To All FIMEM National Movements
To All Delegates and Commission Members
To Friends of Freinet
Good morning, Friends from all over the world!
A distinctive feature of RIDEF is that for many years we have been creating the RIDEF program together. It is an intensified activity of all participants. Your creative ideas will enrich the international meeting of facilitators of Célestin Freinet pedagogy. Our joint work will bear fruit.
1. RIDEF PROGRAM – WORKSHOPS
We encourage you to submit proposals for long workshops, short workshops, and workshops for children.
The forms can be found on the homepage and in the Congress / Program tab (Long Workshops and Short Workshops), where submitted proposals will also be presented on an ongoing basis.
2. SCHEDULE – CONFERENCE FORUM
The updated schedule is ready for review and download as a PDF file in the Schedule tab.
On 3 August 2026, we have expanded the program to include a full-day conference forum, an important part of which will be two debates. In the morning: “Education in a world of global challenges – where are we and where are we heading?”. In the afternoon, in a round table format: “The power of community and education in times of uncertainty”.
We want the program to include space for discussion about what is happening in the world today, about social changes, tensions, but also about efforts for peace. In the face of these challenges, we want to reflect together on the role that education can and should play. The forum is planned to start at 11:00. We invite you to co-create this space. We are waiting for your proposals, suggestions, and nominations of speakers from your environments.
As hosts, we have invited professors from academic institutions who study social change and will contribute a research perspective to our discussion.
We would like the outcome of the debates to be a joint document – a declaration “In solidarity for peace” and/or a set of recommendations concerning the role of education in a world of global challenges, prepared by the participants of the meeting.
3. ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation in Hotel Mistral is already fully booked. There are no available rooms.
We kindly ask participants registering for RIDEF to choose another accommodation option from the list and at the same time include a note in the comments section of the registration form: “waiting for a free place/room… in Hotel Mistral”. There may be unforeseen circumstances and a place or room may become available. In such a case, we will inform interested participants by email.
At the same time, we inform you that we still have available accommodation in the school (eight-person rooms), at the tent site and at the campsite. However, participants must come with their own or rented camper or have their own tent and all necessary camping equipment, as we are not able to provide it.
Detailed information can be found in the Price List tab.
4. MEALS
RIDEF participants have their meals in places linked to their accommodation option. This results directly from the contracts signed with the hotel and the school.
- Participants staying in the hotel and at the campsite have meals in the hotel.
- Participants staying in the school can choose whether to have meals in the hotel or in the school.
5. PAYMENT
We kindly ask for regular payment of the advance. Based on the agreement with us, the hotel requires timely settlement of payments.
Participants receive payment details by email, but payment methods are described in detail in the Price List tab.
6. PRE AND POST RIDEF
We have finalized the program for visiting interesting places in Gdańsk and its surroundings during Pre-RIDEF and Post-RIDEF. All information can be found in the Pre and Post RIDEF tab.
7. TRANSPORT TO GNIEWINO
Essential information to help you reach RIDEF can be found in the Getting there tab.
As hosts, we provide free transport by bus from Gdańsk to Gniewino for all participants arriving in Gdańsk by plane or train. Information points will be organized at both the airport and Gdańsk Główny railway station. Coordinators will help you reach the parking area where the bus will be waiting.
After the registration process is completed, we will ask participants in a separate form to provide information about their arrival time in Gdańsk and their return journey after RIDEF.
8. SAFETY – RIDEF 2026
When choosing the congress location, we were guided above all by the safety of participants and by a place that ensures appropriate conditions for workshops, lectures, debates, cultural evenings, the General Assembly (AG), and excursions.
RIDEF will take place in the northern part of Poland due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, in which Russia is the aggressor. Although the Russian Federation attacks the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, which is the farthest area from Poland – approximately 1000–1300 km from the border, we wanted to remain cautious and chose the northern part of our country near the Baltic Sea.
There are also concerns about tensions between Iran and the United States and Israel, which have intensified this year. We hope that this armed conflict will not hinder the organization of RIDEF 2026.
Hotel Mistral monitors and secures the facility 24 hours a day. Every participant can feel safe.
In addition, the organization of the international RIDEF meeting will be reported to public services – the police, whose task is to protect people and maintain public order, including ensuring safety in public places.
9. MEMORY BOOK
During the RIDEF meeting, we want to express remembrance of those who actively participated in various activities developing the movement of Célestin Freinet pedagogy. Please send us your memories and photos to: ridef@freinet.pl, обязательно with the note “Memory Book”. We will include them in the condolence book in tribute to the Facilitators who passed away in 2024–2026 or earlier if their memory has not yet been honored.
Dear Friends, we are happy to welcome all those who want to actively shape and co-create the future of our international movement, as well as experience the joy of the Freinet congress.
RIDEF 2026 Organizing Committee:
Joanna, Eliza, Marzena, Regina, Joanna, Ewa, Kazia, Magda, Małgosia, Martyna, Tomek
