The “Grundtvig” visit to Slupsk

The “Grundtvig” meeting from 11^th to 14^th of October 2011 in Slupsk

In Vienna during the first meeting of all the participants, it was decided to hold a meeting in Slupsk, Poland. The Polish partners to the Project had had already enough experience in organizing similar meetings, however the importance of this meeting was overwhelming.

The Organizing Committee was formed and during many hours of discussion the final plan for the lectures, visits and free time was discussed.
The leading theme of the meeting evolved around all forms of Voluntary activity, in this case concentrated on voluntary work among young and elderly disabled and handicapped people.   In accordance with this theme the four different papers were prepared and the appropriate visits arranged.
The special task for organizers was to provide these papers with adequate English translations as well as to have interpreters at hand for an instant translation, particularly during the visits.

The Slupsk University of Third Age hosted the delegations from five E.U. countries; Austria, Scotland, Spain, Germany and Slovenia; all together 22 foreign guests (Polish participants not counted for).

The two full days of meeting were split into four sections; a half of first day of lectures followed by a second half day of a  “Czeslaw Milosz” bookmark workshop. The second day was split into two parts also, of which the first part saw us visiting “Help and Assistance” centers afterwards the second part saw us standing against the strong wind in Ustka and Rowy.  They were once in the past small fishing ports but now rather seen as a weekend or summer, leisure destinations. For the rest of time the both places are surrounded by a romantic atmosphere of sea, wind and calmness all of it, just right for the visit such as ours.

On the first day of the Grundtvig Conference, there were papers presented which concentrated on the theme of voluntary assistance to young and elderly handicapped people.

The first paper-in the form of video-presentation- by Mr Piekarski, himself young candidate for doctor’s degree, showed a development of an idea of “volunteering” throughout  long Polish History, from its somewhat crude charity from up until the form of fully independent, non- profit organizations which act  in modern societies and within different social groups. These NGO’s, often in cooperation with administrative local bodies, form an important part in providing assistance to those in need.

Mrs Ewa Kosiedowska, the head of “Centrum Wolontariatu” (The Voluntary Centre) in her presentation pointed to the social conditions, which stands for deciding factors of becoming an active volunteer. The number of graphs illustrated the trends and changes in perception of voluntary activity and a role of an active volunteer. The Voluntary Centre in Slupsk does provide a recruiting process of volunteers for whatever organization or private person.  The Centre provides as well the basic training, activity monitoring and problem solving assistance for active volunteers. One of the most valuable groups of active volunteers is young high school students.

Mr Bogdan Leszczuk, the head of the Town’s Education Department in his paper discussed the problem of application into practice the idea, already strongly recommended by EU and national regulations, of integration handicapped, disabled young persons within the existing education system, beginning from infant schools, through the primary schools up to the system of high schools and colleges.
The perception on the progress in the process of realization of this idea is that however generally accepted, on many instances its full application meets many, mostly due to existing prejudices, obstacles.
One, very successful example of realization of the idea of integration was presented by Mrs Jozefa Budziach, the head of an infant school in Slupsk where this idea got rooted and flourish. The programme, with the direct support from of volunteers has brought very promising results.

Another example of successful result of volunteering, in this case “volunteering across the border” was presented by Father Jerzy Wyrzykowski, from Duninowo, the small place nearby Slupsk. Father Wyrzykowski and the team of his “helping hands”, among them “the helping hands” from our University, on regular basis, brings over to Duninowo, the group of young Bialorussian students. As these young students form a dancing band, the pre-organized tours allow them to present their tradition and at the same time to rise funding. The task of the volunteers is to assist in all necessary arrangements while in Slupsk, including accommodation and provision.

An opportunity to learn about the practical realization of the idea of volunteering among socially and mentally disadvantaged persons, especially among young persons was the cycle of three consecutive visits to the institutions providing assistance and direct material help to those in need. The visits provided for the verification of the way the formal regulations function in different environments.

The Slupsk University of Third Age takes on the occasion to thank all of our guests for taking a trouble to travel to Slupsk and for their constructive and stimulus participation in all activities and in doing so for creating the warm and friendly atmosphere all through the meeting.

There is the Power Point presentation under the following link;

Konferencja Grundtvig Oct 2011, Slupsk, Poland