Applications are being accepted by May 7 for the 19th round of the “Generations in Action” Competition, which seeks social initiatives that engage older adults in joint projects with younger generations and strengthen their active role in local communities.
Organized by the Association of the Creative Initiatives “ę” as part of “Third Age Universities – Generations in Action” program of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation, the competition is meant for people aged 60+ and intergenerational teams, and supports initiatives that address important social challenges and create space for collaboration, exchange of experiences, and mutual learning among people of different ages. The goal is to support projects that respond to the real needs of residents, foster intergenerational dialogue, combat loneliness and isolation, and promote building of lasting relationships and a sense of shared responsibility for the common environment.
“We want people aged 60+ and intergenerational teams to be able to implement their ideas and develop agency in socially important areas. It is worth starting to build a better world with local communities and meaningful actions,” emphasizes Małgorzata Stanowska, the competition coordinator from the Association of the Creative Initiatives “ę”.
Submitted projects should be of local nature, engage the community, and strengthen the role of people aged 60+ as initiators of activities. Selected projects will receive a grant for implementation and expert support at all stages of execution.
There are two possible paths for project implementation:
- Original path – a project based on the participants’ own idea.
- Adaptation of model solutions path – a project based on a model from previous editions of the Competition, adapted to local needs.
Selected teams will receive:
- a grant of up to PLN 17,000 (with a minimum 10% contribution, either in-kind or financial),
- participation in a three-day Project Incubator, enabling participants to refine their idea and prepare the project for implementation in their community.
- financial training,
- development workshops (online and in-person),
- monthly support from a mentor,
- the opportunity to collaborate with Flying Cultural Animators and Flying Sociologists.
Project implementation is scheduled for the period from October 2026 to June 2027 (minimum 7 months).
The competition consists of three stages:
- Submission of an idea via an online form (Stage 1 of the competition)
- Interview with the Competition Committee (Stage 2 of the competition)
- Participation in the Project Incubator and submission of a grant application (Stage 3 of the competition).
The “Generations in Action” Competition is organized by the Association of the Creative Initiatives “ę” as part of “Third Age Universities” program of the Polish-American Freedom Foundation’s. In the 18 rounds of the competition to date, 498 projects have been implemented, involving thousands of volunteers working under the guidance of approximately 750 leaders of these local initiatives.
