Our recent study visit to Łódź, Poland, provided a meaningful space for reflection on how we approach youth work and community engagement. Hosted by the LEVEL UP Association from February 17th to 25th, 2026, the project brought together professionals from across Europe to explore the diverse styles and methods used by different youth-focused organizations. This immersive journey was designed to go beyond theory, offering us a clearer understanding of how various institutions motivate young people and encourage their active participation in the community.

Throughout the week, the program combined observational learning with deep group discussions, allowing us to gain practical inspiration that we can now adapt to our local contexts. By visiting multiple youth centers, we were able to witness firsthand a variety of professional approaches to supporting youth development. These experiences challenged our existing perspectives and encouraged us to think creatively about how to improve engagement within our own organizations. The collaborative environment fostered by the peer-to-peer exchanges was essential in building lasting contacts and a broader understanding of the challenges currently facing the youth sector.

Living and working together in the heart of Łódź reinforced the project’s emphasis on cooperation and professional growth. From the initial sessions where we set common goals to the final reflections on our learning, the visit was a catalyst for strengthening our own competencies as youth workers and educators. We returned from Poland with a wealth of new ideas and a renewed energy to implement innovative projects that support the active participation of young people.