Research conducted by the Youth Study Centre of the University of Warsaw in 2012 indicates that only 2 per cent of young people admit being regularly engaged in some kind of community organisation (sports, culture, youth, local). This demonstrates how few young people interact with organisations and institutions that teach democracy, self-rule, collaboration and helping others. Similarly, the Youth 2011 report by the Office of the Prime Minister confirms that youth in Poland do not want to engage in their local communities but prefer just adapting to the local reality.
Meanwhile, only 9 per cent of all provision focuses on community involvement [Youth Study Centre of the University of Warsaw 2010]. Most activities are ad-hoc projects rather than concerted and cohesive education programmes.
The project aimed at increasing the community involvement of young people by offering participation in initiatives for the benefit of their local communities. Young people learned to identify local needs and suggest relevant response that involves their peers, including socially vulnerable youth.
Nearly 1,000 project participants set out to form small informal youth groups to design and develop initiatives for their own local communities. A social and financial skill education programme was developed for various age groups of children and youth. The programme is available in paper and electronic version and contains ready-to-use youth group facilitation resources.
Project beneficiaries included high school students in 48 communities.
The Institute for Financial Literacy develops and publishes education materials for youth about financial education community project development. In this project, it helped to adapt the international education packages to the realities of informal education in Poland.