The Wieliszew Commune began running workcamps with FIYE support in 2005 after Pawel Kownacki (at that time a worker of the Commune Office and the president of the youth association “eMka”, currently the Head of the Wieliszew Commune) had gone to a workcamp in Holland and imported this idea to his local community.
From then on the Wieliszew Commune has been organising 1 or 2 environmental workcamps each summer. At the beginning of 2013 the Wieliszew Commune has made the next step in international voluntary service and began hosting long-term volunteers in the framework of European Voluntary Service programme. At the moment first 2 volunteers from Slovakia and Armenia are promoting environmental protection and sports in the Commune as well as active engagement on the local and international level.
Neither of the projects could exist without help of the local volunteers who assist foreigners, make them acquainted with the local community and environment and gain intercultural skills at the same time. These volunteers represent the Youth Association for Development “eMka”, established in 2003, which can boast wide experience in involving youth in life of the Wieliszew Commune.
Aleksandra Sosnowska, “eMka” member: “EMka” is created by people who want to share their free time and energy to develop education, culture, sport and tourism in our commune. Within 10 years we have organised many events to promote and integrate our local community. In the holiday season together with volunteers from around the world we clean up our commune, making it a friendly place for rest and recreation. We also care about the sights of our region. With support of the Stefan Batory Foundation - Local Scholarship Fund EUREKA “eMka” awards scholarships to several talented young people from the Wieliszew Commune. We want to show that young people from rural municipalities can and want to influence the surrounding reality.”
Sample actions of the Youth Association for Development “eMka”
Our Talent Competition: Every January we organise a competition named “Our talent’. It gathers people from our community who are talented in many ways, for example they sing, dance and show us all their talents.
Japanese Culture and Art: At the beginning of 2013 eMka began workshop about Japan, in which young people from the Wieliszew Commune can participate. The program includes for example a trip to the Embassy of Japan and learning how to do origami.
Charity Ball: At the annual charity ball organised by the association there is an auction which profits are spent on scholarships for talented youth.
Ballons on the Independence Day: every year on the Independence Day, November 11th, we gather inhabitants of the commune and all together let go balloons in the national colours to the sky.
Theatre Workshops: This project, organised twice, gave youth of our community an opportunity to participate in theatre workshops, which were finished with performances. Performances were organised in the auditorium of the Commune Office and gathered large audience.
Help at Worcamps: During the summer our community hosts volunteers from workcamps. Workcamps lasts three weeks and during that time the volunteers from all over the world collect rubbish. “EMka” volunteers accompany them during work and free time.
Mentors of EVS volunteers: 2 members of “eMka” became mentors of the first EVS volunteers hosted by the Wieliszew Commune. They help them get acquainted with the commune and Polish culture.
