Abstract
Background: Solid organ transplantation, which began as an experimental procedure over 100 years ago, has now become a viable therapeutic option for the vast majority of patients with end-stage organ failure. However, a major limiting factor remains the shortage of organs available for transplantation. To expand the donor pool, it is essential to increase awareness of transplantation, including its legal, cultural, and ethical aspects. Every year, numerous organizations, primarily non-governmental, organize hundreds of campaigns promoting transplantation worldwide. The majority of these initiatives are one-time events tied to observances such as World Transplant Day, World Kidney Day, and others. The growing role of social media in spreading information is also becoming a key factor in promoting organ donation and transplantation, as social factors play an important role in expanding the donor pool. Many organizations that support transplantation, along with healthcare providers, widely use platforms like Facebook and other social media to promote and increase organ donation. Objectives: The "Second Life" is a social campaign presentation to raise awarenes about transplantation. Project Description: The campaign has been running continuously for 17 years in Poland, promoting the concepts of organ donation and transplantation in collaboration with high school students. During this time, 950 high schools across the country participated in the project, with approximately 450,000 high school students actively engaging in the campaign. Outcomes: They organized a series of activities to promote organ donation and transplantation within their social circles, distributing nearly 1.5 million declarations of will. Additionally, they helped raise awareness about presumed consent and educated others on the concepts of organ donation and transplantation. Conclusions/Implications: This long-term initiative is crucial for raising awareness, educating the public, and promoting the idea of organ donation. It fosters a more positive attitude toward organ donation and transplantation, ultimately contributing to the expansion of the donor pool and an increase in transplantations in the near future.