Understanding. Connecting. De‑polarizing Europe
Bridging divides in European classrooms.
Polarization is reshaping how young people see each other. POLAR gives teachers and students practical tools to navigate disagreement, recognize manipulation and rebuild conversation.
A growing problem in the classroom.
Forty five percent of Dutch teenagers rely on social media to make sense of politics. In Belgium, most teachers say they avoid controversial topics in class because they lack the framework to handle them. Across Europe, classrooms are quietly becoming the front line of a much bigger story about misinformation, identity and trust.
Teachers feel it. Students live it. Few of them have been given the language or the tools to deal with it.
That is what POLAR is here to change.
What is POLAR?
POLAR (Polarized No More) is a European partnership that builds free, classroom ready resources to help young people understand polarization and engage with it well.
Together with schools, educators and youth networks across the Netherlands and Belgium, we are developing modules, workbooks and teacher guides that turn a heavy topic into something usable. The materials are designed for secondary education, grounded in research and shaped by the teachers who will actually use them.
The project runs from late 2025 through mid 2027 and is co funded by the Erasmus+ programme of the European Union.
Built for teachers. Designed for students.
POLAR is built for secondary school teachers who want to open up difficult conversations without feeling out of their depth. The materials slot into existing lessons, work across subjects and give students something they can carry beyond the classroom.
Students aged 14 to 18 are at the heart of this. So is every teacher who has ever hesitated before opening a sensitive topic in class.
Three sets of materials. Free. In three languages.
Everything POLAR produces will be available in English, Dutch and French, free to download and free to use in class.
Learning modules
Six short modules that introduce the roots and mechanics of polarization. Three are written for students, three for teachers. Each one mixes clear theory with case studies, interactive exercises and reflection prompts.
Student workbook
A workbook students can use on their own or in class. It covers media literacy, critical thinking and real world examples, with quizzes and exercises that make the ideas stick.
Handbook for teachers
A step by step guide for educators. Lesson plans, facilitation techniques, classroom strategies and tips for handling sensitive moments when they come up.
Join the Network
Connect with educators, experts, and policymakers tackling polarization.
Sign up for our network mailing list to stay connected with the project and the community around it. As a member you’ll receive:
Project updates
the latest developments, resources, and partner news
Invitations to online events
open calls to join webinars, information sessions, and discussions on polarization
Opportunities to exchange insights
connect with fellow educators, youth workers, students, and policymakers, and take part in the conversation about the challenges we’re working to address
Latest news about the project
Updates from POLAR, reflections from our partners and short pieces on polarization in European education. New posts go up regularly throughout the project.
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Download the materials.
The materials are being developed and tested through 2026 and 2027. Check back as they are released!
Learning modules
Expected in Q3 2026
Student workbook
Expected in Q3 2026
Handbook for Teachers
Expected in Q3 2026
Stories from the Community
Across our events and workshops, educators, youth workers, students and experts have come together to tackle polarization head on. Here’s what some of them took away from the experience.
Who is behind POLAR.
Three organizations across two countries, one shared concern.
Piter Jelles Impulse
A public secondary school, based in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands and part of the wider OSG Piter Jelles network.
Piter Jelles coordinates POLAR and brings classroom experience, a network of teachers and a long track record of socially engaged education.
🔗 Visit website
Solution Safari
A social design studio, based in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands. Solution Safari shapes behavior through co-creation with the people a solution is meant for.
In POLAR they lead training and outreach, and they built the website you are reading right now.
🔗 Visit website
PAL Network
PAL Network is a European network, based in Brussels, Belgium for fighting discrimination and supporting integration in education and employment of vulnerable groups.
PAL leads the research and dissemination work in POLAR.
🔗 Visit website