The objective of the program, implemented since 2001, is to support civic initiatives that help giving equal opportunities for a good start in adulthood to children and young people from rural areas and small towns by improving their competence and developing social skills such as teamwork, ability to win support for achieving their goals and plan their activities.
The program resulted in implementation of over 3,000 projects involving approximately 147,000 participants (indirectly nearly 470,000 people have been involved) as well as activation and integration of local communities around activities benefiting children and youth.
NGOs, community centers, libraries and informal groups apply under the program for grants for projects stimulating intellectual and creative aspirations of children and teenagers, developing their ability to achieve independently and realistically set goals, shaping active and open attitudes, and encouraging them to act for the benefit of their communities. Thanks to implementing such projects young people get an opportunity to participate in activities extending beyond the standard curricula offered by schools. In 2019, a total of 122 projects were financed under the Nationwide Grant Competition and the Regional Grant Competition. Among them are projects promoting pro-ecological activities, learning values of their neighborhood environment or creating conditions facilitating actions for the benefit of local community to be taken up by young people.
The program offer is supplemented with training sessions for project coordinators aimed at improving their qualifications, teaching them how to run a project with emphasis on engaging young people to act as an active creator, participant and direct implementer. The training offer for coordinators covers also such subjects as the use of ICT in project management and popularization of educational projects.
Like in previous years, in 2019 another round of summer school for the most active participants of projects was held. It was attended by 24 people. The objective of the summer school is to improve skills in implementing social initiatives benefiting local environment and develop leadership competence. The school graduates can receive a grant for short-term projects benefiting their local communities.
An important component of the program are its Equal Opportunities Local Forums held by organizations participating in the program. The Forum is a place where institutions and individuals involved in activities benefiting young people in their communities can debate on the use of the local environment potential as well as overcoming obstacles limiting development opportunities for young people in villages and small towns.
Last year 12 local forums were held and attended by over 350 participants.
The program resulted in implementation of over 3,000 projects involving approximately 147,000 participants (indirectly nearly 470,000 people have been involved) as well as activation and integration of local communities around activities benefiting children and youth.
33 publications have been issued, describing the methodology of model projects that can be implemented in various parts of Poland. They are available on www.rownacszanse.pl.
As a result of activities carried out under the program over 150 local nongovernmental organizations have been established, and many projects are continued without any additional financial support from PAFF.
Among initiatives supported by the Foundation under the program are Young Explorer Clubs – a continuation of the model project launched in 2002 by the Education Society of Kłodzko and currently implemented by the Copernicus Science Center. The goal of Young Explorer Clubs is to promote interest in science among children and young people. The Clubs allow them to learn through experimenting and carrying out self-directed experiments with use of simple and easily accessible materials. Last year the eighth edition of the Young Explorer Clubs Forum was held for a total of 240 people. The forum is a platform of contacts and exchange of experiences, and it helps to promote the Clubs. The Young Explorer Clubs network comprises over 700 clubs, including several dozen established in Ukraine, Belarus, Lithuania and Georgia.
The Foundation has disbursed $15,862,990, including $502,530 for the current edition of the program.
