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.

GrowSPACE Foundation Ambassador Program!

First meeting!

Shortly after completing the recruitment process, we organized a two-day ambassadorial meeting in Warsaw. On the weekend of January 13-14, we met in Warsaw to get to know each other better and exchange experiences and ideas for activities in the field of education and rights of LGBTQ+ people! We also met with special guests, including: Minister of Equality Katarzyna Kotula (under whose patronage this year's Ranking of LGBTQ+ Friendly Schools is organized), Member of the Parliament of the Republic of Poland (formerly chairman of the Education Committee of the Capital City Council of Warsaw) Dorota Łoboda, National Consultant for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Kim Blanton from SAVE, an organization from Florida.

In addition to meetings with panelists, our Ambassadors took part in an integration session and worked in groups on opportunities to activate young people in their regions together with the regional team of the GrowSPACE Foundation.

Online training

The GrowSPACE Foundation's ambassador program also includes a series of online training sessions. Young people taking part in the program had the opportunity to participate in:

training on inclusive language with Jola Prochowicz (Polish teacher, educator),

Lecture on organizing equality marches with Marta Magott (psychologist, psychotherapist, vice-president of the Tolerado Association, which has been organizing the Equality March in Gdańsk since 2015),

An inspirational session with representatives of social projects implemented by peers (projects "How do you feel" and "0pressure",

A meeting on how to start activist activity with Anna Wardak (law student, parliamentary assistant of the Ministry of Equality Katarzyna Kotula, co-chair of the Young Left).

LGBTQ+ Friendly Schools Ranking

From February 5, ambassadors had the opportunity to get involved in the promotion of the ranking in cooperation with the regional team of the GrowSPACE Foundation. The ambassadors' task was to support the regional team in reaching people from their local communities and schools, so that the scope of the study was as wide as possible. The active campaign was culminated in the historic announcement of the results of the 2024 LGBTQ+ Friendly Schools Ranking at the Ministry of National Education. Ambassadors were involved in promoting the results in their regions, including participating and speaking at press conferences, e.g. in Kielce and Gdańsk.

What's next?

We have further online meetings ahead of us, during which ambassadors will train and develop ideas for projects that they will organize in their regions. The whole team will meet soon at another stationary meeting! In the fall, with the support of the Foundation, ambassadors will implement their own projects related to equality.