Closing conference
– programme
The closing conference of the Active Citizens Fund – Regional Programme will take place on 26 September 2024 from 10:00-16:15 at the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw.
We are holding the conference with the theme of ‘Open, democratic, green’, referring to the slogan of the Norwegian and EEA Funds, which contribute to the co-creation of a more inclusive, democratic and green Europe.
Programme
10:00-11:30: Plenary session
Auditorium
- Opening of the conference and sum-up of the Active Citizens Fund – Regional Programme featuring representatives from the Donor States, the Financial Mechanism Office in Brussels and the Programme Consortium
- Open conversation about the Programme (‘fishbowl’)
Coffee break
11:50-13:20: 1st session
Auditorium
Presentations of best practices
Superheroes from Gniewkowo – the ‘Reach for power’ project (Stowarzyszenie Gildia Superbohaterów)
The aim of the project was to support women and their children from the Gniewkowo municipality experiencing domestic violence. We will present the project and show how it changed the lives of the participants.
More information about the project
Presenters:
- Ewa Sokołowska – she holds a PhD in social science, she is a Solution Focused Therapy therapist in the process of certification, with a wide experience in implementing activities in the field of social and professional reintegration of excluded people. She specialises in conducting workshops on the development of parental competences. She runs a Solution Focused Therapy practice.
- Michał Siromski – a master’s degree holder in psychology, a Solution Focused Therapy therapist in the process of certification. He has twenty years of experience in creating and implementing community projects, conducting soft skills workshops and offering individual counselling. He is an enthusiast and researcher of pop culture.
Equal Together (Centralna Rada Romów)
The aim of the project was to transfer knowledge and strengthen the competences of Roma community leaders and women leaders in self-advocacy activities. During the presentation, we will talk about competence development workshops for Roma leaders as well as building coalition with local government..
More information about the project
Presenter:
- Karolina Kwiatkowska – Director of Communications and PR at the Central Roma Council in Poland and the International Romani Union. Cultural studies expert, journalist, intercultural communication trainer, consultant for state administration, local governments and international organisations including UN agencies.
IDEAS through the countryside. Experiences in activating residents and spaces in small villages (Polska Fundacja Społeczeństwa Przedsiębiorczego)
The aim of the project was to involve the residents of the villages of Różańsko, Rychnów and Chłopowo in developing long-term strategies for the development of these villages and initiating their implementation with the participation of the community. We will present the goals, a method of implementation and results of the project. We will talk about the initiatives proposed and implemented by people involved in the project.
More information about the project
Presenter:
- Sławomir Doburzyński – he holds a PhD in social science, he is an author, publicist, local government employee, author of many strategic documents, analyses and expert studies, trainer and coordinator of development projects
Is it worth returning home? – The project ‘Open homes. Celebrating together’ (Fundacja Pole Dialogu)
In this project, we formed local partnerships with care homes and worked with partners to develop a local celebration as a new space for cooperation. We will talk about building and strengthening local relationships, neighbourhood participation, the need for good news and breaking stereotypes as well as the need to change the image of care homes.
More information about the project
Presenter:
- Marta Zabłocka – at the Pole Dialogu Foundation she is in charge of communication and community projects. She is an initiator of neighbourhood activities in the Warsaw district of Żerań. Author of życie-na-kreskę (‘Living on credit’) comics
For people and nature – through education to action (Stowarzyszenie „Amicus” Gminy Dzierzążnia)
The aim of the project was to shape local policies on environmental protection by involving the community of the Dzierzążnia commune in pro-environmental activities. We will talk about how our project developed a sense of responsibility for climate change among the residents, stimulated concrete actions as well as activated and integrated the local community.
Presenter:
- Elżbieta Demby – a retired teacher of mathematics, she has been a primary school principal for many years, and the president of the ‘Amicus’ Association of the Dzierzążnia Municipality for 14 years. She is the coordinator of the ‘For people and nature – through education to action’ project
Foyer
Expert tables (parallel)
International cooperation
At the table, we will discuss how to build international cooperation based on a community of values and goals within the Erasmus+ programme. We will consider how educational activities in the social and civic field can be extended taking into account the specific regional context. We will suggest how to prepare a European cooperation project that will achieve change and development – both for the organisation and the target groups. The expert table has been prepared by the Foundation for the Development of the Education System, which is the National Agency for the Erasmus+ Programme. It will be hosted by representatives of the Adult Education sector of the Erasmus+ programme:
Working and cooperating with people with disabilities
Join us for a conversation about how organisations can research the needs, engage and prepare their offer for people with disabilities. At the table there will be waiting for you:
- Monika Grabowska (Fundacja L’Arche)
- Anna Drabarz (Podlaski Sejmik Osób z Niepełnosprawnościami)
Senior citizenship policy and intergenerational cooperation
We will talk about what lessons and recommendations come out of the organisations’ programmes to support seniors and how to sensibly develop intergenerational cooperation.
The experts sharing their experiences will be:
- Agnieszka Buśk (Fundacja Via Salutis, Stowarzyszenie Praktyków Dramy STOP-KLATKA)
- Alicja Przepiórska Ułaszewska (Fundacja Via Salutis)
- Marta Białek-Graczyk (Towarzystwo Inicjatyw Twórczych „ę”)
- Magdalena Małgorzata Skrzydlewska (Stowarzyszenie Forum 4 Czerwca)
Conference room A
Workshop
Women in public spaces (Fundacja Miejsce Ludzi, Fundacja Muzeum Historii Kobiet)
In the workshop, we will look at the representation of girls and women in different public spaces: social, political, economic ones as well as in everyday life. We will consider how to initiate social change and how to ensure the implementation of greater equality and historical justice.
The workshop will be hosted by:
- Katarzyna Dworaczyk – a mediator, communication trainer, author. She trains, lectures in institutions, kindergartens, schools and for business. She is fascinated by anger, trauma, intergenerational trauma, beliefs playing out in society. She is a co-founder of the Women’s History Museum Foundation and the Fundacji Miejsce Ludzi
Conference room B
Discussion panel
Development perspectives of emerging organisations
During the panel, we will address the following topics:
- What is the formal and legal reality in which new organisations are formed?
What conditions can and should we create for them to be able to work effectively for their community?
What support mechanisms could help?
What is the most important thing to get started?
Participants of the discussion:
- Sylwia Kowalska (Fundacja NO.BA)
- Andrzej Babiński (Towarzystwo Europejskiego Rozwoju i Edukacji Narodowej Teren)
- Ewa Szczepańska (Fundacja Wkra Możliwości)
Moderator: Magdalena Krasowska-Igras (Active Citizens Fund – Regional Programme, Fundacja Rozwoju Społeczeństwa Informacyjnego)
Workshop room 2
Workshop
Legislative Theatre as good practice for participatory community involvement in law change (Stowarzyszenie Praktyków Dramy Stop-Klatka)
During the workshop, we will share our experience of working with the Legislative Theatre method on the amendment of Article 196 of the Criminal Code on the example of the ‘The Law on stage!’ project. Those attending will learn what Legislative Theatre is and how it can help involve communities in participatory law-making. Those wishing to attend will be able to take part in a selection of exercises that were used during the Legislative Theatre.
The workshop will be hosted by:
- Kamilla Gryszel – a drama trainer, criminologist, the Joker and actress of the Forum Theatre and Legislative Theatre. For years, she has been fascinated by the Theatre of the Oppressed and the inclusion of people in the creation of civil society
- Małgorzata Winiarek-Kołucka – a supervisor and drama trainer, psychologist, the Joker and actress of Forum Theatre and Legislative Theatre. She loves to combine drama with different methods that are close to her work values, such as NVC. It is important for her to hear the voice of each person in society
Lunch
14:20-15:50: 2nd sessionI
Auditorium
Presentations of best practices
Support for women experiencing sexual harassment (Polskie Towarzystwo Prawa Antydyskryminacyjnego)
The aim of the project was to counteract sexual harassment of women and gender discrimination. The project offered free legal support to women experiencing sexual harassment or gender discrimination in different areas of life, e.g. in work, education or access to services. During the presentation, we will talk about the implementation and results of the project. Particular attention will be paid to presenting the social campaigns developed as part of the project.
More information about the project
Presenter:
- Krzysztof Kumor – a trainee lawyer, graduated in law from the Jagiellonian University and the Aarhus Universitet in Denmark and in international relations from the Warsaw University. He works at the Polish Society of Anti-Discrimination Law as a lawyer and project coordinator. Previously, he worked as secretary of parliamentary committees in the Polish Parliament and co-coordinated projects in the area of the functioning of the judiciary at the Court Watch Polska Foundation
How to help teenagers change the world? – empowerment projects (Podkarpackie Stowarzyszenie dla Aktywnych Rodzin)
‘Girl projects’ implemented by the Podkarpackie Stowarzyszenie dla Aktywnych Rodzin are an example of good practice in several areas: strengthening individuals and groups, acting for human rights and civil society, involving different stakeholders and cooperating with a Norwegian partner. The presentation will showcase the main achievements of the projects.
More information about the projects:
Presenter:
- Jan Marković – one of the leaders of Podkarpackie Stowarzyszenie dla Aktywnych Rodzin, a psychologist and a trainer. He is co-responsible for choosing the organisation’s development directions, and took part in creating and conducting the discussed projects
‘An hour away, eastward’ (Sustainable Strategies Network)
The project consisted of the preparation and implementation of interactive lessons on civil rights aimed at high school students. During the presentation we will show one of the results of the project: a trailer of the lesson in the form of a game about human rights and the situation in Belarus. The director will discuss the results of the project and prospects for further exploitation.
More information about the project
Presenter:
- Maria Czykwin – an actress, director and producer. Her projects include a documentary series on contemporary Belarusian artists entitled ‘Belarusian Climate’ for TVP KULTURA, and the project entitled ‘Transformation’, connecting theatre and ethnography, produced by the Instytut Teatralny in Warsaw. She works with the voice, and conducts voice release workshops
An inclusive school – has the situation of the LGBTQ+ community improved? (Fundacja GrowSpace)
Our aim is to implement inclusive, anti-violence solutions in schools that are friendly to LGBTQ+ children and youth. As part of our projects, we have created tools for young people to self-advocate in school, as well as support channels, such as the Inclusive School Statute or Intervention Models for difficult situations. During the presentation, we will talk about the challenges we encountered, but also about the long-term positive effects of the projects. We will also discuss the impact of safeguarding activities on young people and the school community.
Presenters:
- Dominik Kuc – a Board Member of the Fundacja GrowSPACE, where he supports education and mental health of children and young people. He is a winner of the Forbes & McKinsey 25 under 25 competition, an initiator of the Warsaw Mental Health Line, a co-author of a report on the availability of psychological care in schools and queues to child psychiatrists. Since 2023, he has co-founded the ‘YES to Suicide Prevention’ agreement. For his work for the youngest, he was honoured with the Janusz Korczak Award
- Mateusz Trzaska – a human rights activist. At the Fundacja GrowSPACE, he has been a team leader for social diversity since 2024. Since 2022, he was the regional coordinator of the Świętokrzyskie Province in the organisation’s projects. He currently coordinates the Foundation’s ambassador programme, where he is involved in supporting the organisation’s community and is also responsible for the content part of the project. In 2023, he was one of the co-authors of a wide-ranging report on the availability of psychological care at school
Shared opportunities. Model solutions to strengthen citizen participation in local decision-making (Fundacja Rozwoju Demokracji Lokalnej im. Jerzego Regulskiego)
The aim of the project entitled ‘Model solutions to strengthen citizen participation in local decision-making’ was to strengthen democratic culture and civic awareness.
We will present the idea of the project, the main activities and the products and results developed to raise awareness of the importance of civic participation processes for local development and to create better conditions for effective citizen participation at the local level.
Presenters:
- Barbara Wilkołazka – a project coordinator with many years of experience. Recently, on behalf of the Fundacja Rozwoju Demokracji Lokalnej im. Jerzego Regulskiego, she coordinated the project ‘Model solutions to strengthen citizen participation in local decision-making’
- Magdalena Dudkiewicz – she specialises in issues of non-governmental organisations, social and cultural animation, social work and qualitative research methodology. She conducts research projects on social activity and communities. She is a professor at the University of Warsaw, an expert at the Fundacja Rozwoju Demokracji Lokalnej im. Jerzego Regulskiego
Foyer
Expert tables (parallel)
How to build partnerships with business?
Is the business approach to social and environmental issues changing and how? What is ESG? How to build and develop partnerships between NGOs and business? What activities can fall within the scope of such cooperation and what benefits can arise from it for both parties?
Experiences of cooperation with various companies will be shared by:
- Bartosz Jakubowski – an expert on building partnerships at the Fundacja Ocalenie
- Bartłomiej Jojczyk – President of the Board of the Fundacja Dobrych Inicjatyw
Moderator: Bogna Mrozowska, an ESG specialist at Wento, formerly a member of the Active Citizens Fund – Regional Programme / FRSI team.
AI tools in the development of an NGO
What challenges and opportunities do artificial intelligence tools present to organisations? How to use them in current work, and how to strategically plan for the future? What is in store for us in the near future – what changes can AI facilitate?
Expert sharing their experiences in using AI tools in the organisations’ work will be:
- Noemi Gryczko, who designs online and offline learning experiences on a daily basis and teaches how to use technology
- Paulina Jędrzejewska – Head of the Fundacja Culture Shock, who experiments with new technologies and promotes reflection on how to use them wisely
Participation and involvement of young people
How to encourage, include and build young people’s sense of empowerment and responsibility for local community issues
Experiences of working with young people will be shared by:
- Michał Naczyński (Stowarzyszenie Oświatowe Rodzice Dzieciom)
- Justyna Jankowska (Stowarzyszenie Młodych Gminy Płużnica)
Conference room A
Workshop
Laboratorium Starości (Regionalna Strefa Pomocy Federacja Organizacji Socjalnych Województwa Warmińsko-Mazurskiego FOSa)
The aim of the workshop is to provide knowledge and skills on how older people function and how to prevent violence against them. The workshop will be conducted with active methods using presentations, exercises, films and a geriatric suit.
The workshop will be hosted by:
- Aneta Fabisiak-Hill – an animator, educator, graduate from the School of Trainers of Psychological Coaching, a specialist in the creation and production of social campaigns, fundraising, creation and financing of socio-cultural projects. On a daily basis, she works for the Federacja FOSa
- Monika Michniewicz – an educator, trainer, a long-term plenipotentiary of the Mayor of Olsztyn for cooperation with non-governmental organisations and the director of the Department of Health and Social Policy. In the Federacja FOSa, she is the coordinator of the Regional Assistance Zone – the Information and Coordination Centre for Dependent Persons and their Families and a manager for the development of social services. She is an enthusiast for the development of senior citizens’ councils
Conference room B
Workshop
Action Learning Lite. Introduction to Action Learning (Fundacja Owoc Spotkania)
solving real problems by asking in-depth questions and reflecting on them. Those attending the workshop will have the opportunity to seek solutions to their important and pressing problems, while honing leadership and team collaboration skills that are essential in the organisational management process.
The workshop will be hosted by:
- Agnieszka Biela – a psychologist, trainer, mentor, supervisor, an author of the book ‘Creativity Training. How to stimulate creative thinking’. She is a co-founder and Board Member of the Fundacja Owoc Spotkania
- dr Julian Czurko – a trainer, coach, facilitator, mentor, sex educator and university lecturer, an author of training and coaching manuals. He is a co-founder and the President of the Board of the Fundacja Owoc Spotkania
- Michał Maciejak – a therapist, educator, trainer and supervisor of the drama method, an university lecturer. He has conducted over 13,000 hours of workshops for 15 years. He is a co-founder and Board Member of the Fundacja Owoc Spotkania
Workshop room 2
Workshop
Public participation and the right to live in a clean and healthy environment (Stowarzyszenie Orzeł i Reszka)
The aim of the workshop is to provide knowledge on how to engage the community in environmental protection and urban greenery management. We will also show how to conduct a tree inventory using our a mobile application created as part of the project. The workshop has been prepared on the basis of the experience from the implementation of the project ‘The Social Broadcast’.
More information about the project
The workshop will be hosted by:
- Jadwiga Barbara Budzyńska – an initiator and co-founder of organisations working for regional development: Stowarzyszenie Orzeł i Reszka and Klaster ekonomii in the Radom region. Trained as an economist, educator, and practitioner in the real estate market. In the course of her social activity, she has cooperated with national and foreign organisations, including the European Confederation of Youth Clubs, Chicago Youth Council, and NGOs in Scandinavian countries
- Jarosław Staniszewski – initiates and implements activities for nature and the environment, President of the Stowarzyszenia Zielona Akcja Reaktywacja, author of a report on tree extinction in Radom. He originated an IT solution supporting the integration of greenery management. He is a social activist engaged in the development of volunteering and residents’ activities.
16.00-16.15: Closing
Auditorium
Summary of the conference
