The Children’s Support Program was a continuation of the Foundation’s efforts to provide support to the most disadvantaged groups in the community. We had demonstrated our long-term commitment to disabled and needy children and to the cause of building local coalitions to promote integration and community assistance to the disadvantaged groups of citizens.
While implementing this project we focused on equal opportunities in education and overcoming social exclusion of physically and mentally disabled children. We paid special attention to projects which were part of long-term efforts, relied on work with the local community and involving volunteers and the families of needy children.
Our efforts had been regularly supported by Commercial Union Poland. This way in 2002 we could provide eight NGOs with grants for their long-term projects designed to help disabled children integrate into the able-bodied community and innovative projects to assist disabled children. (The Commercial Union Fund covered also a part of the grant awarded under the program of institutional grants to Friends of Integration Association for their projects concerning community integration of the disabled people and combating discrimination against disabled citizens).
In 2002 out of the donation by an Anonymous Donor an endowed M Fund was established at the Foundation. Proceeds from the Fund will support assistance programs for children and youth. The M Fund supported 15 grants in 2002, primarily for projects targeting disabled children and their families: grandparents, parents, guardians, siblings and for projects focused on the integration of disabled children and their peers.
In December 2002 we completed the project but we hope that the generosity of Polish donors will help us create dedicated funds and assistance mechanisms modeled on the Commercial Union Fund or the M Fund.
The aim of this project is to help neglected children, those who have difficulty keeping up with their schoolwork or interacting with their peers. In many cases, such children do not require the assistance of professional psychologists or counselors as much as the presence of someone who listens and empathizes – a role filled by a volunteer who serves as the children’s „big brother” or „big sister” helping them out with homework, spending with them some free time and giving them support. Such volunteers, having received rudimentary instruction and training for working with children, help their charges to gain self-confidence, to break out of their isolation and loneliness. The project is addressed to organizations that work with children and that have experience in working with volunteers. The Foundation, for its part, carried on training activity as well as providing the necessary materials and funds.
From 2003 onwards, the program will be implemented by the newly formed Big Brother, Big Sister Foundation Poland that received a grant to operate it between 2003 and 2006.
Grants Co-financed from the Commercial Union Fund
|
| Caritas of the Katowice Archdiocese, the Love of God Center for Disabled in Borowa Wieś Mikołów |
Hope Cannot Let You Down: a community integration program for people with disabilities (half of the grant from the Commercial Union Fund) |
PLN 20 000 |
| Mielnica Foundation Konin |
Organization of community integration events addressed to members of the Konin community and adjacent communities (half of the grant from the Commercial Union Fund) |
PLN 20 000 |
| Klanza Polish Association of Educators and Animators Białystok |
Have Fun With Us, the Klanzas: Saturday integration meetings using learning by playing methodology (half of the grant from the Commercial Union Fund) |
PLN 20 000 |
| Regional Association for the Disabled Sejny |
Running a sociotherapy center for disabled children and youth in the Sejny County (half of the grant from the Commercial Union Fund) |
PLN 20 000 |
| Give Hope Association, Community Welfare Home Olecko |
Managing a mixed music band (half of the grant from the Commercial Union Fund) |
PLN 20 000 |
| Hope Association of Parents and Friends of Children with Motor and Mental Disabilities Nowy Sącz |
A series of drama workshops addressed to youth with disabilities and learning/ behavioral problems (half of the grant from the Commercial Union Fund) |
PLN 20 000 |
| Silesian Association for Assistance to Differently Gifted Children and Individuals with Mental Handicap Katowice |
Organization of a voluntary work system for families facing a child disability challenge (half of the grant from the Commercial Union Fund) |
PLN 20 000 |
| Local Home Friends Society Łódź |
Managing a creative work study for disabled children and youth (half of the grant from the Commercial Union Fund) |
PLN 20 000 |
Grants Co-financed from the M Fund
|
| Zabajka Hipotherapy and Rehabilitation Center Złotów |
Co-funding of a physical rehabilitation holiday for two children (M Fund grant) |
PLN 5 900 |
| Plus Foundation for Children from Risk Communities Kraków |
Workshop and therapy meetings with parents of disabled children and mixed arts workshop for children with disabilities and their able-bodied siblings and peers (M Fund grant) |
PLN 4 000 |
| National Autism Society Słupsk |
Support to groups and individual counseling to parents and siblings of disabled children (M Fund grant) |
PLN 3 200 |
| Lublin Forum of Organizations of People with Disabilities Regional Parliament Lublin |
Computer literacy training for disabled people and their able-bodied guardians (M Fund grant) |
PLN 4 000 |
| Polish Association of the Deaf Bydgoszcz |
Educational workshops for hard-of-hearing children, their siblings, parents and grandparents at the Specialized Center of Diagnostics and Rehabilitation for Children and Youth with Impaired Hearing (PLN 3 000 from the M Fund) |
PLN 5 000 |
| Polish Association of the Deaf Łódź |
Managing a community day-care center for children with impaired hearing and their able-bodied peers (PLN 3 000 from the M Fund) |
PLN 5 000 |
| Polish Association of the Deaf Rzeszów |
Development and managing open-end support groups for teenagers with impaired hearing – gymnasium and secondary school students in Specialized Center of Rehabilitation Children and Youth with Impaired Hearing (PLN 3 000 from the M Fund) |
PLN 5 000 |
| Polish Association of the Deaf, Specialized Center for Diagnostics and Rehabilitation of Children and Youth with Impaired Hearing Wrocław |
Workshop for parents of children with impaired hearing (PLN 3 000 from the M Fund) |
PLN 5 500 |
| Polish Association of the Deaf, Specialized Center for Diagnostics and Rehabilitation of Children and Youth with Impaired Hearing Gdańsk |
Delivery of drama, arts and musical classes for deaf children and their hearing siblings (M Fund grant) |
PLN 9 500 |
| Helping Hand Association of People With Impaired Movement Sosnowiec |
Provision of activities in a local disabilities integration center for children with disabilities and children from educationally dysfunctional families (M Fund grant) |
PLN 2 000 |
| Step by Step Association of Aid to Disabled Children Zamość |
Workshop and counseling services to mothers of disabled children (PLN 3 000 from the M Fund) |
PLN 5 000 |
| Association of Parents of Handicapped Children Koronowo |
Organization of special events and community integration events (PLN 3 000 from the M Fund) |
PLN 5 000 |
| Association for Care of Blind People Izabelin near Warsaw |
Adapting and printing of a Braile version of the manual on writing documents for disabled people (PLN 3 000 from the M Fund) |
PLN 10 000 |
| Society of Friends of Children Morąg |
Integration of disabled children with their able-bodied peers and volunteers from the gymnasium as part of the day-care therapy program (M Fund grant) |
PLN 4 870 |
| Zabrze Society of Parents, Guardians and Friends of Children with Special Needs Zabrze |
Setting up a system of support to families facing the challenge of their children’s disability (PLN 3 000 from the M Fund) |
PLN 5 000 |
Assistance to Disabled Children
|
| Caritas of the Sandomierz Diocese, Joy of Life Rehabilitation and Education Center for Disabled Children and Youth Sandomierz |
Managing support groups for parents of mentally disabled children |
PLN 5 000 |
| Laznia Centre for Contemporary Art Gdańsk |
Arts workshop and an exhibition for mentally disabled youth |
PLN 7 700 |
| Light and Shadows Christian Association for People with Mental Disabilities Gdańsk |
Organization of integration events addressed to the local community of the Zaspa district of Gdańsk |
PLN 2 000 |
| Horse-riding Therapy Foundation for Assistance to Disabled Children Warsaw |
Holiday cards project: development of a new system of fund-raising to support core activities of non-governmental organizations concerned with disabled children (in cooperation with SOS Children’s Villages Association in Poland) |
PLN 6 000 |
| Foundation for Promotion of Entrepreneurship Suwałki |
Let Us Give Ourselves a Chance and Let Us Try Together: a therapy by activity workshop for children with disabilities and elementary school pupils |
PLN 5 000 |
| Municipal Integration and Rehabilitation Center Paczków |
An arts and motion workshop for children with disabilities |
PLN 6 000 |
| Holiday of Joy Children Assistance Foundation Łobez |
Organization of a two-day meeting for disabled people and local citizens |
PLN 5 000 |
| Nowa Ruda Association of Disabled Individuals Nowa Ruda |
Organization of a series of integration meetings |
PLN 5 000 |
| Polish Association of the Blind Gdańsk |
Organizing training on the behaviors, development, therapy and teaching children with impaired sight |
PLN 10 000 |
| Polish Association for the Mentally Handicapped Dobre Miasto |
Managing an integration therapy club |
PLN 7 000 |
| Polish Association for the Mentally Handicapped Giżycko |
Managing an integration drum orchestra |
PLN 4 000 |
| Polish Association for the Mentally Handicapped Gniezno |
Know More – Live Better: training for parents of autistic children and volunteers providing support to families |
PLN 4 000 |
| Polish Association for the Mentally Handicapped Grodzisk Wielkopolski |
Us and Our Friends: integration events including children into the life of their community |
PLN 6 000 |
| Polish Association for the Mentally Handicapped Kamień Pomorski |
Community Support Club: managing a counseling and support groups for parents and a day-care center for children |
PLN 5 000 |
| Assistance to Disabled Children Polish Association for the Mentally Handicapped Krosno |
Social training for parents of mentally disabled children |
PLN 9 400 |
| Polish Association for the Mentally Handicapped Rymanów |
Organization of an integration festival |
PLN 4 000 |
| Polish Association for Counteracting Disabilities Chociwel |
Managing a socio-therapy day-care center for children with disabilities |
PLN 3 000 |
| Polish Association for Counteracting Disabilities Nowy Tomyśl |
I’m a Part of the Universe: study trips for mentally handicapped children |
PLN 4 000 |
| Polish Association for Counteracting Disabilities Przemyśl |
Delivery of classes in an integration day-care center for children with intellectual disabilities and their able-bodied peers |
PLN 9 000 |
| Center for Independent Living Ciechocinek |
Attracting and training volunteers to help parents facing the challenge of their child’s disability |
PLN 8 000 |
| Let’s Be Together Integration Association Olesno |
Therapy through art classes for children with disabilities, organization of integration events and meetings for parents and guardians |
PLN 3 000 |
| Association of the Friends of Trzciel Trzciel |
Organization of an integration event addressed to the local community |
PLN 4 000 |
| Alfa Disabled Youth Association Bytom |
Web publication of two legal guides for disabled people |
PLN 8 000 |
| Persona Association for Children and Mentally or Physically Disabled People Legnica |
Organization of integration events |
PLN 5 000 |
| Gene Association for Children With Genetic Disorders Poznań |
Setting up a cooperation and mutual assistance network for parents and guardians of children with genetic disorders |
PLN 4 000 |
| Joy Association for Disabled People Ślesin |
Integration with Joy: managing a Community Self-Help Home and an Integration Center |
PLN 3 000 |
| Association for Disabled People Pieniężno |
Want to Help Yourself – Help Others: therapy sessions organized jointly by disabled youth and their able-bodied peers |
PLN 4 000 |
| Association for Disabled People Solec Kujawski |
Let’s Be Together: arts and music integration sessions |
PLN 4 000 |
| The Five for Children Association for the Assistance and Development of Integration Primary School No 5 Tychy |
Managing a drama club in a designated school for disabled children |
PLN 4 000 |
| Suchy Bór Village Development Association Suchy Bór |
Project to integrate children and youth who are residents of the Rehabilitation Center: integration and fund-raising events |
PLN 4 000 |
| Care and Assistance Association of the Daycare Center Barlinek |
Integration program addressed to disabled children and youth from rural areas |
PLN 6 000 |
| Helping the Disabled Association Pierzchnica |
Organization of a series of meetings for children and youth with disabilities from secondary schools in three municipalities |
PLN 4 000 |
| Rev. Brother Christian Fellow Men Aid Gorzów Wlkp. |
Delivery of classes and workshops for children with disabilities |
PLN 7 000 |
| STOP Association for Assistance to Individuals in Crisis and Victims of Domestic Violence Jastrowie |
Let Us Find Ourselves: therapy through art workshop in a rural day-care center at Ciosaniec |
PLN 5 000 |
| Heart Children Help Association Rakoniewice |
Heart for Heart: organization of a series of integration events: a five o’clock tea for the grandparents, a concert for sponsors, picnic for parents, Christmas Eve Supper for the lonely |
PLN 5 000 |
| Association for Help to Disabled Children and Youth Świebodzice |
Organization of integration festival for the community of Świebodzice |
PLN 4 566,72 |
| Opportunity Association for the Assistance to Rural Youth Elbląg |
Organization of a one-day integration sports competition for children from the county |
PLN 3 500 |
| Association for Aid to Autistic Individuals and People with Communication Difficulties Malbork |
Counseling and training for parents and guardians of disabled children and organization of integration events |
PLN 5 300 |
| Disabilities Aid Association Kudowa-Zdrój |
Organization of fairs which provide space for meetings and presentations of works of art authored by disabled children and youth |
PLN 8 000 |
| Friends of the Disabled Association Zelów |
Integration Is Our Road To the Future: a series of special events for children from two integration classes |
PLN 5 000 |
| Council of the Friends of Polish Scouting and Guiding Association Jelenia Góra |
Managing integration-oriented scouting teams |
PLN 7 000 |
| Helping Hand Association of Parents of Disabled Children Tarnów |
Delivery of integration therapy-through-art workshops for children and youth |
PLN 2 500 |
| For Our Children Association of Parents and Guardians of Disabled Children Brzeziny |
Managing a helpdesk and provide education and outreach to parents of disabled children |
PLN 6 000 |
| Opportunity Association of Families and Friends of Down Patients Katowice |
Assistance to families after the delivery of a child with a Down syndrome: counseling at hospitals, first contact, information, support groups |
PLN 5 000 |
| Kolping Family Association Staniszcze Wielkie |
Organization of an integration festival |
PLN 3 100 |
| SOS Children’s Villages in Poland Association Warsaw |
Holiday cards project: development of a new system of fund-raising to support core activities of non-governmental organizations concerned with disabled children (in cooperation with Horse-riding Therapy Foundation for Assistance to Disabled Children) |
PLN 4 000 |
| Change School Therapy and Prevention Association Tczew |
„It’s Good You’re Here…” – a series of meetings and events in a theatre designed to break the isolation experienced by disabled children |
PLN 4 000 |
| Creative Design Forms Studio Hajnówka Hajnówka |
Organization of an outdoor arts session for children with disabilities and children from poor families |
PLN 5 000 |
| Res Sacra Miser Association to Support the Disabled Gościeradów |
Business as Not Usual: an integration meeting to highlight the challenges and hardship experienced by disabled children |
PLN 5 000 |
| Unique Association for the Support of Creative Activities and the Personal Development of the Disabled Katowice |
Photography sessions for disabled people |
PLN 9 980 |
| Silesian Association for Assistance to Differently Gifted Children and Individuals with Mental Handicap Knurów |
Let’s Get to Know Ourselves and the World So That We Can Live Here Together: a joint arts and drama workshop for children with disabilities and youth from the local gymnasium |
PLN 5 000 |
| Altum Society Rzeszów |
Technical support to local organizations concerned with disabled children and youth |
PLN 8 000 |
| Society of Friends of Children Łukta |
Managing an integration day-care center for parents and children from rural areas |
PLN 4 000 |
| Society of Friends of Children Małdyty |
A series of integration events addressed to the rural community |
PLN 3 770 |
| Society of Friends of Children Morąg |
Provision of training workshops for volunteers and parents of disabled children |
PLN 5 000 |
| Society of Friends of Children Płońsk |
Organization of a series of local integration events |
PLN 5 000 |
| Society of Friends of Children Tychy |
Integration-oriented therapy-through-arts workshops for disabled children and youth and their able-bodied peers |
PLN 7 000 |
| Polish Scouting Union, Downtown Gdańsk Regiment Command Gdańsk |
We Are Together: an integration program implemented in scouting teams and brownie groups within the regiment |
PLN 4 000 |
| Seminar Treatment of Abusive Families and Their Children. From Research to Policy Budapest, Hungary |
Participation in a seminar of: Maria Keller-Hamela, Monika Sajkowska and Łukasz Wojtasik, Nobody’s Children Foundation, Warsaw, Magdalena Czub, the Committee for the Protection of Children’s Rights, Poznań, Anna Danuta Lechowska, Opportunity Association for Children and Youth, Głogów (grant funded by OSI Child Abuse network program) |
PLN 6 435,65 |
Big Brother, Big Sister
|
| Volunteer Service Center Gdańsk |
Training for 90 volunteers to develop skills necessary to run the program |
PLN 10 000 |
| Education and Creation Foundation Białystok |
Implementation of the program using school-based volunteer’s clubs and the development of the Together bulletins (quarterly magazines covering the Big Brother, Big Sister program in Poland) |
PLN 12 000 |
| Foundation for Assistance to Single Mother Poznań |
Implementation of the program with children coming from the families under the Foundation’s care; secondary school students help as volunteers |
PLN 12 000 |
| Sokółka Community Foundation Sokółka |
Implementation of the program in the elementary school with the help of volunteers from the Secondary School Complex |
PLN 9 000 |
| Gymnasium No. 24 Warsaw |
Implementation of the program with primary school children and volunteers – scouts from the gymnasium |
PLN 8 000 |
| Town Citizens’ Committee Piekary Śląskie |
Implementation of the program with volunteers – university students and secondary school students – and children using the services of the Municipal Welfare Center |
PLN 8 000 |
| Mazovian Association for Children and Youth Suffering from Cerebral Palsy Mińsk Mazowiecki |
Implementation of the program with volunteers – gymnasium and secondary school students – and children referred to the program by the Mental and Educational Counseling Center and the County Family Welfare Center |
PLN 9 000 |
| Community Welfare Assistance Center Szczecinek |
Implementation of the program with volunteers from secondary schools and children using the services of the Center |
PLN 6 000 |
| Welfare Assistance Center Kościan |
Implementation of the program with volunteers from secondary schools and a group of children from three primary schools |
PLN 8 000 |
| Welfare Assistance Center Umbrella Therapy and Education Day-Care Center Kluczbork |
Implementation of the program with volunteers – secondary school students and children using the services of the day-care center |
PLN 12 000 |
| Magnificat Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Mission Center Nowy Sącz |
Implementation of the program with children from primary schools |
PLN 6 000 |
| Teetotallers’ Club Płock Association Płock |
Implementation of the program with children using the services of the Association and volunteers – students from two secondary schools and university students from a local college |
PLN 12 000 |
| Polish Association for the Mentally Handicapped Gdańsk |
Implementation of the program with a group of mentally disabled children with volunteers – university and secondary school students |
PLN 8 000 |
| Polish Society for Prevention of Drug Abuse Szczecin |
Implementation of the program with volunteers – students of senior secondary school grades – and children from dysfunctional families |
PLN 12 000 |
| Sejny Education and Community Society Sejny |
Implementation of the program with 32 pairs of volunteers and children |
PLN 5 000 |
| Women for Women Association Bytów |
Implementation of the program with volunteers – students of the Pomoria Pedagogical Academy and youth from a secondary school – and children vulnerable to pathology |
PLN 8 000 |
| Sursum Corda Association for the Needy Mszana Dolna |
Implementation of the program with volunteers from the Volunteer Service Center and children from three elementary schools referred to the program by school educators and the Welfare Assistance Center |
PLN 12 000 |
| Association for Social Welfare Augustów |
Implementation of the program with children from three schools |
PLN 8 000 |
| Polish Mediation Center Pszczyna |
Implementation of the program with children from families experiencing hardships and volunteers – secondary school students |
PLN 10 000 |
| Polish Mediation Center Żory |
Implementation of the program in three Żory schools in collaboration with Municipal Welfare Center |
PLN 8 000 |
| Romuald Traugutt Elementary School No. 2 Czarna Białostocka |
Implementation of the program in the school in cooperation with members of Volunteers Clubs |
PLN 8 000 |
| Committee for Protection of Children’s Rights Solec Kujawski |
Implementation of the program with volunteers – secondary school and Economics College students – and the children referred to the program by the Municipal Welfare Center |
PLN 9 000 |
| Society for Assistance to Children Gryfino |
Implementation of the program with scouts volunteers and children referred to the program by County Family Welfare Center |
PLN 6 000 |
| Association of Large Families Krosno |
Implementation of the program with volunteers – university students and secondary school youth – and children using the services of the Association |
PLN 10 000 |
| Training |
Organization of: a training for 60 teachers and representatives of non-governmental organizations that want to join the program in Kazimierz on Vistula River, three trainings for 90 participants in Warsaw and all Poland working meeting for 45 people who run the program in their organizations or schools; presentation of the program for representatives of local government in Pszczyna and representatives of County and Municipal Commission for Prevention and Solution of Alcohol Problems in Jurata; publication of materials and a bulletin; organization of a visit to Poland of the Big Brother Big Sister International Board members (PLN 1 854 from the Big Brother Big Sister International) |
PLN 32 653,82 |
| Big Brother, Big Sister Foundation Poland Warsaw |
Grant to support the continuation of the Big Brother, Big Sister project in 2003-2005 |
PLN 1 200 000 |
|
| Grants: |
PLN 1 966 222,37 |
| Training: |
PLN 32 653,82 |
| Operational costs: |
PLN 201 713,89 |
| TOTAL: |
PLN 2 200 590,08 |
