About the Youth Participatory Budgeting

YOUTH PARTICIPATORY BUDGET (YPB) is an annual process in which young residents of Stalowa Wola, as well as those studying at institutions located within the Stalowa Wola Municipality (e.g., primary school students, high school students, university students) aged 13-27, decide how to allocate a portion of Stalowa Wola's budget, with their decision being binding for the authorities.

This is a tool that supports civic participation by allowing young people to co-decide on the municipality's expenditures for activities directed towards the youth. Every year, young residents come up with and submit projects that best meet their needs, and then vote to select the ones that will be implemented. In this way, they collectively decide what will be built in our city and what actions will be undertaken.

The primary goal of the Youth Participatory Budget is to invigorate social activity among young people in Stalowa Wola. Alongside the goal of activation, the Youth Participatory Budget also has educational benefits. Through it, young people have the opportunity to learn how to plan and implement activities in their local environment, understand the needs of the youth and the challenges of the city, as well as acquire practical skills in project financial management.

Ideas for projects that can be implemented under the Youth Participatory Budget are submitted in the year preceding their implementation. For example, projects submitted and selected for funding through voting in 2024 can be realized in 2025. The financial resources for implementing the residents' ideas come from the city's budget.

The total pool of funds allocated for projects selected for funding under the Youth Participatory Budget for 2025 is 300,000 PLN.

Each submitted project must fall within the range of 10,000 PLN to 75,000 PLN.

Benefits of engaging in the Youth Participatory Budget process:

• Opportunity to influence your surroundings - By submitting projects to the Youth Participatory Budget, young people have the chance to actively participate in decisions concerning their local community and influence the development of the city.

• Skill development - Preparing a project for the Youth Participatory Budget requires teamwork, planning, creativity, information gathering, and presentation skills. This allows young people to develop not only as citizens but also as leaders and active community members.

• Addressing social needs - The Youth Participatory Budget allows young people to submit projects that address specific social needs in their environment. This way, they can contribute to improving the living conditions of other residents. Young people have the opportunity to realize their ideas and make positive changes in their surroundings, helping to create a youth-friendly city.

• Building trust and community - By working together on projects for the Youth Participatory Budget, young people can build social bonds, mutual trust, and a sense of community. This can contribute to the better functioning of the local community.

• Opportunity to fund your ideas - Projects submitted to the Youth Participatory Budget may be funded by the City. This gives young people the chance to realize their ideas and make positive changes in their surroundings.

In Stalowa Wola, the Youth Participatory Budget is implemented based on Resolution No. LXXVI/1030/2024 of March 7, 2024, concerning the Rules for Conducting the Youth Participatory Budget and the Rules for Conducting the Green Participatory Budget.

If you have a head full of ideas, want to influence the city's development and activities aimed at young people, then the Youth Participatory Budget is just for you! This is a unique opportunity to submit your project ideas that you believe should be realized.