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Description
The grant is an opportunity for us to reinforce our unique ''Safe Space'' strategy, which aims to take care of the mental wellbeing of people working in our organisation, as well as to build a foundation for effective communication with our beneficiaries. As part of the project, we are implementing a journalism academy for 200 people, with the aim of improving young people’s journalistic competences in youth and student media channels and identifying future media ''stars''. The third edition of impuls.academy will strengthen young people''s leadership skills so that their actions may create real change in local communities. We are also implementing a pro-frequency micro-influencer campaign before the parliamentary elections and providing training.
Summary of project results
We help young people change the world. Our organization, the Impuls Foundation, works for young people, increasing their social involvement. We create specific, large-scale opportunities for them, strengthening the position of the young generation - which is equally important, and whose voice, energy and ideas shape a more just future for everyone.
Financial resources from the Active Citizens – Regional Fund Microgrant competition were the first funds we received for the development of our activities as an organization. After just over two years of operation, this was a milestone in the professionalization of our activities and multiplication of our social impact. The implementation of the grant particularly helped us improve the quality of our communication, engage volunteers and create a new flagship, low-entry mass project aimed at reaching a large group of young, active people - change:academy.
The second activity was the second stage of change:academy - after special recruitment, we invited 34 outstanding people from the first stage. They had a chance to go on a free 2-day trip to a comprehensive program strengthening teamwork and soft skills. The result was the initiation of five social projects that will be continued in the following months and which we will continue to support as the Foundation.
The grant significantly influenced our motivation and the feeling that our actions can have measurable effects. Resources, both tangible and intangible, have permanently changed the prospects facing our organization - for the better. Participation in the program also gave us the opportunity to re-evaluate our activities and identify new strategic development priorities.
In terms of management and development of organizational resources, we focused on investing in people. Thanks to the Microgrant, we organized a special integration and training trip for 30 people, which strengthened bonds between volunteers and also made an incredible contribution to the creation of the organization''s new strategy for 2024-2026. Additionally, we have strengthened the Foundation as a safe space for young people - introducing a special anti-burnout program for psychological well-being in crisis and conflict situations.
In terms of building the image and communication of the organization, we have developed our visual identification and brand strategy by creating a special brandbook that helps us in the ongoing promotion of our activities. We produced new materials about the Foundation, which accompanied us with increased visibility at events related to the young generation and youth policy. During the grant period, we attended 31 events and established 107 new relationships with stakeholders. We improved the quality of video recordings by purchasing wireless microphones. We conducted an identity and recruitment campaign, as a result of which 61 young people joined us on a regular or ad-hoc basis. The successful recruitment was facilitated by the organization of a virtual open day with a rich program of training and workshops, attended by 67 people.
In terms of activities addressed to recipients and external recipients, we have created change:academy - the first virtual academy of social change on such a scale for young people from all over Poland, aged 15 to 35. Its great success was reaching, in particular, people who had not previously had the opportunity to participate in social events because they came from smaller towns. In its first stage, which consisted of as many as 115 hours of training, workshops, presentations, special meetings and discussions, 1,306 people actively participated. The event had a significant contribution to the development of the youth sector - people in the registration showed membership in 547 different organizations, including youth councils, scientific circles, projects, collectives, amateur media, etc.
The second activity was the second stage of change:academy - after special recruitment, we invited 34 outstanding people from the first stage. They had a chance to go on a free 2-day trip to a comprehensive program strengthening teamwork and soft skills. The result was the initiation of five social projects that will be continued in the following months and which we will continue to support as the Foundation.
The grant significantly influenced our motivation and the feeling that our actions can have measurable effects. Resources, both tangible and intangible, have permanently changed the prospects facing our organization - for the better. Participation in the program also gave us the opportunity to re-evaluate our activities and identify new strategic development priorities.
-Impuls virtual open days - recruitment, integration and workshops (8 hours)
67 people
We have prepared a program based on the activities of our teams. The format was a great success, participants were able to get to know us better. As many as 80% of them took part in the subsequent recruitment. We did not meet the turnout - this was due to the high burden of the second stage of change:academy. We want to build more points of communication with the people closest to us, including: broadcast channels and newsletter, as well as subsequent open days
-Integration and workshop trip
55 volunteers on tour, 5 invited facilitators
We have prepared a three-day program (including workshops on the new strategy for 2024-2026) and integration (visiting Gniezno, board games, dinner with music, yoga, integration games). Not as many volunteers arrived as we expected - the trip took place on October 31-November 3, when the weather broke down. The trip had a significant impact on the level of people''s involvement and provided a significant contribution to the Strategy.
-A psychologist''s original program for young people working at Impulse. A total of 48 hours of consultations for volunteers
We went through a special program "Let''s be together!" in the field of team communication and feedback. It was conducted at our offline and online meetings in the form of workshops. In addition, consultation sessions were organized for many stressful challenges - consultations prevented burnout due to, for example, the high pace of work or the sudden departure of one of the leaders from the Foundation.
-Improve event attendance and networking skills
We have increased our involvement in industry events. We were present at important events concerning the young generation, including: Insummit Youth, Młodzi@Forum, Active Youth Congress, Premiere of the report "Youth Activism". We handed out over 500 business cards. We have many more cooperation proposals and increased knowledge in the community.
-Recruitment campaign for the newly created camaraderie (community) and teams of the Foundation
Thanks to the open day and a large database of people gathered during change:academy, we had no problem with targeting people willing to join, hence there was no need for significant organic reach. Due to the turnover among volunteers, we decided to admit proportionally more people to the teams.
-100 hours of free D3 webinars, workshops and meetings provided
change:academy has been a huge success. We significantly exceeded the expected numbers, especially in terms of the unique organizations in which program participants operated. We''ve identified dozens of associations, youth councils, student clubs and more. The Academy lasted from March 11 to March 16, and its program lasted 115 hours (1-on-1 networking lasted an additional 2,185 minutes).
- two-day events of a workshop nature and the creation of new social projects
During change:academy, recruitment for its second stage was organized. We invited 40 people to two-day events where they learned how to create well-functioning teams and initiated their social projects. There were workshops, participants'' integration, a photo session and training. Five teams were formed and presented project cards. They will continue in the summer with our support