Our goals are rooted in de Toqueville’s thinking about the nature of the ‘good’ state. We believe that the state is a community of self-organized, competent and engaged citizens. Competent citizens are those, who understand their rights, know how to use them and actively participate in good governance. Engaged citizens are those who believe that their participation in community life matters and that they can affect change. Put differently, they are partners in public administration – not petitioners.
Civis Polonus Foundation take part in various project in cooperation with many partners, such as local gouverments and their departments, NGOs, libraries, schools etc. We are working on grand and small projects in t areas such as:
Schools are a very important public space for young people. This is why we believe they should serve as an example of a transparent and democratic institution where students’ rights and obligations are clearly defined. To prepare youngsters for their future role of active citizens, schools should give them the opportunity to plan and implement their own projects, while taking responsibility for their actions and being accountable for delivering results.
„The active participation of young people in decisions and actions at local and regional level is essential if we are to build more democratic, inclusive and prosperous societies. Participation in the democratic life of any community is about more than voting or standing for election, although these are important elements. Participation and active citizenship is about having the right, the means, the space and the opportunity and where necessary the support to participate in and influence decisions and engage in actions and activities so as to contribute to building a better society.” Revised European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life
The Civis Polonus Foundation’s aim is to enable young people to influence decision–making processes at local levels, especially in the area of youth policy. We work to strengthen young people’s skills in analyzing local problems, reflecting on them and formulate recommendations on solutions for local authorities. In our work we are focused on elaborating clear and useful procedures for consultations between local authorities and youth. We work on a prioritized list of topics that we believe every local community should consult on with youth and youth councils.