident in expressing their opinions and leading change in their communities. By organising workshops, conferences, and educational campaigns, we aim to create a space for dialogue and experience-sharing while promoting civic engagement and combating disinformation, ultimately contributing to a more inclusive, democratic, and resilient European community.