The Social Programme for the Development of Sobieszewo Island aims to engage residents in neighbourhood affairs, enhance the island’s aesthetics and promote it as an ideal destination for family leisure and a welcoming spot for Polish and international tourists.
The programme is a result of a broad partnership between the City of Gdańsk, the Polish Scouting and Guiding Association (ZHP), the Gdańsk Scouting Group as well as various non-governmental organisations, institutions and informal groups active on Sobieszewo Island. It was initiated in 2016 as part of the preparation of the ZHP’s and the City of Gdańsk’s bid to organise the World Scout Jamboree in 2023. The island hosted the 100th Anniversary Rally of the ZHP in 2018. In 2020, around 20,000 scouts from all over Europe (and beyond) were supposed to come to the European Scout Jamboree, but despite moving the event to 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented it from happening.
On 29 August 2021, the World Organisation of the Scout Movement approved the application from the ZHP and the City of Gdańsk to host the World Scout Jamboree in 2027. This momentous decision will bring together 50,000 scouts and guides from across the world, along with a distinguished group of international guests, to Sobieszewo Island in August 2027.
The Social Programme for the Development of Sobieszewo Island continues in alignment with the ongoing preparations for the World Jamboree 2027 (details available at: https://www.jamboree2027.org).
The primary objective of the programme is to unlock the neighbourhood’s potential as a tourist attraction, enhance the island’s aesthetics, engage and support residents in the process of positive change, and prepare them to welcome an increased influx of tourists. For the latest updates on ongoing activities and local initiatives, please visit the programme’s website: https://gdanskwyspasobieszewska.pl and follow the Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TerazWyspaSobieszewska.
On 7 June 2016, partners of the Sobieszewo Island Social Development Programme – 21 entities, institutions and organisations operating on Sobieszewo Island – signed a Letter of Intent starting with the words “With joint forces and in full agreement”.
To renew the Partnership’s demands and reaffirm the commitment of all institutions, organisations and stakeholders, another agreement was signed in December 2021. You can read both documents in full and download them: