Project: Who wants to be a refugee? The project will be implemented for two years from 01/09/2017 to 31/08/2019
FIRST TIME IN POLAND, FIRST TIME IN BLIZANÓW
On 07.05-13.05 in our school there was a big event prepared by our entire community and planned and organized by the school headmaster Ireneusz Pietrzak and project coordinator Ms. Agnieszka Węclewska. Four partners from schools from Denmark, Italy, Bulgaria and Turkey visited us and participated in the next stage of the project "Who wants to be a refugee?".
We started our joint work in Warsaw and later we continued it in our school. Each day was planned and thought-out, so that all participants understood the seriousness of the implemented project and that they could learn about the history, although a few refugees or immigrants.
During the first day of the project in our school, all students had the opportunity to participate in the classes of the choir conducted by Maria Szczap, art classes led by Mrs. Agnieszka Jurek and Mrs. Aneta Stanisławska, as well as in culinary classes led by Mrs. Joanna Dudkowiak. All classes were designed to integrate all guests and our students to work together. Together, we have learned that, although we come from different countries, we can work together and enjoy the effects we have achieved. Organized activities for all project participants enjoyed great success and involvement of both students and teachers. Together, we created a beautiful poster showing the reasons for migration, immigrants' problems, the impact of migration, and the way we can offer migrants or refugees. During the day we had the opportunity to move to the Janas state farm, where many immigrants from Ukraine work. Mr. Kazimierz Janas and his wife Katarzyna showed us around their farm, gave some information about the production and gave the opportunity to try healthy and delicious tomatoes. During this visit we had the opportunity to meet and ask a few questions for two immigrants from Ukraine - Nazar Chudiyovych and Maria Gladyshyni. At the end of the day, during cooking classes, the students prepared and then ate one of the characteristic dishes in our country, which are dumplings.
On the next day of the project, all participants of the project went to the Poviat Starosty in Kalisz. On the spot, thanks to the translation of Mrs. Agnieszka Węclewska, we had the opportunity to listen to the speech of Krzysztof Nosal on refugees and migration, as well as statements: "Migration and pastoral ministry" Bishop Kaliski Edward Janiak Member of the Pontifical Council for Migrants and Travelers Pastoral Affairs Member of the Polish Committee of the Committee for Polish Diaspora and Poles abroad, as well as a priest from Ukraine and a church and school leader in Ostrów Wielkopolski for people from Ukraine, "Poland - my second homeland" - Eskan Darwich - a Pole of Kurdish origin who has lived in Poland for 23 years, "Immigration and stereotypes. Studies in Kalisz for foreign students "- prof. dr hab. Piotr Łuszczykiewicz - Dean of the Pedagogical and Artistic Faculty in Kalisz - Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu, "Situation of immigrants on the labor market in Kalisz - Poviat Labor Office in Kalisz," Powiat Kaliski - what to see? "- Wioletta Przybylska - Director of the Department of Promotion, Information and Council Services, Poviat Eldership in Kalisz
Very interesting was the presentation describing the project "Who wants to be a refugee?" Prepared in two languages by Agnieszka Węclewska describing the issues of the project and the expected results.
During the statements of the gathered people, the students had the opportunity to ask questions and talk about the topics previously presented. After the conference, we went to dinner at the Alio restaurant run by Eskana Darwich. In the afternoon, all students spent very actively in our school during sports or Zumba classes.
The next day we started a short tour of the oldest city in Poland - Kalisz. Włodzimierz Mikołajczyk together with the translation of Mrs. Agnieszka Węclewska briefly described the history of the Calisia castle, showed the monument to John Paul II, told about the town hall located in the city center and also showed the remains of the foundation of the defensive wall and the castle. An interesting fact for visitors was the monument of the book and the history connected with it, as well as the plaque commemorating Fryderyk Chopin. Tour participants also had the opportunity to visit the "Kaliszanka" production plant and see how wafers and other delicacies are created in our region.
In the afternoon, a final concert was organized in our school. Agnieszka Węclewska, project coordinator in Poland, who led the entire concert, prepared a very interesting schedule. We started the concert with a dance show of the band "Sixteen", which is very active in school and whose teacher is Mrs. Małgorzata Janiak, then everyone involved in the project had the opportunity to present their presentations and films based on the theme "Introducing immigrants.
The following parts are a performance of the school choir and then the international choir created by students from the Primary School in Blizanów, the Primary School in Janków Pierwszy and all students from Denmark, Italy, Turkey and Bulgaria. The concert ended with the performance of the Brass Band conducted by Leszek Nowak and the handing out of Certificates, which were handed over to all persons involved in the project by the headmaster of the school, Mr Ireneusz Pietrzak.
Time spent in our school brought many benefits for each participant. We all understood that despite cultural and religious differences, we are able to work together and achieve great goals.