Hand in hand with our Partners – Managers of PAFF programs – we continue monitoring the developments and as far as possible we are launching activities aimed at solving problems faced by the Foundation’s program participants who have become victims of the recent flood.

The Foundation addresses its support to local NGOs through Act Locally Centers (ALCs). So far it was of interventional nature and covered the most urgent needs, such as power generator for Bystrzyca Kłodzka or dehumidifiers, as well as cleaning tools and products for Kowary.

Under the Anti-Crisis Support Fund of the “Act Locally” program, the amount of PLN 126,000 has been earmarked for grants for NGOs that are the flood victims. The support is awarded by ALCs.

Additionally, funds already awarded for implementation of standard projects under the “Act Locally” program can be redirected to initiatives alleviating the effects of flood. Applications can be submitted to appropriate Act Locally Centers.

The following four ALCs – of Bystrzyca Kłodzka, Kłodzko, Kowary, and Niemodlin – covering 20 municipalities and communes that are in the worst situation have launched crowdfunding campaigns:

• Fundusz Lokalny Masywu Śnieżnika (Śnieżnik Massif Local Fund);
• Razem Możemy Więcej Kłodzki Fundusz Lokalny (Together We Can Do More Kłodzko Local Fund);
• Stowarzyszenie Lokalna Grupa Działania Partnerstwo Ducha Gór (Association of Spirit of Mountains Partnership Local Action Group);
• Partnerstwo Borów Niemodlińskich (Niemodlin Forest Partnership).

As a result of the flood, losses were suffered by the following communities where PAFF Local Partnerships operate: of Janowice Wielkie, Lądek Zdrój, Bystrzyca Kłodzka, Żory, Kamienna Góra, as well as those of Hażlach, Milicz, Wołów, and Złotoryja. We are monitoring the situation in Słubice and Oborniki Śląskie. Under the program, we have created the support fund of PLN 100,000 for alumni partnerships. Moreover, we have awarded a grant of PLN 80,000 for the PAFF Local Partnership of flooded Kowary.

Under the “Equal Opportunities” program, we will soon offer the assistance in the form of grants for former program participants operating in the flooded area. We will disburse a total of PLN 150,000 for that purpose. There will also be a special competition for projects aimed at improving the situation of young people – flood victims, with the total fund of PLN 100,000. Applications will be accepted by the Civis Polonus Foundation.

We will also offer assistance for flood victims from the funds of “Third Age Universities” program. The total amount of PLN 150,000 has been earmarked for that purpose.

The “Learning Schools” (LES) and PAFF and UW School of Education programs are collecting and analyzing information on the needs of flooded schools. The support fund of a total of PLN 160,000 will be launched soon.

Likewise, support will be offered to libraries participating in the Library Development Program, e.g. Municipal and Communal Public Library at Głuchołazy will soon receive an interventional support in the amount of PLN 30,000 for covering the most urgent needs.

Among the flood victims are also local media, mainly in Nysa and Kłodzko area. Under the “Media Forum. Local Development” project run by the Foundation, we have earmarked PLN 58,000 for small editorial offices that suffered during the flood to cover their immediate needs. Applications are accepted by the Media Forum Foundation.

Under the “PAFF Leaders” program, we have launched a special financing path under the Alumni Initiatives Fund that will offer grants for alleviation of the flood effects to the program participants.

Additionally, at the initiative of the School of Leaders Foundation, alumni of the program from various parts of Poland have established cooperation with PAFF Leaders at the flooded areas and are organizing the necessary aid. At this stage, that aid is of interventional nature, such as PAFF Leader Marcin Piotrowski’s initiative who has delivered the equipment necessary to clean up after the flood and organized a group of volunteers who joined him in cleaning the flooded areas.

Under the initiative of the “PROJECTOR” Program Team, the interventional support in the form of power banks was delivered to families in Głuchołazy who had no access to electricity. They are also raising funds to buy school materials for students of No 2 Elementary School in Głuchołazy, where projects of the “PROJECTOR” program were implemented.

For more information, please contact:

• Przemysław Zaroń, PR Specialist, Polish-American Freedom Foundation