To All FIMEM National Movements
To All Delegates and Commission Members
RIDEF 2026 is approaching fast.
In just six months, we will welcome you to a charming region of Poland – Kashubia.
The event will take place in Gniewino, in northern Poland, only 50 km from Gdańsk.
We deliberately chose a location close to Gdańsk – the birthplace of the Solidarity movement, which brought freedom to Poland after years of communist rule.
This symbolism perfectly reflects the idea of our congress as a space where solidarity, freedom, and democracy become lived, everyday experiences.
The main theme of the congress is: “Solidarity, freedom and democracy in education as a force for social change in the face of global challenges.”
During RIDEF 2026, we want to emphasize that education rooted in Freinet values is not an idealistic vision, but a real tool for social transformation. Solidarity, freedom, and democracy in education become forces that allow schools to respond to global crises, build just and peaceful societies, and prepare learners to actively shape the world in which they live. During this meeting, we want to clearly affirm the importance of these values – TOGETHER!
We eagerly look forward to your registration and your arrival.
Many of you have already visited our website 2026.ridef-fimem.com and our Facebook profile, where you may have found important information regarding the theme, fees, accommodation, meals, visas, and online registration.
We warmly thank the first teachers who have already registered, especially those from France, Spain, and other countries.
Dear friends, we kindly ask you to register as soon as possible via the website so that you can stay in comfortable, affordable accommodation close to the RIDEF center. We have reserved 250 places for you: Hotel Mistral – 170 places, school accommodation – 80 places.
The sooner we know how many of you will attend RIDEF, the sooner we can confirm the reservations with accommodation providers. Please visit the website and make your choice: 2026.ridef-fimem.com/en/pricing/
We kindly ask you to complete your registration by the end of March 2026.
We are tolerant and will accept possible cancellations with understanding; unused places will be offered to other teachers.
We initially estimated that no more than 250 participants would come to Poland. However, if more people register, we will do our best to accommodate participants near the RIDEF center and provide transportation if needed. Gniewino is a tourist destination that becomes very busy during the summer season. It will be difficult to make reservations, for example, in May. Guesthouse owners want to sell as many rooms as possible early in the year.
We are currently preparing an offer for Pre-RIDEF (28–30 July 2026) and Post-RIDEF (10–12 August 2026). Details of the program and participation fees will be announced in a forthcoming communication.
Why is it worth taking part in RIDEF 2026?
During RIDEF, together we will seek answers to key questions by sharing experiences, meeting new people, and developing our pedagogical practice:
- Why are solidarity, freedom, and democracy still the foundations of contemporary education?
- How can Freinet pedagogy respond to the challenges of modern education?
- How can we transform education so that children and young people become leaders of social change, with a sense of responsibility for the world?
We are very eager to share with you not only our pedagogical reflections, but also our everyday life, culture, historical heritage, landscapes, and delicious cuisine.
We will be delighted to welcome you to Poland, just as we did in 1996 in Kraków.
We will gladly respond to your questions. Please write to us at: ridef@freinet.pl.
We invite you to co-create the space of the 36th RIDEF 2026.
Thank you for your cooperation and warm regards,
RIDEF 2026 Organizing Committee:
Joanna, Eliza, Marzena, Regina, Joanna, Ewa, Kazia, Magda, Małgosia, Martyna, Tomek
