Visiting Katowice regional parliament in Poland

2. In the interwar period the Silesian Parliament was in the legislative authority of the autonomous
Silesian Voivodeship. In the years 1925-1929, a magnificent edifice was built in Katowice, which
became the seat of both the Silesian Parliament and the Voivodeship Office.
The building was the largest in Poland at that time. It was built in the neoclassicist style.
When the building was inaugurated in May 1929, Michał Grażyński, the President of the Province
of Upper Silesia at that time, called the building a 'material symbol of Polish culture and power'.
The Parliament Hall became a model for the Sejm of the Republic of Poland, which was being
constructed at the same time.

3. Silesian Youth Parliament have been created in 2017 and it is an advisory part of the
Regional Parliament of the Silesian Province. The main purpose of its existence is to
give opinions about resolutions and advise Silesian Parliament, but also to represent
young people in conversations with the authorities of Silesian Province and educate them
about topics that are connected with local government. In the second term of office,
which will last in years 2018-2019, there are 55 councillors, who are 16-24 years old.
The chairwoman is Klaudia Franiel.

4. Our group inside the building of the Parliament

6. The debate and presentation for the guests

7. International guests from the Erasmus+ programme

8. The representative of our city in the Silesian Youth Parliament,
Sebastian Ciołczyk

9. On Tuesday 6th November our class visited the Silesian Parliament in Katowice. We took part in the youth's debate of the 9th session of
MSWŚ (Młodzieżowy Sejmik Województwa Śląskiego). Special guests of the debate were the members of a seminary "Creating Bridges for
Democracy". They came from: Romania, Portugal, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Turkey, Greece, Latvia and Spain to be known about the projects
made by the MSWŚ. The main subjects of the debate were connected with changes in the statute of MSWŚ and the new function of students'
coordinator. The members of MSWŚ discussed about environmental protection and presented activity programme for the next months.
The main councilors: Paulina Hoffman, Dominika Szymala, Eryk Franke and Sebastian Ciołczyk informed us about future work. The leader
Klaudia Franiel proposed dates of meetings and Jakub Dworczyk told about the details of Oxford debates prepared together with school in
Pszczyna. The building of the Silesian Parliament is situated in the center of Katowice in Jagiellońska Street. It is built in modern style and
consists of five floors with offices and debate rooms that one of them we have visited. I have been in such event for the first time. Honestly, it
was quite hard for me to understand the debate but I have enjoyed the new experience. I've found some benefits of the visit. Now I know real
work of young politicians. I was taught how to discuss during the debate. Surely it will be useful in my life.
Adam Messaoudi
OUR IMPRESSIONS

10. In my opinion, seeing the 9th outing of Silesian Youth Parlament was very interesting and important for our project. We saw how the
Youth Parlament works from the inside. I felt very welcome there as they greeted us, the visitors, almost every time someone spoke.
I found the English part very informative to the students visiting from countries like Greece, Spain, Portugal, Turkey and many others.
One of the councilors introduced to them the purpose of this parliament and explained how it worked. Young politicians discussed issues
like ways of protecting the environment, reducing the pollution. They pleaded commissions. Also they voted on a few projects, of course it
was all happening in a very professional way, just like in a real parlament. The councilors were engaging in the discussions and I could see
that they were committed to their role. They were presenting their ideas and opinions about important issues. The outing was held in
Silesian Parlament, wonderful building that gave a lot to this experience. These active, young people were proceeding at the same place
that normal politicians do. It shows that Silesian government respects the idea of young people actively taking part in politics. I was really
impressed with scale of this whole project. In my opinion, more of us should take part in decisions and discussions. Thanks to this visit,
I am sure, that as a young woman I can make a difference and my age has nothing to do with it.
Zuzanna Odrzywołek

11. On 06.11.2018 our class had the opportunity to see the 9th outing of Silesian Youth Parliament which gathered in Marshal Office in
Katowice. I think it was very interesting and important for our project. It was probably the first time when me and my classmates could see
how democracy really looks like. All of there was so serious. For example presenting projects and also voting. Also, there was a group of
students from foreign countries so we had a chance to listen their translator in English. It was nice experience to hear about politics in that
language. And I noticed that when you get involved in something like this you feel like you're very important person. I have never thought
I would ever become interested about politics. But here I am! Politics doesn't have to be boring. You can find it interesting like I did.
Aleksandra Balcerzak
Being on the meeting of Silesian Youth Parliament was something special to me. I'm not really interested in politics but this was outstanding.
We were in the main building of Silesian Parliament which was huge and impressive. Interior and the hall were just beautiful. We were
greeted by the councilors next to the group of people from Spain, Greece and Portugal. Part of their debate was in English, it was fluent and
clear. Their mature approach to the environmental and political issues was awe-inspiring. From this session I learned about the structures
and the way of voting for projects in our province. I hope I'll have a chance to go there again and even participate in this.
Jan Kośmider

12. Our group went to Katowice to participate in the IX Session of the Youth Sejmik of the Silesian Voivodeship. The guests of the meeting
were, among others participants of the international seminar Creating Bridges for democracy implemented as part of the Erasmus Plus
program. For this reason it has been presented part of the debate in English. The meeting began giving new councilors certificates on the
assignment of mandates for the term 2018-2020. Then, the councilors discussed about introducing changes to the current regulations.
The councilor explained to us what are the main duties and functions of the self-government of the Silesian Voivodeship. Youth councilors
accepted proposal for making team for ecology and environment protection. The Silesian Sejm building is located in the Centre of
Katowice so that every resident has easy access to him. On the outside the building is built in the modernist style however on the inside
the building is expensive decorated. Personally, the building impressed me with his appearance. I am glad that i have participated in one of
the sessions. I saw how it works inside and i really enjoyed it. I like the idea that young people can help our voivodeship to make it better.
Marzena Suska

13. Our project is constantly providing us with multiple great opportunities to broaden our knowledge about politics – not only European, but
also our local one. Our last visit in the Silesian Parliament in Katowice definitely proofs it. We took part in the monthly session of the
Youth Council of Silesian Voivodeship. To begin with, I was in awe of the interior of the building itself. I was flooded by the beauty of
ornamentation and richness and left simply delighted. Speaking about the debate, there were two parts of it. The English part was pretty
short, but the translation for visitors from Erasmus+ programme was actually interesting. During the second part of the debate, the polish
one, the councilors discussed some important matters, such as the problem of air pollution, connected with the topic of ecology and the
environmental protection, or the initiative to appoint the Student’s Rights Coordinator. At the beginning of the event I had mixed feelings,
because I am not that much into politics. Surprisingly, I found the debate absorbing and valuable. I realized that our voice as young people
really matters and is important. We have a significant influence on our voivodeship and other adolescent’s lives. Summarizing, all I can
say is that I am very satisfied and happy about the fact that I had a chance to participate in that debate and see with my own eyes how the
council works and makes changes in our closest area.
Anna Guzik

14. Our group participated in the 9th Youth Parliament gathering. It took place in Marshal Office in Katowice on the 6th
of November. We listened to young councillors who discussed about important democratic problems, presented their
projects, voted on resolutions and summarized their achievements so far. The English part of the debate was very
interesting because we and another group were watching and listening about some activities done by young people.
We watched the presentation prepared by them too. The part of councillors spoke in their position about many new ideas
and current issues. The building of the Silesian Parliament is extremely beautiful. I mean architecture of course.
Stairs, entrances, rooms are breathtaking and made a huge impression on us. I am very happy that I could participate in
such meeting. That debate was a good lesson.
Wiktoria Ziemianek

15. On Tuesday 6.11 we had a nice trip to the Silesian Parliament for a debate of Youth Silesian Council. There was an English part of the
debate but only one person decided to speak in English what was really disappointing. It is hard to say what the subject of the debate was.
They were voting about appointing a smaller kinds of councils and their leaders. The speeches of the councillors weren't bad, but they
weren't really convincing too. The building of the Silesian Parliament was really nice. There are many columns and monuments of famous
people from Poland, especially from Silesia there. The trip was quite interesting because I know how Polish politicians work I am not
happy of that. They are talking so much but they do not determine anything important, in my opinion.
Jakub Korzonek
Recently we had an opportunity to participate in a meeting session of Youth Silesian Council as guests. The first part of the debate was
supposed to be in English, although only one person seemed to be brave enough to take speech in foreign language. I found it very
disappointing. It's hard to say what were subjects of the discussions. The councillors kept voting for and against. No matter what the
question was - option 'for' was always winning. Generally goal of the entire meeting was creating some kind of groups responsible for
some specific actions. In my personal opinion the councillors are still very inexperienced politics and their speeches were inconclusive.
I think that the entire meeting was boring and a bit useless. The most exciting part of the session was a beautiful building where it took
place. Participating in the meeting gave me a new experience and showed how political structures in our country work.
Sebastian Smoleń

16. PHOTOS&INFORMATION:
• https://www.slaskie.travel/en-US
• http://gazetacodzienna.pl/artykul/polityka/wyniki-wyborow-do-sejmiku-wojewdztwa-slaskiego
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silesian_Parliament
• https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sejmik_Wojew%C3%B3dztwa_%C5%9Al%C4%85skiego
BIBLIOGRAPHY