From school project to growing Baltic Sea movement – Szymon Kwidziński receives Östersjöfonden’s Youth Award

It started as a school project in Gdynia, Poland. But where others saw a temporary school assignment, Szymon Kwidziński saw an opportunity to continue making a difference for the Baltic Sea. Since then, his project See the Sea has grown, engaging hundreds of people through events, education and partnerships. Now he receives Östersjöfonden’s Youth Award 2026.

Szymon Kwidziński grew up in Gdynia on Poland’s Baltic Sea coast and has had a close connection to the sea since childhood, not least through windsurfing. During high school, his engagement took a new direction when he and his classmates started See the Sea as part of the Polish competition Zwolnieni z Teorii, in which young people develop school projects with a positive impact on society.

But See the Sea did not end with the school year. Szymon continued to develop the initiative, which has since grown through a range of activities aimed at increasing knowledge and engagement around the Baltic Sea.

Under Szymon’s leadership, See the Sea has organised a charity regatta, a scientific conference and a community run, among other activities, attracting hundreds of participants. The initiative has also raised funds for the Polish MARE Foundation and collaborated with organisations including the University of Gdańsk and the Institute of Oceanology.

The work has also gained recognition in Poland, receiving the Golden Wolf Award in 2021 and the Ecological Storm Award in 2022.

Today, Szymon Kwidziński studies at Imperial College London, but his work for the Baltic Sea continues. See the Sea is now entering a new phase – Szymon Kwidziński has established a foundation in Poland and is working to develop the initiative into a professional organisation.

– Szymon Kwidziński shows that you don’t need to wait until you have a degree, a title or an established organisation to start making a difference. He began as a high school student and has continued to build on his commitment year after year. This is exactly the kind of initiative and drive we want to recognise with the Youth Award,” says Sara Arons, Managing Director of Östersjöfonden.

Award motivation

Szymon Kwidziński (Poland) receives the award for his strong commitment to the Baltic Sea. Despite his young age, he has already been engaged in Baltic Sea environmental issues for several years. While still in high school, he saw an opportunity to make a difference where others saw only a temporary school assignment, and developed See the Sea from an idea into a growing youth movement. Through a wide range of initiatives – from events, education and advocacy to collaborations with researchers and other actors in society – he has consistently placed the Baltic Sea at the centre. Through his leadership and determination, he inspires more young people to engage in protecting the Baltic Sea and its future.

Szymon Kwidziński will receive Östersjöfonden’s Youth Award at the Baltic Sea Awards in Mariehamn, Åland, on 2 October 2026.

About the Youth Award

The Youth Award may be presented to an individual, group or organisation that has made an exemplary and highly committed contribution to raising awareness of the state of the Baltic Sea.

Contact

Sara Arons, Managing Director, Östersjöfonden
+358 457 345 9889 (AX)
+46 733 72 00 96 (SE)
sara.arons@ostersjofonden.org

Szymon Kwidziński
+48 605 991 510
szymon.Kwidziński@icloud.com

Material

Photos of Szymon
Film about Szymon
Previous award recipients