NEH Landmarks of American History and Culture
$200,000 · Deadline: September 15, 2026
Project Overview
Civic Literacy for Democratic Resilience: Empowering Polish Youth Through Critical History and Civic Engagement
[Draft] This project will equip Polish youth (ages 15-30) with the critical thinking skills, historical understanding, and civic engagement tools needed to strengthen democratic institutions and human rights in their communities. Drawing on proven curriculum from the History Education Foundation's Civic Literacy initiative, the program will train 60 young leaders through intensive workshops, support them in implementing community projects, and provide ongoing mentoring to build a lasting network of democratic advocates across Poland.
- 60 Polish youth complete intensive civic leadership training
- 12 participant-led community projects implemented across Poland
- Sustained mentoring network active for 12+ months post-training
- Measurable increase in participants' civic knowledge, critical thinking, and leadership skills
Skills-Building Workshop Series (Element 1)
Five intensive 3-day workshops over 12 months, each focused on a core competency:
Workshop 1: Critical History & Democratic Values
How to analyze historical narratives, understand propaganda, and evaluate sources. Drawing from our textbook critique methodology. (3 days, Warsaw)
Workshop 2: Human Rights & Civic Engagement
Understanding human rights frameworks, identifying local challenges, and developing advocacy strategies. (3 days, Krakow)
Workshop 3: Project Design & Management
From idea to implementation: needs assessment, project planning, budgeting, team management, and evaluation. (3 days, Wroclaw)
Workshop 4: Media Literacy & Democratic Discourse
Navigating misinformation, engaging across political divides, and using media responsibly for civic advocacy. (3 days, Gdansk)
Workshop 5: Leadership, Resilience & Sustainability
Building resilient democratic movements, managing conflict, self-care for activists, and sustaining long-term engagement. (3 days, Poznan)
Participant-Led Community Projects (Element 2)
After completing the workshop series, participants will form teams and design their own community engagement projects addressing local challenges. Each team will receive a micro-grant ($2,000–$5,000) and ongoing mentorship to implement their projects over 6 months.
Example Project Areas:
- • Local human rights awareness campaigns
- • Youth-led civic education workshops in underserved communities
- • Digital literacy programs combatting disinformation
- • Community dialogue series on democratic values
- • Advocacy campaigns for inclusive local policies
Mentoring & Networking (Element 3)
12+ months of structured mentoring and networking following the workshops and community projects:
- Monthly cohort meetings — virtual gatherings for peer learning and support
- Individual mentoring — each participant matched with an experienced civic leader
- Alumni network — ongoing collaboration platform, annual summit, and cross-cohort partnerships
- U.S. expert sessions — quarterly virtual masterclasses with American civic education leaders
Budget Estimate
| Category | Amount | % of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Workshop costs (venue, materials, facilitators × 5 workshops) | $180,000 | 24% |
| Participant travel & lodging (60 participants × 5 workshops) | $150,000 | 20% |
| Micro-grants for community projects (12 projects × $3,500 avg) | $42,000 | 6% |
| Mentoring & networking (12 months) | $90,000 | 12% |
| U.S. expert honoraria & travel | $60,000 | 8% |
| Project staff (coordinator, trainers, evaluation) | $150,000 | 20% |
| Monitoring, evaluation & reporting | $40,000 | 5% |
| Administrative/indirect costs (10%) | $38,000 | 5% |
| Total Request | $750,000 | 100% |
Activity Timeline (36 Months)
Program Launch & Recruitment
Hire staff, develop curriculum, recruit 60 participants, conduct orientation
Workshop Series
Five 3-day workshops delivered across Poland (one every ~6 weeks)
Community Projects Phase
Participants design and implement 12 community projects with micro-grants and mentoring
Mentoring, Networking & Alumni Phase
12+ months of structured mentoring, alumni network building, and final evaluation
Monitoring & Evaluation Plan
Pre/Post Surveys
Measure changes in civic knowledge, critical thinking skills, and democratic attitudes
Workshop Evaluations
After each workshop — quality, relevance, learning outcomes
Project Reporting
Each community team submits mid-term and final reports with measurable outcomes
Long-term Tracking
6-month and 12-month follow-up surveys to measure sustained engagement
Quarterly Reporting to PDS Poland
Narrative and financial reports with progress against targets
Key Personnel
To complete: Need to identify and add CVs for project coordinator, lead trainers, U.S. experts, and local Polish partners. The foundation leadership bios are ready.
Next Steps to Submit
- 1 Review and finalize the draft narrative above
- 2 Identify and confirm Polish partner organizations (NGOs, universities)
- 3 Recruit key personnel — project coordinator, trainers, U.S. experts
- 4 Finalize budget with exact quotes and justifications
- 5 Submit via Grants.gov before October 1, 2026