YHP Poland

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Location

Poland

Timing

2025 - 2027

The context

Across Poland, many young people face growing health challenges and increasing risks to non-communicable diseases (NCDs), driven by gaps in health knowledge, harmful everyday habits, and a feeling that they lack control over their own health and wellbeing.1

 

Our objectives

To strengthen school environments that enable young people to adopt healthier lifestyles, develop leadership skills, and engage as active contributors to healthier communities, reducing future NCD risk.

Our programme - 'Health with class'

YHP Poland works with schools and young people to create supportive environments that promote healthy lifestyles, leadership and active civic engagement in health. The programme begins by listening to young people—understanding the health issues that matter most to them, how they approach their own health, and where they experience challenges or unmet needs. 

These insights shape practical, needs-led education focused on the key risk factors for NCDs. Young people are supported to adopt everyday practices that build sustainable, lifelong habits that can reduce future NCD risk. In tandem, the programme develops leadership skills, strengthens peer and ally networks in the health space, and empowers young people to take collective action. 

YHP Poland also supports advocacy at local and national levels, helping to drive systemic changes that strengthen NCD prevention and create healthier communities for the long term. 

How the programme works

  • Building capacity: Teachers and school staff are trained as Health Allies and equipped with materials to support holistic health education and NCD prevention.
  • Youth-led dialogue: Young Health Ambassadors are trained and, with the support of Allies, lead peer discussions on health and wellbeing, identifying the issues and behaviours that matter most to young people.
  • From insight to action: Schools translate these insights into School Health Manifestos and practical local actions that strengthen healthy habits and supportive environments.
  • Evidence and advocacy: Youth perspectives will inform research, reporting and advocacy efforts that engage policymakers, educators and communities at local and national levels, through a nationwide campaign.

Additional tools and support

  • Dialogue-based educational materials and facilitation cards.
  • An e-learning programme to extend reach and sustainability.
  • Mentoring support from first-edition participants for new Young Health Ambassadors.
  • Educational materials for parents, including articles, videos and leaflets.

 

Our aim

We aim to directly reach 12,000 young people year one, doubling to 24,000 in year two of the programme.

 

Our partners

Health with Class is delivered by The School with Class Foundation, a non-profit organisation, based in Warsaw, with a mission to provide every young person with positive and meaningful educational experiences that will help them become active, conscious and responsible citizens of the world.

https://eng.szkolazklasa.org.pl/programs/supporting-wellbeing-mental-and-physical-health/health-with-class/

Find out more about The School with Class Foundation

References

1. NIK about availability of psychiatric treatment to children and young people [Internet]. NIK. Supreme Audit Office; 2020 [cited 2022 Nov 23]. Available from: https://www.nik.gov.pl/en/news/nik-about-availability-of-psychiatric-treatment-to-children-and-young-people.html