„Barka” Association for Mutual Help
43 – 400 Cieszyn, ul. Błogocka 30, tel./ fax (33) 8514430
e – mail: barkacieszyn@wp.pl
1996
The Programme of Cooperation of the City of Cieszyn with Non Governmental Organizations and the first Municipal Programme of Prevention and Treatment of Alcohol Problems was put on vote.
The first report concerning the range of social problems in Cieszyn (the addictions, violence, homelessness, unemployment) was made
1997
On initative of Aleksandra Hołdys, Danuta Borowicz and Mariusz Andrukiewicz the Non-Governmental Center of Support to Families was established, and functions as a center of prevention, education and therapy - an institution providing legal and psychological help, professional advice and activation of youngsters by means of some workshops (fine arts, photography, ceramics, computer, culinary, drama )
Community House „BARKA”
43 – 400 Cieszyn,
ul. Kasztanowa 8,
tel. (033) 8524762
Community House „BARKA”
43 – 400 Cieszyn
ul. Błogocka 30,
tel./ fax (033) 8514430,
0 608 030 882
1998
Lucyna Lanc and Mariusz Andrukiewicz created the programme of living and re-adaptation „REDA”, as well as a center of protected housing for people addicted to alcohol having done or doing alcohol treatment and deprived of a roof over their heads.
1999
The first meeting with Tomasz Sadowski in „Barka” in Poznań (consultation and verification of the „Reda” programme)
2000
The local authorities purchased the buildings of the former „OLZA” factory in order to start the „REDA” programme there.
2001
In September an agreement was signed concerning the lease of the „OLZA” buildings, as well as a financial agreement between the Community of Cieszyn and the „Barka” Foundation from Poznań. The person responsible for the creation of the community house, the workshops, the school and the organization of the local association is Mariusz Andrukiewicz.
A month later two first residents started to create a house out of the factory buildings. At the turn of November and December Mariusz Andrukiewicz, Michał Kotas and ten residents started the first Barka Community in the region of Silesia, with support of Tomasz and Barbara Sadowski, the „Barka” Foundation, local authorities, the Non-Governmental Center of Support to Family and other organizations, institutions and people of goodwill. The House was officially opened on 24th December during a solemn Christmas Eve. Invitations were sent to 50 persons (including representatives of local authorities and NGO’s).
The turn of December and January was a time of an intensive work - major overhaul and adaptation of the other factory building to flats and workshops: welding and smith’s, carpenter’s, computer, artistic craftsmanship and dressmaking workshops.
2002
In March there was a meeting of the founding committee of the Barka Association of Mutual Help in Cieszyn. The first board of the Association (Laura Andrukiewicz, Mariusz Andrukiewicz, Wojciech Surzycki and Michał Kotas) was brought into existence in order to register it. June was a month dedicated to arts. They organized the first official exhibition of the art work of the Barka Community’s residents and children of the Non-Governmental Center of Support to Family at the occasion of the Three Brothers’ Day, celebrated annually in Cieszyn.In August we received the information from the court that the association had been registered and in September a new Board was brought into existence (Chairman - Anna Stefaniak-Bacza, Secretary - Jakub Wąsik, Treasurer -Maria Gawlas).
During this time the Association took over a former worker’s hostel of PSS „SPOŁEM” in order to create another house, some more workshops (renovation of furniture, household equipment repairing) and a shop with Association’s products. In October the Association took part in the creation of the Municipal Programme of Housing Policy and Accessible Social Housing for the city of Cieszyn, as well as the Municipal Programme for Getting out of Homelessness and Fight against Social Exclusion, which was voted by the City Council in December 2002. In the same month the gala to commemorate the first anniversary of „Barka” in Cieszyn and the fifth anniversary of creation of the Association in Aid of Integration and Family Supporting „Be Together”, which runs the Non-Governmental Center of Support to Family. During the gala there were some concerts, an auction and a fair. In November „Barka” took part in a tender for renovation works in the Urban Center of Support to Family and PUP. The Association is among the founders of the Polish Confederation in Aid of Social Employment. December the 24th a traditional Christmas Eve was organized for 50 persons (representatives of local authorities were also present) in the Barka Community’s house at 30, Błogocka Street. In this house there are 30 residents. December brought also the opening of the second Barka’s House in Cieszyn at 8, Kasztanowa street, where 5 persons started to live.
2003
The 7th January the buildings at Błogocka street were donated by the Barka Foundation of Mutual Help to the Barka Association in Cieszyn, and the agreement with the Mayor of the City of Cieszyn regulating the title deed to the buildings and guaranteeing the subsidies for Association’s activities in 2003-2005 was signed.
The coordinator of the Association’s programmes is Mariusz Andrukiewicz.
Plans
In 2003, the Barka Association of Mutual Help in Cieszyn intends to open a school, initially with the name of the Socio-Educational Center and after the coming into effect of the law on social employment the name will change into Center of Social Integration. In connection with this fact the following workshops will become „school’s” workshops: the carpentry, welding and smith’s, dressmaking workshop, computer workshop, furniture and household equipment renovating workshop, the shop and the existing artistic craftsmanship workshop will start to produce souvenirs.
Also in the Center the following educational courses will be organized: computer and language courses, professional courses, therapies and training courses.
Finances
The sources of the Association’s funds :
- subsides from local authorities by means of a few years’ agreements- contracts;
- projects (other Communes, Office of the City Council, Ministries)
- services for clients - grass mowing, clearing of snow, transport services, renovation installation and constructing works;
- financial and in-kind donations from companies and private persons
- income from concerts, fairs, auctions;
- sale of own products.
Employment
At present the Association employs 5 persons; in the next months it will employ others (the residents of the communities).
The Barka Houses are cooperating with 10 volunteers from the Center of Voluntary Service, which was established by the Non-Governmental Center of Support to Family. These are the students doing their practice or simply a socially useful work.
A project of the organizational structure is being established.
