Kuźnia NGO 2.0

"<< Background >>We decided to implement the ""NGO Forge 2.0"" project in response to the current needs of young people and youth workers in Poland, Greece and Bulgaria, which resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic made it difficult for young people to engage in social activities, affecting their motivation, mental health and limiting their ability to implement social initiatives. Many young activists faced barriers such as a lack of knowledge, tools and support needed to effectively carry out activities. Youth workers who support young people were not equipped with adequate, up-to-date knowledge about the needs of these groups. Additionally, decision-makers were often unaware of the specific needs of young activists, limiting support for their initiatives. << Objectives >>The ""NGO Forge 2.0"" project aimed to increase the social and civic engagement of young people by providing them with the tools, knowledge and support to implement community initiatives. We also wanted to strengthen the competence of youth workers by providing them with reliable information about the needs of young people. Another goal was to increase decision-makers' awareness of young people's needs so that they can better support their activities. The creation of the Changemakers platform was to provide young people with inspiration and practical tools to implement social projects. We also conducted research to better understand the needs, expectations and situation of young activists. We were also keen to promote international cooperation, exchange knowledge and experience, and strengthen the effectiveness of our activities.<< Implementation >>As part of the project, we implemented a number of activities. We conducted exploratory qualitative research in Poland, Greece and Bulgaria on the post-pandemic situation of young, socially active people, in which we were supported by more than 20 youth organizations. We organized the premiere of a report summarizing and analyzing the results obtained, which was attended by representatives of 70 social organizations and authorities. Based on the results of this research, we created a digital platform called Changemakers, providing young people with practical tools and inspiration for social action. We also organized mentoring and training programs to support young activists in developing their competencies. In addition, we ran a large-scale social campaign called ""Let's Do Something About It,"" involving young people and youth workers to promote social action and an active attitude toward the environment.<< Results >>The ""NGO Forge 2.0"" project has produced a number of concrete effects and results. Social research reports were produced, which provided valuable information on the needs of young activists and now allow us and other social and public organizations to design better activities. The Changemakers platform has become a tool to support young people in their social activities. To date, 2,000 people have used it. Mentoring and training programs have significantly improved the competencies of 18 participants representing youth groups and organizations in project management, strategic planning and creating a community organization. The ""Let's do something about it"" social campaign reached 169,000 young people, encouraging them to get involved in community activities. All of the project's results are available online under an open license, allowing them to be easily and widely used by other organizations and entities."