Slupsk Meeting by Paul Gilliver

Tell me about your Commitment

European Grundtvig Meeting in Slupsk, Poland – 11 – 15 October

An account by volunteer Paul Gilliver

Slupsk first day, Tuesday 11 October 2011

Our hotel, the three star Staromiejski, is excellent, with clean, comfortable and spacious rooms, good food and helpful staff.

Our Polish host, Jerzy Berendt, showed us the city centre during an afternoon walk. Jerzy is a retired industrial chemist in the tanning industry. He told me nostalgically of lost industries, such as engineering workshops and shoemaking, his own field. We had been invited to bring some books in English to help Jerzy’s language learning. He received enough literature to keep him going for months, or perhaps years!

After pausing for tea in a wonderfully atmospheric barn-like building, now given over to tea and cakes, beautifully served, we returned to our hotel to prepare for dinner.

Patricia, Lesley and I were a bit early, so we repaired to the lounge bar, observing an importantGlasgowtradition. I am still recovering from the shock of paying only £4 for two glasses of wine and a large beer.

Dinner was an auspicious start to our week’s work. There were 22 of us around tables arranged in a rectangle. On my right were Nina and Marusha from Lubljana inSlovenia, both superb English speakers somewhat younger than my daughter. They were engaged in organising classes for long term (over two years) unemployed young people. They were full of energy and enthusiasm, even after a 4 a.m. start and a six hour connection atMunich.

To their right was Claudio, an Italian fromBerlin, where he had lived for 30 years. My Strathclyde Italian was given an airing and Claudio was a helpful listener.

We were warmly welcomed in German, Polish and English. Next we were treated to a short concert by the choir of the University of the Third Age in Slupsk. They sang four lovely Polish songs, led by a lady conductor whose thorough preparation was evident in the quality of the performance. The meal was excellent and included some Polish red wine served in moderation, no doubt with tomorrow’s workshops in mind.

To bed at 10.30 after a very long and enjoyable day. Slept like a log.

Wednesday 12 October 2011

We were taken by bus after breakfast to theUniversityofPomeraniafor our first day’s work. After a welcome by the Chancellor we started with a presentation on the history of volunteering inPoland. It is a long history, starting with patronage by the aristocracy and nobility, the growth of voluntary organisations, oppression and control by authoritarian regimes and the re-establishment of free democratic institutions after the Solidarnosc revolution of 1989.

An analysis of volunteering in Polandwas followed by an interactive session on the nature of and motivations for volunteering, including the most active age groups, mostly the young, and a strong aspiration for growth in Poland of volunteering by the retired community from the current low base.

The second session was begun with a presentation by two senior local authority education directors on the subject of integrative groups working to bring the education of special needs children into mainstream institutions. A later speaker assured us, in response to a Catalan query, that volunteers were involved.

The next workshop focussed on the nature and organisation of volunteering activities in Slupsk and beyond its borders. There was a strong statistical content. Some young local volunteers gave interesting accounts of their activities. Finally in this session an adult volunteer in the priesthood described his parish activities in a former communist area. He organised pilgrimages toRomeand to other holy places. He showed us a photographic record of some of his pilgrimages.

The first afternoon session was a presentation of the Tell Me About Your Commitment web site. All of the site’s extensive facilities and options were explained.

The second session involved all attendees in the story of the life of Czeslaw Milosz, a Polish Nobel Prize winning writer and poet who was made an honorary citizen onLithuaniaand who was forced by political oppression to flee to theUSA. A suitably themed bookmark, fashioned by the participants using materials provided by our hosts, was our souvenir of the day.

During a congenial buffet dinner back at the hotel, we were serenaded by an accomplished fiddler playing a wide repertoire of contemporary tunes and zigeunermusik. It was very appropriate and atmospheric.

Thursday 13 October 2011

Today was a feast of visits and pleasant surprises.

First, we took a short bus journey to a daycare centre for the elderly. The dedicated staff gave us a presentation over coffee and biscuits followed by a tour of the facilities which included medical check-up, exercise, craft activities, tv lounge, library and magazine room, sun terrace and extensive gardens. University of the Third Age volunteers are regularly involved in support activities.

After that we visited a resource centre for people with mental disability. The mostly young people were involved in useful creative activities designed to give them confidence and purpose. We were shown studios producing artwork, Christmas decorations, refurbished cycles, computer knowledge and craft products. Much of the output was sold to raise funds for the centre. The love and compassion of the professional staff for their charges was manifest and humbling. Our visit gave us a brief window into exemplary Polish standards of care. A photographic record of our visit was made for the centre by a young Downs Syndrome attendee.

Our third visit of the day was to Caritas, a charitable service of the Roman Catholic Church in Slupsk. Run entirely by volunteers, the Centre gave us an informative presentation over refreshments followed by an opportunity to contribute to funds through the purchase of decorative items from the charity shop.

After lunch at the Academy cafeteria we were driven to The Baltic littoral, or coastal region north of Slupsk where we walked through the Solidarnosc Park to the Baltic beach for a group photograph then back to the bus for a trip to Kormoran, a beautiful hotel spa centre in Rowy designed and built to the highest standards. We were given the opportunity to listen to traditional Polish music and to use the excellent spa facilities. We concluded the day’s activities with a superb dinner in the hotel restaurant, with many speeches and votes of thanks. Scotlandled the company in Auld Lang Syne, followed by the Polish organisers treating us to a national song of goodwill.

Friday 14 October 2011

This morning sees us taking leave of our new friends from Poland, Germany, Austria, andSlovenia.

Buses for different national groups started to arrive after 9am. There were many farewells and promises to meet in Glasgownext year.

All of us recognise the huge efforts of the Polish volunteers in making this an unforgettable visit. Mrs Ursula Wyrwa, the Acting President, Mr Jerzy Berendt and Mrs Nelly Czupajlo, co-ordinators. We thank them all for their selfless and unstinting efforts on our behalf.

Their constant vigilance ensured that our visit to their country was a huge success.

The Glasgowgroup were bussed to Gdanskfor an overnight stay at the excellent Novotel before an early return to Prestwick. After settling into our rooms we explored the centre of Gdansk, formerly the German city state of Danzig. Many of the apparently old buildings were rebuilt during the 60s whenPolandwas under Russian domination.

In the evening, we met Monika and Heinz of theViennagroup and Gianni fromBarcelona at the Tawerna Mestwin for a huge meal with Greek wine accompanied by a local accordianist who surprised us with an accurate rendition of  ‘Roll OutThe Barrel.’  The Tawerna was fascinating, with home made craft goods adorning shelves and tables everywhere. There was a photograph of President Lech Walesa on the wall, taken during a visit to the restaurant.

To bed early, for a 4am packed breakfast rendezvous in reception before a taxi ride to the airport for the on time Wizz flight back toPrestwick.

We packed a lot into our four day trip, and will not forget it. Many thanks to Lynda Scott and to Alice Morton of Strathclyde’s 3L’s for taking care of all of the Glasgowgroup’s organisation and planning. A huge effort, greatly appreciated by their companions.