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Office of The Foundation Board:
barka@barka.org.pl
Barka
Foundation for Mutual Help
was established as a response to increasing social problems during the
times of transformation. Barbara and Tomasz Sadowski wanted to create
conditions in which the “forgotten and unwanted” could have a chance for
personal growth and social development. Barka created an alternative
system of support, which gathers people from the weakest groups, giving
them possibilities to rebuild their lives, upgrade vocational skills and
find their way in the new socioeconomic reality.
In 1989, these two psychologists set up the first Barka community, using
the derelict school building in Władysławowo – an area in the west of
Poznań, Poland. This first community gave a home for 20 “forgotten”
individuals, who were living together with the Sadowscy family.
Władysławowo became the spring-board for the continuing mutual-help
movement, engaging not only the people in need but also informal groups
and non-governmental organizations in Poland and abroad.
Barka’s Mission:
Barka Foundation is a non-governmental organization. Its mission is to
offer support for social development of excluded groups, give conditions
to rebuild their lives by creating a system of mutual help, education and
entrepreneurship, in line with a citizens’ society.
The Barka Foundation Objectives:
Barka Foundation’s objectives are to create a system of support for the
process of integration of excluded groups. This system includes about 5000
persons annually ( gathering persons in life crises, informal groups of
citizens, non-governmental organizations, representatives of the
government at national and local levels). The system is composed by 4
basic programs:
1. COMMUNITY PROGRAM - Barka’s communities are functioning as
multi-generational families, developing on basis of the idea of
self/mutual help and co-operation with the neighbourhood and local
societies. The main rules of communities’ functioning are:
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family life based upon self-help ideas in groups of 25-30 people
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adaptation of old and ruined houses for places to live and work
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living by own work ( breeding, cultivation, services)
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solidary help to others in need
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awareness
of the benefits of life in sobriety and its dissemination by
non-drinking
alcoholics
Presently there are 20 Barka’s communities, where about 650 people live
and work. New places are being created.
2. SOCIOEDUCATIONAL PROGRAM links social support and education.
This program has grown out of the need of people from excluded groups to
complete their formal education and upgrade vocational qualifications,
enabling their economic independence and integration into society. The
program is run both in rural areas and cities. Annually a few hundreds of
poeple participate in diverse educational activities in 4 socioeducacional
schools.
3. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM This program was started as a
response to increasing unemployment rate (currently there are 3 108 141
unemployed in Poland - data from end of october 2002 – according to
http://www.praca.gov.pl/stat/ . Work opportunities are largely
created in the so-called secondary market (for example recycling), in
second hand stores, workshops, farming, etc.
4. HOUSING PROGRAM So far there are no programs of low cost social
housing building in Poland directed towards individuals and families who,
finding themselves in difficult social situations, have been evicted from
their homes. Barka’s program presumes participation of the needy persons
both in work and in means.
Barka Foundation tasks:
Presently, the main Barka’s committment is the creation of the program for
development of the above mnetioned system in Poland and in other countries
in transformation. The program includes:
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Creation of Schools of Social Animation (SAS), based on the idea of the so
called „People’s Universities” or „Folk Universities”. Benefiting from
experiences and knowledge of people who experienced poverty and serious
life problems, the school shares and transfers their knowledge about
mechanisms of creation and development of programs to fight social
exclusion of groups from diverse regions of Poland and other Central and
Eastern European countries. SAS educates future animators of centers and
programs within the system of self/mutual help.
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New law regulations on social employment and social entrepreneurship,
which emerged from Barka’s experiences in co-operation with the Ministry
of Labor and Social Policy and give possibilities of legal and financial
support for development of programs in Poland.
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Building national and international networks: Poland-wide unions of
non-governmental organizations are being created, as well as
confederations interested in implementation of the above mentioned
programs and education regarding creation of mechanisms for social
integration. The Foundation takes part in exchanges of experiences with
large European unions such as: EAPN (European Anti-Poverty Network),
European Social Platform, FEANTSA (European Federation of National
Associations Working with the Homeless), ISSAN ((Instituto Studi Sviluppo
Aziende Non Profit-Universita degli Studi di Trento, Italy), Schwab
Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs, Ashoka (Social Innovation
Entrepreneurs), etc.
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Signing of the Joint Memorandum Poland – European Commission for
Social Integration.
Thanks to signing the Joint Memorandum Poland – European
Commission for Social Integration we will be able together with
member–states of the EU to determine objectives in this domain.
We are going also to have access to the best practices of
struggle against social marginalization. The memorandum was
signed by the vice-minister of economy and labour, Krzysztof
Pater at the Brussels meeting on employment and social policy.
There were 10 ministers from countries joining the EU in May
2004. |
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Today, 19th of December 2003,
a team of the Council for Community Service Activities in charge
of the legislation for social welfare met again. The following
participants took part in the meeting: minister Dagmir Długosz,
head of the department of community service – Krzysztof
Więckiewicz, head of the department of social welfare – Mrs.
Krystyna Wyrwicka, and Teresa Hernik, Tomasz Sadowski, Krystyna
Mrugalska and Jakub Wygnański of the ngos. Discussion focused on
the line indicated by Prime Minister Hausner at a meeting of the
Council for Community Service Activities on December 17 this
year. Further directives for processing the suggested amendments
to the law on social welfare were established (it is now before
the second reading at the parliamentary commission). The next
meeting of the Council for Community Service Activities in
charge of the social welfare bill is going to be held on the 29th
of December 2003 and the next meeting with the Department of
Social Welfare is scheduled for the 5th January 2004
at the Ministry of Economics, Labour and Social Policy. The
works are aimed at negotiating amendments which could be
included in the law and at the same time define the range of
amendments to the “Green Book” to be submitted soon and to the
ongoing work on a new social welfare system. With regard to the
next meeting (December 29) we would greatly appreciate comments
on the suggested modifications. |
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At the second session of the Council for Community Service
Activities on December 16 members of ngos Teresa Hernik, Tomasz
Sadowski, Krystyna Mrugalska, Krzysztof Balon, reverend
Stanisław Słowik, Jakub Wygnański and Sławomir Piechota of the
local government presented to the prime minister Jerzy Hausner
proposals of amendments to the current bill on social welfare
and proposals on the issue of changing the social welfare system
in Poland. Deputy prime minister Hausner accepted the proposals
and deemed the need for an initial material for discussion
beneficial – the “second green book” as starting point for
public debate. It is Mr.Hausner’s belief that a new generation
social welfare system is necessary. |
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On December 16 and 17, 2003
Tomasz Sadowski participated in the works of the Council for
Community Service Activities. |
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EAPN – the european network against poverty held the
12 and 13 of December 2003
in Brussels a teach-in combined with a study tour of european
institutions. |
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On the 2nd of December 2003 the Ministry of
Economics, Labour and Social Policy hosted the 1st
meeting of the Council for Community Service Activities in
charge of the bill “social welfare law”.
On the 27th of November 2003 the opening session of
the Council for Community Service Activities was held. The Prime
Minister Leszek Miller attended the meeting. |
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On the 22 November 2003 at
the Geneva hotel “President Wilson” a ball of solidarity for
Poland was given. The dancing party gave Mrs. Ewa Cardis who
is popular with bankers, high profile patrons, aristocrats and
showbiz people and she was able to attract many celebrities from
all over Europe. |
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From 12 to 17 November 2003
representatives of the BARKA Foundation for Mutual Help, Mr.
Tomasz Sadowski and Andrzej Wiatr participated in European
Social Forum in Paris. |
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12 to 26 Nov. 2003
Mrs. Barbara Sadowska gave a report from a meeting with
Ashoko people in Bangladesh and Thailand - “On common social
responsibility or how business people join in solving social
problems”. |
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The President Aleksander Kwaśniewski invited Tomasz Sadowski
for the festivities on the 11 November Independence Day.
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The Foundation PRO PUBLICO BONO Contest and Speaker of the
Małopolska County legislative body have the privilege of
inviting on the 11th November 2003 for the Grand
Gala of Contest “Best Civic Initiative”
PRO PUBLICO BONO
Where the results of the contest in 2003 were announced. |
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Homes of the Barka Community during the Saint Martin Event on
November 10 and 11, 2003
were advertising and selling on street stalls next to the Poznań
Cultural Center “Zamek” its products from green farms. The best
selling were home made hot Saint Martin croissants. Volunteers
from BARKA were busy tin-rattling and fundraising for the
poorest under the banner “Help your fellow men survive this
winter!”. Nov. 10, 2003 Tomasz Sadowski participated in a 3rd
Conference of the Movement Against Social Helplessness in Cracow.
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Nov. 10, 2003, debate
“Culture and Independence” in Cracow. The Institute for Civic
Society Pro Publico Bono invites to participate in Cracow
debate entitled “Culture and Independence”, organized on the eve
of the Independence Day 10 Nov. 2003, at 4 p.m. in Cracow. The
Cracow debate is run under the auspices of cardinal Macharski.
It is an event accompanying the finals of the contest by Pro
Publico Bono for the best civic initiative of the year. |
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4-5 Nov., 2003. Mr. Wojciech
Zarzycki, managing director of the Office of the Board of the
Foundation was participating in the conference organized by the
polish embassy under the patronage of the polish minister of
foreign affairs, Mr. Włodzimierz Cimoszewicz entitled
“Cooperation of polish and ukrainian ngos after enlargement of
the EU”. Invited guests: ngos from Poland and the Ukraine,
polish and ukrainian Foreign Office, advisors’ committee to the
Foreign Secretary in charge of cooperation with ngos, foreign
representatives of the European Commission in Kijev, TACIS,
SIDA, DFID, USAID, PAUCI etc.
New initiative of Mayor of Poznań
NGOS activities in Poland,
Best practices, Opportunities and Threats.
Report of a team of the Task Group 4 in charge of Social
Reintegration. |
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29 and 30 October 2003, At
the Prime Minister invitation Mr.Tomasz Sadowski – Chairman of
the Board of BARKA Foundation took part in a public debate
dealing with a Program of Restructuring and Cutting Public
Spending and Streamlining Welfare Spending (the so-called “Green
Book”). These documents were adopted by the Cabinet. |
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Our project, Youth
Recreation Center, has been selected as one of ten projects
GlobalGiving is highlighting for
Make A
Difference Day, on October 25, 2003. More
details
>>> |
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On
October
12 – 23, 2003 Barbara and Tomasz Sadowski will
participate as experts in the Grameen-Ashoka Dialogue, a Platform
of Social Entrepreneurs on Creating and Scaling Up Business/Social
Ventures To End Poverty.
conference
program<<<<<<
conference
participants <<<<<<<
http://www.grameen-info.org
http://www.ashoka.pl |
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On October
1-4, 2003 Barbara
Sadowska will take part in the International Forum Connecting
People with Hands-On Solutions to World Poverty.
Co-Organized by The University of Colorado at Boulder School of
Engineering, Service Learning Program, Environmental Center,
Office of International Education, Program in Developing Areas
Research and Testing
The Sustainable Village
The Marpa Center for Business and Economics at Naropa University
Engineers Without Borders - USA
Sustainable
Resources 2003
will provide a new platform of exchange where poverty issues faced
by the developing world can be addressed globally and solved
locally. The overall technical program of the conference is
designed around the Millennium Development Goals selected by the
United Nations on September 18, 2000.
Sustainable
Resources 2003
will provide unique opportunities for non-profits, NGOs, donors,
funding agencies, humanitarian organizations, educators, engineers,
business people, volunteers, students, and representatives of
developing communities to meet, learn from each other, network,
discuss new approaches for outreach, and create new partnerships.
Such organizations have not traditionally interacted in the past.
More Information>>>
www.sustainableresources.org |
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