For years, the city of Lublin has worked with young people on a variety of projects and research initiatives. Over the course of this cooperation, extensive data was collected about youth’s needs, with all discussions and consultations pointing to the need to set up an area exclusively dedicated to young people. As a result of this research, Lublin – the 2023 European Youth Capital – resolved to create an accessible space where youth could spend time together, free of charge.

The effort required a collaboration among different stakeholders that equally participated in the creation of the youth space: the city hall, IKEA and young people in Lublin. The goal was to establish an open, safe, and free environment where everyone can fulfill their aspirations.

Hej! is a place designed, created and co-managed by youth who are fully responsible for it. At the same time, the city of Lublin remains available to support these young people and to continue cooperating with them.

In cooperation with IKEA, a municipality-owned property was selected for the purpose and underwent a transformation. The interior planning was the result of a collaborative effort between IKEA designers and local youth who highlighted key elements that they wanted to incorporate in the project. Thanks to the contributions of experts, a cohesive, functional, and visually appealing project gradually took shape.

The young people drafted rules for the facility and identified needs. Discussions centred on what should be inside, what equipment to use and how to make people happy in Hej!. The leading idea was to set up an area created by young people for young people, a vision that eventually materialized with the launch of Hej! Today, Hej! boasts a large number of workshops and peer-to-per exchanges as well as events and meetings. Coordinators have been hired at Hej! to cooperate with youth groups on a daily basis. The city of Lublin’s overarching goal is to empower young people at Hej!, to facilitate and foster cooperation with them, and to encourage ideas and projects.

A collaborative effort was key to the creation of Hej!. IKEA provided the furniture for the new space, which was designed to respond to users’ needs. IKEA employees and young people learned from each other throughout the creative process. The municipality listened to young people and made efforts to respond to their requests to be treated as equal partners.

Today, it’s young people who determine the programme at Hej and bring ideas to life, also thanks to the support that they receive from the coordinators.

The youth space is financed by the city budget that covers rent and utilities. Additional funding from “Youth for the City, City for the Youth — projects and initiatives to act and involve local communities” enabled the retrofitting of the space with household appliances, the purchase of new materials, and to hire site coordinators. The financial support will last until the end of 2023. IKEA offered to design the place, and to provide furniture and appliances.

The youth space opened on 7 October 2022, and by the end of January 2023 it welcomed approximately 2,600 visitors. After the first three months of operation, an evaluation survey was conducted, providing insights into the youth’s main needs and the activities that in which they’re interested. Results show that for young visitors it’s crucial to have a comfortable space that is open to everyone. Establishing a youth space is a never-ending process; organizers are ready to implement changes and rectify issues that may arise.  

The only challenges encountered during the process relate primarily to technical aspects and to the premises. These issues are regularly and easily addressed.

Hej! is an excellent example of a place that meets young people’s specific needs. It empowers and makes them accountable for their decisions, including the organization of the space. The Covid-19 pandemic has undeniably transformed social relations, and a communal, public area created by and for the youth gives them the chance to spend time together and to create a cohesive community. The cooperation between young people and local authorities is mutually beneficial, and part of a process in which both parties are equal. Young people co-create and co-manage the open space, take responsibility for their own decisions, fostering the development of local communities and neighbourhoods.

The city of Lublin’s collaboration with the youth group started in March 2022. But even before then, city officials were in discussion with IKEA to identify a suitable location for the creation of a youth centre. With Lublin holding the title of European Youth Capital in 2023, the experience of Hej! provides an inspiration to intensify efforts to respond to young people’s needs. The creation of Hej! is just the beginning of a long journey. Tapping into its previous experience, the municipality plans to set new standards for the creation of youth spaces and to develop a network of similar facilities in Lublin, in collaboration with youth groups. City officials are convinced that in the coming year Hej! will continue to thrive while more youth spaces will spring up around the city.