“We're Not Passive” – Young Rural Poles Reclaim their Voice

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In small towns and rural communities across Poland, a familiar stereotype lingers: young people glued to their phones, disengaged, indifferent. But new research from the DEAR project Rural Voices 2030 tells a very different story – one that feels far more alive. 

Young people, it turns out, are not passive at all. They want to act. They just want to do it on their own terms.

Conducted by the Buy Responsibly Foundation, the study spoke directly with young people aged 15–26, alongside educators and decision-makers. What emerged wasn’t apathy – but a quiet frustration. Again and again, young people pointed to the same thing: they are ready to engage, if they are truly heard.

What drives them isn’t abstract “big issues,” but something more immediate – relationships, community, and the feeling their actions actually matter. They want to build things together, see tangible results, and have a genuine say in decisions. 

Their concerns are deeply local. They talk about student rights, about having a voice, about something as practical as transport. Poor connections to larger cities don’t just affect mobility; they shape opportunities, access, and participation. Inequality, for them, is not theoretical – it’s lived.

Some topics spark strong reactions. Gender equality, for example, is both relevant and sensitive. Often linked in discussions to identity and LGBT+ rights, it can feel difficult to navigate in more conservative environments. Yet when framed through everyday realities – like pay gaps or job stereotypes – it becomes more relatable.

Environmental issues are also shifting. Once seen as “big-city concerns,” climate awareness is growing. Still, some gaps remain striking: soil protection, despite being central to the project, barely registered. For many, recycling and consumption feel like “enough.” Educators point to a missing foundation – basic, hands-on environmental knowledge that connects people to the land around them.

And then there are the small but telling details. A shared meal can make or break participation. Volunteering sometimes feels like a school obligation rather than a choice. And beneath it all, a quiet “provincial complex” lingers – some young people feeling less capable or valued than their urban peers.

Yet despite these barriers, their energy is unmistakable. They prefer meeting face-to-face, not just online. They want to co-create, not just attend. From cooking workshops to film nights, from community games to youth-led mini-grants, they are drawn to initiatives where they can shape the outcome. Spaces like libraries, parks, and community centres become more than venues – they are catalysts.

The message is clear: the stereotype doesn’t hold. Young people in rural Poland are engaged, thoughtful, and ready to act. What they need isn’t motivation – it’s trust, space, and the chance to turn ideas into reality.