Shared values, passions, and activities for the benefit of local communities were the leitmotif of the three-day meeting of the Ambassadors of the “Generations in Action” competition Club and the UTA for the Community project of Polish-American Freedom Foundation.
Twenty-eight ambassadors from all over Poland took part in the meeting, which was held on September 1-3 in Gdańsk and organized by the Creative Initiatives Association “ę”. Special guests at the event were representatives of Citizen University from Seattle, an organization promoting civic culture based on responsibility and engagement.
“We want to activate people aged 60+ with an emphasis on social engagement, especially in intergenerational relations. As part of the program, we strive to support and promote initiatives undertaken by seniors, and in the ‘Generations in Action’ Ambassadors’ Club, we create a space for strengthening their potential and sharing experiences in activities for the benefit of their own environment, as well as for mutual support and inspiration,” explains Katarzyna Świątkiewicz, Program Officer at Polish-American Freedom Foundation.
The meeting was an opportunity to introduce six new members of the Club: Grażyna Bolewska, Barbara Jakubowska, Wanda Kalisiak, Stanisław Kalisiak, Wiesław Łabęcki, and Ryszard Potorski.
This was followed by an “Ideas Market,” during which participants presented their completed projects, including:
- Teresa Kuchta, as part of an expert discussion panel, presented the results of the initiative “Don’t break down – get moving – break stereotypes,” which combines physical activity with education and intergenerational integration.
- Joanna Bulandra from Rybnik, an animator of activities for nature, shared her experience of participating in the Women’s Congress in Katowice.
- Krystyna Kosk-Krzyżanowska from Wysina talked about her work on the competition committee at the National Institute of Freedom – Center for Civil Society Development.
During the meeting, participants explored how their personal stories and activities fit into the mission of the Ambassadors’ Club, a group that gives real shape to the ideas of the “Generations in Action” competition.
Orunia Station – Gdańsk Archipelago of Culture – was the next stop on the meeting’s itinerary, hosting an exhibition of works by ambassadors Krystyna Kosk-Krzyżanowska and Lucyna Korytowska.
The “Generations in Action” Ambassadors Club is part of the PAFF program “Third Age Universities” managed by the Creative Initiatives Association “ę”. The club brings together about 30 selected, active graduates of the program, and its goal is to promote social and civic engagement among seniors and support its implementation through promotion.
