6th TRANSNATIONAL PROJECT MEETING

P2 Boleslawiec - GMINA MIEJSKA BOLESLAWIEC - Poland

From Dreams to Passion – Meetings with Anna Kowalska

As part of the international NEXT project, I Liceum Ogólnokształcące in Bolesławiec organized a two-day event with Anna Kowalska – alumna of the school and TVP Info correspondent in Paris.

The program included a journalism workshop and an open meeting with the school community. Students had the opportunity to learn about the realities of a creative profession and to see how passion can be turned into professional success.

Anna’s visit combined inspiration with practice, offering both valuable career insights and hands-on experience for young people.

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"Creative Workshop – Art that Brings HopeThe creative workshop “Art that Brings

Hope” gathered over 40 students interested in art, creativity, and the power of social messages in public spaces. The event was organized by the NEXT project team as part of the ongoing series “Empowering Youth through Creative Arts.”This session focused on street art and its social meaning. It began with a discussion on how artistic expression can inspire hope, provoke change, and encourage reflection. Participants watched excerpts from JR’s TED Talk “Why Art is a Tool for Hope” and explored examples of inspiring murals from Poland and around the world – from Warsaw’s Czułość and Gdańsk’s Zaspa to Berlin’s East Side Gallery and the works of Banksy.In the second part of the workshop, students worked in small groups to design their own mural concepts. Each project aimed to convey a positive message and address important social issues such as mental health, human relationships, ecology, and equality. The resulting concepts were thoughtful, expressive, and full of creativity and symbolism.Although this was only the first stage of the initiative, several of the ideas are planned for implementation. Together with the students, the team will seek suitable spaces within the school where these murals can come to life – serving as lasting expressions of young people’s sensitivity and engagement."

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"During another workshop meeting as part of the NEXT project (under the theme: Empowering Youth THROUGH CREATIVE ARTS), our students discussed their projects – and their roles in them. At first glance, what appears to be artwork or conceptual designs, but in reality, something much deeper emerged: the true voice of young people who want to speak up, be heard, and influence the spaces in which they live.The resulting projects are beautiful, sincere, and incredibly moving. The students touched on topics that truly resonate with them: the gap between an ideal world and its problems, the feeling of helplessness and the pressures of learning, but also the need for action and faith in change.Their work also reflected the joy of being different, the belief that diversity is a value, and that what distinguishes us can be a source of strength and beauty. There was also reflection on the impact of artificial intelligence, the threats of the digital world, and how difficult it is today to find a balance between responsibilities, passion, and relaxation. Each work, each idea, is a personal story about emotions that are often difficult to put into words. During the discussions, an important thought emerged: these projects cannot disappear. They should stay with us – in the school space, in a place that young people co-create and where their voices matter. Therefore, although a mural was initially planned, something even closer to the students will be created – a ""Gallery of Young Voices.""This will be a unique space where each work will become part of a larger story about young people: their emotions, sensitivity, courage, and the need to speak about what matters. Because it is in moments like these that school truly becomes what it should be – a place of dialogue, mindfulness, mutual listening, and inspiration.This event will continue, as all the projects will be transferred to the school walls, adorning a space close to the young people. This will not be a poster exhibition, but a gallery of murals. And since there are several projects, the final result will be on display in the spring."