Collection of signatures for the "Meal for Every Child" project has been launched

On August 21, the first collection was launched at the Warsaw frying pan. After collecting the first thousand signatures, the Foundation will submit the committee's registration documents to the Sejm Chancellery. The Citizens' Legislative Initiative is a major nationwide youth initiative and the first of its kind in the history of Poland, when young people from all over the country take matters into their own hands and direct their own bill to the Sejm.

Regardless of the political situation in Poland, we are reaching for the tools to force politicians to listen to our voice, our demands and take the side of youth health and well-being. In the current political situation, this is a huge test of maturity for the political class from the left to the right, from Prime Minister Donald Tusk to President Karol Nawrocki. It's high time to put aside political bickering and deal with socially important topics.

Assumptions of the bill

The authors of the law at the conference pointed out that the Polish education system, according to current legislation, is based on the principle of universality and free of charge.

- The bill we have drafted calls for the provision of a free, healthy, hot school meal for all children in elementary schools. This meal is provided to schoolchildren on a voluntary basis - their parents can opt out. In addition, schools should offer a variety of options, if possible, to tailor meals to children's needs. - Jan Pieniążek, co-author of the legislation and legal expert, said. - Less than two A4 pages, amending several provisions of the law and ensuring that schools are properly subsidized - all to ensure the safety and effective development of children.

The bill not only guarantees educational conditions, but above all removes the stigma present today due to the artificial division among peers based on the material situation of the families in which they are raised.

- The introduction of universal and free meals in elementary schools is a real and necessary legislative as well as social change that can significantly improve the daily lives of the youngest students. Our proposed legislation gives each pupil a sense of equal treatment, while setting an elementary standard for the protection of children's rights in Polish schools, which the Polish state should take for granted. - adds apl. attorney Robert Lisiewicz, co-author of the proposed legislation.

What do the numbers say about the meals?

A brief survey of schools and young people themselves was conducted in May and June 2025. The survey was carried out through public information requests to schools and focus interviews. It shows that 50% of the surveyed schools provide a meal tailored to a child's nutritional needs, and 76.55% provided educational classes on the subject.

- The focus study shows that teenagers are not satisfied with their eating habits at school and expect real changes. The current meal offerings are limited and too expensive for many students, leaving it to stores like Żabka to feed Polish students. Young people point to numerous barriers to using canteens, such as high prices, poor quality of food, as well as inadequate offerings for different diets and lack of adequate space. The conclusions are clear: systemic solutions are needed - free, warm and healthy lunches and the creation of conditions that will allow students not only to eat a valuable meal, but also to treat it as a moment of relaxation and build peer relationships. - Wiktoria Suchecka, sociologist and social researcher, said.

Source: GrowSpace Foundation