University of Wrocław in the international project “Seen and Heard: Young People’s Voices and Freedom of Expression”

Using the concept of “creative protest” as a basis for social change, the project invites children and youth, including young people at risk of marginalization and exclusion, to participate in shaping civil society. Our activities are based on combining various educational experiences and providing constant support from researchers, educators, artists, activists and publishers.

The project is being implemented in three countries and involves collaboration with schools, which will include research on human rights with the participation of young people aged 12-14.

The first stage of the project examines how young people understand freedom of speech and how culture and art, including literature for children and youth, can inspire open speech about various forms of social injustice. The research undertaken at this stage both addresses specific national contexts (Malta, Germany and Poland) and opens up a valuable comparative perspective that will advance the discussions on citizenship, agency and activism taking place not only in children’s literature studies, but also at the intersection of childhood studies, media studies, pedagogics, geopolitics and migration studies. This part of the project can also help publishers and legislators better understand how to promote freedom of speech and how to create systemic solutions to ensure that no young person is excluded.

Through the mentoring program, which is the second phase of the project, young people will acquire knowledge and skills that will help them think through issues that are important to them and enable the process of designing, creating and promoting creative protest, understood as a reflection of young people’s thoughts, fears, hopes and aspirations, as well as an innovative approach to collaborative problem solving.

We hope that in the final stage of the project, young participants will better understand human rights and their place in literature, culture and other forms of communication. Those taking part will be able to express themselves more freely (through a variety of media) and will be able to see that their voices matter in a broader social and political context.

By creating a social movement together with young people, educators, artists, publishers, activists and legislators will have the opportunity to gain deeper insights into the worldview of the younger generation in order to advocate for the rights of all young people (including refugees, asylum seekers, immigrants) and better meet their needs through their work.

“Seen and Heard” is an important project due to the interdisciplinary nature of the activities undertaken, combining education with art, culture and activism, and its intersectoral nature, involving cooperation between universities and schools and an international human rights organization. However, above all, it is a project prioritizing collaboration with young people who otherwise might not have the chance to be seen and heard in their social environment. In the spirit of caring activism, we strive to support each young person, listen carefully and enable them to express their truth, even if this truth may seem uncomfortable or too radical.

If you would like to learn more about “Seen and Heard” or cooperate with us, feel free to contact us.

Project manager on behalf of the University of Wrocław: dr hab. Justyna Deszcz-Tryhubczak, prof. UWr
Co-investigator in the project: dr hab. Mateusz Świetlicki (01.09.2023-23.08.2024).

Project duration: 2023-2026.

Link to project website: Seen and Heard: Young People’s Voices and Freedom of Expression, https://seenandheardprojecteu

Translated by Joanna Grabowiecka (student of English Studies at the University of Wrocław) as part of the translation practice.