Global Donut Days – Youth Shape the City. Zabrze 2064

We’re not asking why young people leave. We’re asking what would make them want to stay.

Like many cities across Upper Silesia, Zabrze is facing population decline and the loss of young residents. But numbers alone do not tell us what kind of city young people need - or whether Zabrze can be a place where they want to stay, work, grow, start families and turn their ideas into reality.

During Global Donut Days 2026, we want to look at Zabrze through the eyes of its young residents - and ask what it would take to create a city where people can thrive without leaving people behind or pushing beyond the limits of the planet.

This is at the heart of Doughnut Economics: how can we build places that meet people’s social needs while respecting the ecological limits on which our lives depend?

So what does this mean for Zabrze?

We’ll talk about what makes a city a good place to live, now and in the future:

• Can young people build a good life and a secure future in Zabrze?
• Can they find meaningful work and opportunities to develop?
• Are there places to spend time, meet others, create and get involved?
• How can people move around the city and make the most of opportunities across the wider metropolitan area?
• How can Zabrze protect and build on its local identity while responding to new challenges?
• What does a fair and sustainable future look like for a post-industrial city?
• And, above all, do young people have a real say in shaping that future?

We don’t want to organise another conference where adults talk about young people.

We want to create a space for young residents and people working with and for the city to talk, exchange experiences and explore solutions together. We’ll bring together young people, local activists, entrepreneurs, representatives of public institutions, universities and civil society organisations - everyone interested in the future of Zabrze.

We’ll talk about challenges, but above all, we’ll look for concrete ideas for a city where young people can stay, belong and thrive.

Through short inspirational talks, small-group discussions and creative methods, we’ll explore what a thriving Zabrze could look like in 2064 - a city that works for people while respecting the environment we depend on.

At the end, we’ll identify ideas that could be turned into concrete action.

Because the future of a city doesn’t begin in ten or twenty years.

It begins with the kind of city we want today.

Come along if you don’t just want to talk about the future of Zabrze, but want to help shape it.