Combating loneliness among children and young people – September 10, International Suicide Prevention Day
September 10 is International Suicide Prevention Day. On this day, it is worth talking about protective factors, i.e. those that prevent suicidal crises and are able to lead out of a crisis. One of them is good and supportive relationships, which is why the GrowSPACE Foundation is opening a comprehensive program to combat loneliness among children and young people called "Let's connect". With the beginning of the school year, new materials will be available. The "Let's connect" program is financed by the capital city of Warsaw.
GrowSPACE Foundation Statement Regarding the Ordo Juris Guide
In response to the publication of the guide “When Kasia claims to be Tomek. Legal aspects of gender disputes over pronouns in a Polish school” by the Ordo Iuris Institute, as the GrowSPACE Foundation, with a sense of social responsibility for respecting human rights, we are publishing a statement.
Organize Rainbow Friday at school! Fill out the recruitment form here
Rainbow Friday will soon start in schools all over Poland. This year, you no longer have to fear Przemysław Czarnek or his armed wing – curator Barbara Nowak. Join our Volunteer Network and build bridges of diversity with us!
80,000 children and youth from Ukraine in a Polish school
The GrowSPACE Foundation presented initial information on the support for children and youth from Ukraine in a Polish school. According to the information, up to 80,000 young people from Ukraine have enrolled in a Polish school in connection with the introduction of compulsory schooling for this group from September 1, 2024. The GrowSPACE Foundation presented the first data on the preparation of schools to support this group. We showed the number of local governments providing support and the first data on the employment of intercultural assistants in schools. The school year begins with a lot of uncertainty.
"Poland - Ukraine - Together for Well-being"
The project is co-financed by the Polish-American Freedom Foundation as part of the RITA program – Regional Transformations, implemented by the Education for Democracy Foundation.
Standards for the protection of minors at the GrowSPACE Foundation
The GrowSPACE Foundation maintains high standards and gradually introduces all members to the knowledge of the standards. Thanks to this, our activities with young people are safe!
Take matters into your own hands! Recruitment for the project is starting
As the GrowSPACE Foundation, we are starting another ambitious initiative. “Take matters into your own hands!” is starting – a program to support civic participation of young people in the Podkarpackie province. We will train 60 young people from the Podkarpackie province who do not want to remain passive.
The guide on the rights of transgender youth.
The guide is available and can be downloaded (see Polish version).
GrowSPACE Foundation Ambassador Program!
The GrowSPACE Foundation launched an ambassador program in January 2024. Ambassadors under the program will develop their skills in implementing projects and expand their knowledge and interest in equality and diversity in schools, anti-discrimination education and LGBTQ+ rights.
Poland - Ukraine - Together for well-being
The GrowSPACE Foundation, in cooperation with the Stand With Ukraine Foundation, has launched a project titled "Poland - Ukraine - Together for well-being"!
Young Patient Package
The GrowSPACE Foundation publishes the Young Patient Package, which aims to support young patients in the health care system. Young people should have the opportunity to co-decide about their health and gain autonomy in important aspects. The Young Patient Package is a proposal for changes in three areas: mental health (e.g. psychologist, psychiatrist), reproductive rights (e.g. gynecologist) and pediatrics.
Rights of transgender people at school.
Project co-financed by the European Commission as part of the "Building Bridges - Civic Capital in Local Communities" project, implemented from the CERV program financed by the European Commission under the "Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values" program for 2021-2027.
48 / 5 000 GrowSPACE works in Brussels for #YouthWork!
As the GrowSPACE Foundation, European Confederation of Youth Clubs, Youth Work Ireland and Youth Work Ireland Laois, we publish a policy brief - standards for inclusive work within #YouthWork. This is an important step in developing further European policies and standards for youth work.
Results of the 2024 LGBTQ+ Friendly Schools Ranking – for the first time in history at the Ministry of Education
On April 24, 2024, the results of the 4th national edition of the LGBTQ+ Friendly Schools Ranking were announced. For the first time in history, the results were presented at the Ministry of National Education. The winning schools receive Trust Shields signed by Deputy Minister Paulina Piechna- Więckiewicz. The schools' places in the Ranking were determined by the votes of young people. A total of over 12,000 of them came from all over the country.
What rights do students have?
The second article as part of the mental support project for LGBTQ+ youth. The project is implemented with a grant from the Active Citizens – Regional Fund program, financed from the EEA Funds.
How to react in a mental crisis?
The first article as part of the mental support project for LGBTQ+ youth. The project is implemented with a grant from the Active Citizens – Regional Fund program, financed from the EEA Funds.
Current Reports and Statute
GrowSPACE Foundation presents current Reports and Statute
Study trip to Iceland.
GrowSPACE team in Iceland. People from the Foundation's team (Patrycja Andrychowicz, Dominik Kuc, Aleksandra Stube) had the opportunity to take part in a study visit to Iceland.
Inauguration of the 2024 LGBTQ+ Friendly Schools Ranking
On February 5, the launch of the 4th national edition of the LGBTQ+ Friendly Schools Ranking was announced at the Chancellery of the Prime Minister.
Atmosphere at school – An important criterion for choosing a high school.
Should school atmosphere and psychological safety be taken into account when choosing a high school?
Increase in suicide attempts by children and adolescents in 2023
According to data from the GrowSPACE Foundation, for the second time in a row there has been a shameful increase in suicide attempts by children and adolescents.
Na co zwrócić uwagę wybierając szkołę średnią?
Zastanawiasz się jak znaleźć szkołę, która wspiera zarówno rozwój akademicki, jak i emocjonalny uczniów? Dzięki naszemu poradnikowi będzie to proste!
Pomeranian Education Superintendent attacs on the schools that organized Rainbow Friday in Gdańsk - Legal Shield 2.0.
Due to the attack of the Pomeranian Education Superintendent on the schools that organized Rainbow Friday in Gdańsk, we are publishing Legal Shield 2.0.
Rainbow Friday
Tomorrow, October 27, will be Rainbow Friday! This year's festival starts under the slogan "Safe Space". More than 100 schools from various cities and towns in Poland celebrate it. The initiators of the action from the GrowSPACE Foundation and the Campaign Against Homophobia call on young people to celebrate together - take action and organize an event at their school and take part in the competition for the best photo from the action. The goal is to create Safe Space, i.e. a safe space for LGBTQ+ people at school. In this way, the Polish school is to be unfreezed from the chilling effect.
LET'S DOC Documentary Film Festival for Young Audiences
On October 21-29, 2023, Warsaw will host the first festival in Poland for young audiences entirely dedicated to documentary films. A little later - from October 30 to November 10 - the festival will have its online version on the VOD Warszawa platform.
Good practices around mental health for schools.
As part of the "LGBTQ+ Friendly Schools" project run by the GrowSPACE Foundation, institutions from all over Poland acted for diversity and mental health. The data collected by the Foundation show that the topic of supporting mental health is crucial for school communities. We would like to point out that LGBTQ+ youth are a group particularly vulnerable to mental health crises.
Psychological safty at school.
What is psychological safety and how to take care of it in the school environment?
What does a safe school mean and why has it become the motto of the LGBTQ+ Friendly Schools Ranking 2023?
LGBTQ+ friendly 2023? Why, by announcing the results of the study, we built a "school" based on values under the Ministry of Education and Science? If you are wondering, be with us on Wednesday, July 12 at 19:30. On live we will talk about the results of the LGBTQ+ Friendly Schools Ranking 2023.
How to choose the right school?
Webinar carried out as part of a project financed by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway from the EEA Funds under the Active Citizens - Regional Fund Program.
Free psychological help - "Grow Strong" / "Rośnij w siłę"
Out of concern for the mental well-being of young people, the GrowSpace Foundation proposes psychological help. The Grow in Strength program enables participation in free psychological consultations carried out by a certified and experienced Avigon.pl team.
Deputy Minister Janusz Kowalski's attack on LGBTQ+ friendly schools - the answer of the organizers of the Ranking
On August 9, Deputy Minister Janusz Kowalski made another attack on LGBTQ+ friendly schools in the Opolskie Voivodeship.
Vacancies of psychologists at schools
Press Release
LGBTQ+ Friendly Schools Ranking at EYE2023 in Strasbourg!
At the invitation of the European Parliament - as a group sponsored by the EP - our team participated in the European Youth Event (EYE2023), which took place on June 9-10 in the heart of European democracy - the seat of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.
The Children's Ombudsman inspects LGBTQ+ friendly schools.
We publish a legal shield for schools. Press conference of May 26, 2023.
Project Summary: the Youth Safety Networks in Poland
In March 2023, the Youth Safety Networks project ended. It was carried out in cooperation with the Regional Office of the European Commission in Poland.
Training: Statutes to be repaired - pass it on!
School Statutes to be repaired is an action aimed at repairing the statutes of Warsaw institutions. Records that are inconsistent with the education law should disappear from them. We fight for those that protect the rights of students.
Tram of mental health on the rails of Warsaw
On the occasion of the International Mental Health Day, on October 10, a special tram line H was launched in Warsaw. The Mental Health line ran on the Pl. Narutowicz - Kawęczyńska Basilica.
Report: Status to be repaired - pass it on!
We publish the "Report" for the project "Statute for repair - pass it on!". The activities undertaken as part of the project took place in 2022. and concerned the intervention of students from Warsaw secondary schools, within their statutes. Young people had the opportunity to participate in a workshop, training and take independent actions in their schools.
Round Tables for a Safe School
Want to talk about mental health? Want to talk about school safety? We would like to invite you to the Roundtables for Safe School, which we are organizing in several cities across Poland in cooperation with the European Commission in Poland.
Polish School Equality Map - Webinar by Forbidden Colours and GrowSPACE
We invite you to read the report on the impact of the Ranking of Polish LGBTIQ + Friendly Schools on the education system and the evolution of the study from 2018.
We are launching the LGBTQ + 2022 Friendly Schools Ranking!
Are you choosing a school and looking for one where you will feel safe? For the second time we are creating the National Ranking of LGBTQ + Friendly Schools just for you!
Back to Schools in Warsaw - Press Release
Due to the return to full-time teaching in the school year 2021/22, the most important recommendations for the Warsaw local government and schools in the capital were presented at the press conference. They were developed on the basis of over 20 individual interviews in Warsaw institutions, which lasted from June this year. Their results are included in the report "Warsaw School after the Pandemic" financed by the Education Office of the Capital City of Warsaw. Of Warsaw. The report contains a total of 24 guidelines for preparation for classroom teaching.