We are five queer individuals coming from various regions in Poland, who, in the heart of summer 2024, were lucky enough to join the Simple Acts experiential learning project organized by Active Rainbow. While the details of the project can be found on Active Rainbow’s social media and site, let us elaborate on our personal experience. We describe each person’s experience in short sections oriented around the same themes:

  • what I have learnt
  • what I have gotten out of this experience for myself
  • what was meaningful to me
  • magical moments

Niki (they/she)


Overall impression

I found the experience of Simple Acts very multilayered. Much in the same way that I feel that the very fact of being queer pulls me towards activism, this project, dedicated to queer activism, seemed to engage all of my personal parts.

What I have gotten out of this experience

This was the longest time I have ever been in a queer safe space mostly without breaks (and with a number of quite resolute queers). I feel this impacted me immensely in many ways. I learnt more about the comfort I feel when I’m connected to the queer community. I believe it is now easier for me to connect with the queer community in Poland and feel safer as a queer person in general.

In recent years I and other queer people in Poland have been facing a particularly hostile political atmosphere. This project helped me shake off the nasty homeland memories and reorient myself towards the future. Meeting the participants from countries all over Europe, whose experiences were often vastly different from mine, helped me see a wider picture. I now feel much more connected to the queer community outside of Poland, which allows me to feel more capable and safer in Poland, too, and take into account new possibilities for my future: including more international projects, self-development opportunities abroad, as well as just using more EU resources for working in Poland on queer-positive social change in a safe and enjoyable environment. All of this makes me see my future, as well as my country’s, in brighter colours.

What I have learnt about myself

This programme was particularly effective in raising my overall self-awareness. Thanks to the multitude of conversations with other queer people in the project’s safe environment, I had some important realizations regarding my gender identity.

Since in this project I took on the role of a group leader with some additional responsibilities, I also learnt I could handle this role – including, that I managed to hold a safe space for collective self-reflection and experience sharing.

Overall, since the project included carrying out various tasks within different groups of people, I learnt a lot about the activities, kind of involvement and environment I enjoy and/or I would like to work in. One of my personal discoveries during the program was that I enjoyed and was capable of highly collective work and experience more than I thought. I believe this will help me in my future decisions.

What I have learnt

During those 12 days I truly got into the rhythm of doing things – the collective and regular activity in the project helped me to break out of the (over)thinking cycle at home and move on within my own projects and relationships, including going forward with my preferred name and pronouns in wider circles to improve my daily comfort.

I learnt I could rely more on other people – because of the intensity of the program I missed some of the chores as I needed to recharge. What happened then is that the members of my support care group offered to take over my part. I was very grateful for that and had a wonderful experience of mutual help.

I also learnt more on some of the issues that touch me the most, such as gender-based violence, and tamed them emotionally while creating materials with other participants.

Finally, I simply gained a lot of awareness of queer issues in other European countries.

Ariel (they/she)

What I have gotten out of this experience


It’s hard to put into words, as so many things happened that I would need to write a lot to cover it all. However, the most important takeaway is that I brought home with me a profound sense of love. This love isn’t romantic; it’s simply a pure, heartfelt love for another person.


What I have learnt

I’ve learned that being in a safe space isn’t “cringe” at all – in fact, it can bring me joy. This camp helped me open up to myself, to who I truly am, and how I feel with myself. It also made it easier for me to understand that not everything can be put into words, yet the most beautiful part of it all is simply being human. And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to be yourself.

What I have gotten out of this experience for myself

Above all, I’ve learned acceptance. There is nothing wrong with who I am – there never was. I don’t need to pretend to be someone else just to fit in. I may not belong everywhere, but there will always be people with whom I’ll fit in perfectly, just as I am.


What was meaningful to me

The most meaningful aspect of this camp for me was the sense of security.

Magical moments


Oh my goodness, there were so many of them! Almost every day, I found myself in tears – whether from joy, sadness, or emotion. I can’t choose just a few. This entire camp was a truly magical moment in my life.

Daria (she/her)

What I have learnt

Through participating in the project I learned a lot about the situation of queer people in other countries. This information was especially important for me, because I heard it directly from people living in those countries. Through talking to others I learned about different forms of activism, which gave me new ideas for my own actions.

What I have gotten out of this experience for myself

I have always found it more comfortable to work alone than with other people, especially in larger numbers. Through the Simple Acts project, I learnt to communicate better and work more enjoyably in a group, which made me like it a lot.

What was meaningful to me

The openness of the people and their kindness were definitely very important to me. With any group work I felt supported and I was very grateful that there was never a problem for the other people in the group to adjust to my needs. The organizers were also very willing to help.

The opportunity to be amongst so many wonderful queer people was very meaningful to me. I made many special relations.

Magical moments

For me one of the many magical moments was the opportunity to perform as a drag performer. I never had that opportunity, especially as someone with no experience. Watching other people perform on the same evening was also a great experience. 

Wero (they/she)

What I have learnt

I felt like during these two weeks, we all accomplished something incredible together…

We created such a vibrant and interconnected community.

Leaving it after 2 weeks made me feel heartbroken.

I also realized how many things are doable…

When we stop idealizing everything and trying to overdo it, simple ‘acts’ can have a huge impact on us and/or our communities.

All that it takes is just starting…

Sometimes done is better than perfect.

No need to aspire for perfection.

Aspire for doing I suppose.

What have i gotten out of the experience myself

What I’m taking out is the need to express myself.

I felt so inspired by everything around me.

Things that I never considered possible to do, seem now like something I crave to do.

I want to explore different types of expression and activism.

I’m so grateful for that.

What was meaningful to me

Being able to move my body but also to get close to a big amount of different people.

I really appreciate the fact that during the camp, I had so many opportunities to move my body… 

From biking, jumping and moving to one end of the venue to the other…

Most of the time I feel a little stagnant in my life.

I can also feel that when it comes to making new friendships…

Sometimes it’s easier for me and sometimes it’s hard.

This time though, I didn’t even need to try that hard to build strong connections…

They just happened and I’m so happy to be able to meet people that make me feel open inside.

Magical moments

The trampoline behind everything, turned into my safe haven.

I went there when I needed time alone, to talk to a friend or just express my feelings.

Each time I went there, I could feel the magic of the moment and the place itself.