“Can We Be Safe Without Social Resilience?” was the title of a panel featuring representatives from the „Act Locally” Centers, organized by the Academy for the Development of Philanthropy in Poland during the 10th National Forum of Non-Governmental Initiatives, which took place on October 15–16 in Warsaw.
“No one will come to the rescue faster than a neighbor.” This was one of the points made by Paweł Łukasiak, President of the Academy for the Development of Philanthropy in Poland, as he spoke about the role of local communities in building social resilience and the role of NGOs in strengthening it. Representatives of the Act Locally Centers: Gabriela Góra, President of the Biłgoraj Region Local Fund Foundation, Dorota Goetz, President of the Partnership of the Mountain Spirit Local Action Group, and Aleksander Jurzysta, Board Member of the Czajnia Association—organizations that have repeatedly faced difficult situations caused by the events of recent years – were invited to participate in the discussion, which was moderated by Tomasz Schimanek, an expert at the Academy for the Development of Philanthropy in Poland.
“At a time when we are facing many overlapping crises, the mobilization of local communities takes on new significance. Joint initiatives, meetings, and neighborhood activities create a network of relationships that can prove invaluable in difficult times. It’s no longer just about bringing residents together—it’s also about building a sense of security,” said President Paweł Łukasiak in his opening remarks.
That is why it is so important to systematically support local organizations, leaders, and civic initiatives. Building social resilience was illustrated by examples of programs such as „Act Locally” and the Safe Poland Locally initiative, implemented in cooperation with the PKO Bank Polski Foundation, as well as the “PAFF Local Partnerships” program. These programs help build a social safety infrastructure founded on relationships, cooperation, and mutual responsibility.
Examples of specific actions carried out in various parts of Poland demonstrate how local initiatives can enhance communities’ preparedness for crises and support residents’ safety. The experiences of local organizations demonstrate that security is not just about procedures, equipment, and professional services. Non-governmental organizations are the ones capable of quickly and effectively organizing aid and volunteers—the trust residents place in them allows them to transform a spontaneous desire to help into effective action.
The Safe Poland Locally initiative was co-funded by the Strategic Partner—the PKO Bank Polski Foundation—and is a partnership track implemented as part of the „Act Locally” program. In 2026, a total of 225 local projects aimed at building social resilience were funded under this track, for a total amount of nearly PLN 5 million.
„Act Locally” is a program of Polish-American Freedom Foundation, implemented by the Academy for the Development of Philanthropy in Poland in cooperation with the network of Act Locally Centers. Under this program, to which PAFF has allocated over PLN 90 million to date, more than 18,000 local projects have been carried out over nearly 26 years.
The “PAFF Local Partnerships” program aims to foster cooperation among participants in various programs of Polish-American Freedom Foundation to create partnerships that will implement projects important to local communities. Since 2009, 92 partnerships have been established across Poland in 141 rural communities and municipalities, involving over 1,250 partners.
