4th Progress Report

Matra COP Project

 

March - November 2000

 

 

for the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 

 

   

Table of contents

 

     Introduction  p.3

 

A. CONTENT 

 

1. Context  p.4

     1.1.  Aim, approach and means

     1.2.  Products and target groups

 

2. Activities planned  p.4

     2.1  Time schedule

 

3. Activities actually implemented  p.6

     3.1. Overview

     3.2. Practical community work

            3.2.1.   Gdansk-Wrzeszcz - Elderly

                3.2.2.   Gdansk-Orunia - Activity platform

                3.2.3.   Smetowo / Kopytkowo - Community centre

                3.2.4.   Potęgowo-Zochowo - "Przełamac Bierność" 

                3.2.5.   Gdańsk-Wrzeszcz - "Pospolite Ruszenie"

                3.2.6.   Potęgowo-Rzechcino - "Nadzieja"

                3.2.7.   Poznan-Glowna - Activating local community

                3.2.8.   Wrzesnia - Organizing youngsters

     3.3. Educational activities

             3.3.1.   CO reader & curriculum plan

                3.3.2.   CO specialisation in Gdansk and Poznan: start and progress

                3.3.3.   CO courses & conferences

     3.4. Consultancy & exchange

                3.4.1.   Working visits         

                3.4.2.   Students exchange

     3.5. Promotion & information

            3.5.1.   Events and tours

                3.5.2.   Publications                     

     3.6. Personnel & organization

           

4.  Interim assessment  p.20

 

5.  Proposals for adjustments or re-orientation  p.21

  

     Supplements  p.24

1. Friesch Dagblad, October 21, 2000: "Sociaal werk in Polen ondergewaardeerd"

2. NHL Krant, October, 2000: "Sociale dilemma's in Polen"        

3. See for more information the Matra COP website: http://come.to/Matracop

 

Introduction

 

In the reporting period the Matra COP project went from the development phase into the realisation phase.

A necessary interim period of reorientation- and adjustment at the beginning (see the 3rd Progress Report) resulted in the participation of two more institutional partners (the Poznan School of Social Work and the Poznan Social Service) and in a reorganized, allocated Polish team (see 3.6).

The reorganized Polish team made a "flying start" with a successful conference in Poznan on June 28, 2000 (see 3.3.3). This conference was attended by more than one hundred social workers and twenty local and provincial authorities and was reported by newspapers and regional radio and television stations.

 

The practical community work projects in Gdansk developed well. Matra COP initiated and adopted five more projects (see 3.2) so that the total number of community work projects is now seven, located in Gdansk, Poznan, Wrzesnia and Potegowo.

These community work projects are of vital interest for the realisation of Matra COP's aims. The projects demonstrate the method, encourage the residents, give social workers the opportunity to show their engagement, involve local social work institutes, offer the students opportunities to gain practical experience and promote community organization in Poland.

 

The specialisation study Community Organization started in September 2000 at the Schools of Social Work in Gdansk with 14 (Gdansk) and 15 (Poznan) motivated and enthusiastic students. The curriculum is carried out according to plan.

Many other educational activities: courses, conferences and guest lectures, were carried out, resulting in a growing popularity and knowledge of Community Organization in Poland.

 

In the field of consultancy & exchange, two Dutch delegations visited Poland.

The CO October Promotion Tour was a big one with a hugh impact on the promotion of community organisation in Poland. A Dutch delegation of six toured five Polish towns in nine days from 7-15 October, 2000. The programme was filled with a variety of activities. During this tour, more than 500 social workers and policy makers were reached and much publicity was generated in a large number of local and regional newspapers, radio- and television stations (chapter 3).

 

Today, the activities are in full swing.

For me, as project manager, there is no doubt: Matra COP achieves her goals and will pass the finish line on July 1, 2001, as a winner ...!  

 

Leeuwarden, February 12, 2001

 

 

drs. Willem M.J. Blok

 

Lecturer NHL

Project manager Matra COP

 

 

A. CONTENT

 

1. Context

1.1 Aim, approach and means

The Matra COP project is aimed to contribute to the transformation process in Poland into the direction of democratisation and participation, by initiating, developing and implementing (education for) professional support of vulnerable groups in Polish society to improve their life circumstances and social position.

To realise this, the COP Project generates a wide range of (related) activities and products in Gdansk and Poznan region with a pilot function for Poland, illustrating the potential, possibilities and effects of community organization, from within the existing Polish educational and institutional infrastructure and implemented by local workers.

The positioning within existing frameworks is done on purpose, because it is essential for continuation and

dissemination of efforts and results of the COP Project.

A team of Polish teachers, social workers and scientists, supported by their institutions, is doing the work.

Dutch colleagues provide them with materials, know how and advice. A Dutch project manager and a Polish

local coordinator are in charge, supported by administrative staff. The project runs from October 1998 until

July 2001and is located in Gdansk and Poznan.

 

1.2 Products and target groups

In terms of products, Matra COP tries to realise the following (the products in bold are recently added to it):

a. Two half year specialisations Community Organisation at the Schools of Social Work in Gdansk and Poznan

b. Three small practical Community work projects in Gdansk region and two in Poznan region

c.  Practical places and coaching for CO students in the Community work projects

d.  A reader Community Organization for students

e.  Manual and description of a Polish curriculum Community Organization

f.   Two courses Community Organization for Social Workers on at least two places

g.  A course package Community Organization for Social Workers

h.  Teachers training Community Organization

i.   A regional and national conference Community Organization

j.   A video film and (was and/or) photo report about the project activities and results

k.  A final Matra Project Report 

 

Target groups in Polish society are:

a.  Residents in neighbourhoods, willing to participate in efforts to improve their social life circumstances

b.  Social workers

c.  Social work students

d.  Social work teachers

e.  Managers of social work institutions

f.   Politicians and policy makers in the social field 

 

2. Activities planned during the reporting period

2.1 Time schedule

The activities, results and products during the reporting period include the re-orientation period and a big part of the development & realisation phase.

In the following extended timetable (presented in the 3^rd Progress Report) the planning for the  reporting period (March-November 2000) is printed in bold fonts.

 

 

 

3. Activities actually implemented

 

3.1. Overview

In the reporting period the project went from the development phase into the realisation phase.

The reorientation- and adjustment period (as described in the 3rd Progress Report) resulted in a reorganized, allocated Polish team (see 3.6) that made a "flying start" with a successful conference in Poznan (see 3.3.3), attended by more than one hundred social workers, local and provincial authorities and journalists from newspapers and regional radio and television stations.

 

The practical community work projects in Wrzeszcz and Orunia developed well and Matra COP initiated five more initiatives (see 3.2). The Specialisation Community Organization started at the Schools of Social Work in Gdansk (14 students) and in Poznan (15 students). Many other educational activities: courses, conferences and guest lectures, were carried out, resulting in a growing popularity and knowledge of Community Organization in Poland.

In the field of consultancy & exchange, one small and one large Dutch delegation visited Poland.

The CO October Promotion Tour was a big one with a hugh impact on the promotion of community organisation in Poland. A Dutch delegation of six toured five Polish cities in nine days from 7-15 October, 2000. The programme was filled with a variety of activities. More than  500 social work related people were reached and much publicity was generated in many local and regional newspapers, radio- and television stations. See chapter 3.

 

3.2. Practical community work

In the Matra COP project, practical community work projects are very important to demonstrate the method, to encourage the residents, to give social workers the opportunity to show their engagement, to involve local social welfare services, to offer the students opportunities to gain practical experience and to promote community organization in Poland.

 

The three winning community work projects of Matra COP's Community Work Contest for social workers in Pomorskie Province (see 2^nd and 3^rd Progress Reports) started in the reporting period. The two rural ones are located in Potęgowo (see 3.2.4 and 3.2.6) and the urban one in Gdansk (see 3.2.5). These projects were rewarded and adopted by Matra COP (a modest budget for activity costs, a free working visit to The Netherlands and consultancy & supervision) and facilitated (in the form of working hours and support) by the institutes of the winning social workers, so that the project can be actual realised.

 

Meanwhile, the two oldest community work projects of Matra COP - the one with the elderly in Gdansk-Wrzeszcz district (3.2.1.) and the one in Gdansk-Orunia (3.2.2) - developed fine according to plan. The initiative in Smetowo Graniczne-Kopytkowo (see 3.2.3) failed. Despite the enthusiastic efforts of community workers of Dutch "Stichting De Ploeg", their Polish counterparts were not able to realise their part of the deal.

 

The Matra COP contest in Wielkopolski Province - based on the successful Gdansk example - resulted in two winning proposals for local community work projects: one in Poznan's district Glowna (see 3.2.7) and the other one in Wrzesnia (3.2.8).

 

The community work projects are attended and the budgets are supervised by Matra COP's social workers mgr. Danuta Czapla Kierbel (Gdansk) and mgr. Renata Puszczewicz (Poznan), and by Matra COP's consultant/organiser mgr. Malgorzata Szady (Pomorskie Province).

These workers are vital for the practical part of Matra COP. They were actively involved in the contest, attend the projects, contribute to meetings and conferences, make reports and write articles.

 

3.2.1. Gdansk-Wrzeszcz - Elderly

This is Matra COP's oldest community work project, initiated by project developer/social workerDanuta Czapla-Kierbel and implemented by her and her colleagues of the MOPS team (MOPS=Municipal Social Service) in the Gdansk district of Wrzeszcz.

Goal of the project, that started in October/November 1998, is preventing the isolation of the elderly, mobilising them to meet their needs and stimulating them to act for the benefit of their living area.

Description: The project is addressed to the growing group of elderly in the Gdañsk district of Wrzeszcz. Generally in Poland the elderly are those who carry the costs of the country's transformation processes. In consequence they are pessimistic, depressive and passive. They lack social contacts and attractive recreational possibilities. Mobilising them to organise and act to change their life situation helps to overcome the stereotype that being old is synonym of failure, illness and dependency on others.   

Approach/method: The community work was carried out in stages from November 1998 and is very successful. As a result of the efforts, the engine of the project is now formed by the elderly themselves, organised in "Klub Wrzos" ("Wrzos" means: "Herfstasters" in Dutch language).This growing independence is "part of the community work game": goal is a fully independent operating "Klub Wrzos" from July 2001.

Actors involved are divided in "partners", meaning the Wrzeszcz team of Social Work, the management of MOPS Gdańsk, Gdansk School of Social Work, the Matra COP team and the Dutch consultants, and in "allies": the district committee, councillors, local media, Radio Gdańsk, primary school no 45, "Miniatura" theatre, the police and city police, sponsors.

Matra COP supervisor is Danuta Czapla-Kierbel

Matra COP contributes towards activity costs according to the budget plan.

Activities from March to November 2000:

- celebrations of the first anniversary of the Wrzos club and of the international women's day,

- birthday and name's day celebrations

- organisation of a meeting about crime prevention. Subjects: unsafety, robbery of elderly, prevention)

- organizing study visits of Dutch students in the framework of Matra COP's students exchange

- organising Easter breakfast for the poor

- joint event with members of the soldiers veterans club

- organizing a meeting of patriotic songs singing

- dancing evenings

- meeting with authorities of the pensioners union

- excursions to Przegalino, to Licheń, to the Zoo and a boat excursion

- regular Wednesday meetings

- excursion for blackberries picking

- taking part in two radio programmes about the elderly

- help at the funeral of one of the members

- activating club meetings after holiday break,

- taking part in the recording of a programme about the elderly for Polish TV,

- going to Warsaw, to record 2^nd part of the TV program, visiting TV building and the Old Town,

- taking part in the meeting of representatives of clubs of elderly in Gdansk,

- help at preparing two mushroom picking excursions,

- meeting with Dutch consultants in October

- introduction of new club members

 

The Wrzos club is getting bigger and stronger and offers an increasing number of activities for the senior citizens of the district. The club, that wants to break through the isolation of their age group and to improve the life situation in the district, meet regularly and plans and carries out new activities. As one can read from this and former reports, Klub "Wrzos" is becoming an even national known example of "good community work practice".

National prize: In December 2000 the social work team from Gdansk-Wrzeszcz in Gdansk has got a reward from the Polish Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs for their "community activity", meaning support for the elderly organization Wrzos and Mrs. Dunajska's project plan for training volunteers (see chapter 3.2.5.) There were ten such rewards nation-wide and of course many willing "contributors" to the success. The role of Matra COP was adequately mentioned in the application.The meeting on November 24, 2000, held on that occasion and attended by representatives of different social welfare institutes in Gdańsk, was actually used to promote Community Organization and the Matra COP project.

 

3.2.2. Gdansk-Orunia - Activity Platform

The Matra COP initiative to unite key persons and officials in an alliance for this neighbourhood in decline, succeeded in the foundation and official court registration of the organization called "The Association for local initiatives Orunia" in October 1999.

Initiators and implementers are activeresidents of the district and representatives of some insttutes functioning there - the parish, the disabled centre, the local Secondary School and members of Matra COP team M.Szady and P.Oniszczuk

Goal is to create a platform of people and institutions in the neighbourhood of lower Orunia and organise activities to improve the life situation and to change the image of the neighbourhood in a positive way. The forming of the association is meant to facilitate the co-operation of the institutes in the districts, will voice neighbourhood problems and give the groups of residents a legal body for more successful actions and support. The association enables active residents and workers to pursue other non-statutory activities and offer support to any group in the neighbourhood wishing to organise for their own interest.

Description:So called lower Orunia is a neighbourhood in decline which, despite excellent activity of some institutes, residents consider neglected and lacking attention of the city authorities. There was a need for co-operation of the institutes working in and for Orunia and a need for co-ordination and exchange of information between/and among them.

Start preparatory phase: from March 1999

- Association establishing meeting was held on June 16, 1999

- Official registration: October 4, 1999

- Foundation AA club: October1999

- Choosing the board/ beginning of the association independent activity: 14 January 2000

The official meeting of the association was held: choosing the chairman, the committee and taking resolutions. The meeting was followed by a programme meeting where directions of the activities were planned, including local fundraising.

 

Approach/method:The initiating work by Matra COP staff was carried out in the following stages:

1. getting to know the neighbourhood by different methods, especially contacting key persons individually,

2. organising the several meetings of the key persons from the neighbourhood,

3. meetings result in the decision to establish the association, work on preparing the establishing meeting and the rules of the association,

4. informing about the meeting (posters, invitations) and the meeting

5. supporting the committee work on the official registration,

6. supporting some of the initiatives of engaged people and institutions - family festival, idea of doing something  for the alcoholics,

7. upon registration electing of the association board,

 

The association is independent. The activity of Matra COP is directed at supporting its efforts to get more members, help in some events and especially helping groups that would like to act within the organisation to meet and solve their needs. 

Actors involved: Day Care Centre for the Disabled in Nowiny street, two local schools, Dom Kultura, Orunia Park Association, Local Parish, Social Workers: R.Szulkowski, Małgorzata Kwapisiewicz and Dorota Czernik.           

Supervision: Danuta Czapla-Kierbel, helped by Małgorzata Szady

Activities from March-November 2000:

Various initiatives were initiated and/or supported by Matra COP:

- study visits of the Dutch students in the framework of Matra COP's students-exchange

- helping in preparing documents for grants to organise family festival in Orunia

- support for AA club in Orunia. A club that functions as an example for others in Gdansk.

- contributing to the organisation of the Orunia family festival in June, 2000

- preparing and publishing the May issue of the Orunia newsletter

- assisting the association of parents of disabled children, acting in Orunia,

- organizing the Neighbourhood manifestation (presentations, dance and shows) on Monday, October 9, 2000 in Orunia's "Dom Kultura" (part of Matra COP's October Promotion Tour).

 

3.2.3. Smetowo Graniczne / Kopytkowo - community centre

On request of one of Matra COP's institutional partners: the WOPSOZPU (Healthcare and Welfare department of Pomorskie province), Matra COP invited two Dutch community workers: Folkert Bouma and Rian Meerstra of Stichting De Ploeg (regional welfare institute in Opsterland, Friesland) for consultation and advice to the village of Kopytkowo in Pomorskie Province.

The two Dutch workers, who went there in November 1999, developed a workable idea, accepted and supported by the local social workers and authorities, to establish a community centre annex day care centre, partly runned by disabled people, with a wide offer of social cultural activities for the community. An appropriate unused building is still there.

Back home, Stichting De Ploeg adopted the idea and the Dutch community workers did their part of the agreed job. They managed to interest two Dutch institutions for mentally disabled people for the project idea, willing to help in different material- and non material ways.

Despite of these efforts and several E-mails to Kopytkowo, the local Polish partners were not able to do their part of the job. This resulted in the reasonable and understandable decision of De Ploeg to stop further involvement with Kopytkowo.

 

3.2.4. Potęgowo-Zochowo -"Przełamac Bierność"  (1^st prize in Pomorskie contest)

The name of the project,"Przełamac Bierność", means: "to overcome passiveness". The project is realised in the village of Żochowo in Potegowo commune.

Initiators and implementers are social worker Daria Bilińska of GOPS (=Social Service) Potęgowo and active citizens.

Goal of the project is changing the patterns of leisure time spending in the rural area, by building up closer contacts between the residents and developing culture and local traditions.

Description: The project is addressed to the residents of villages in the Potegowo commune. The loss and decline of uniting local traditions, and little access to culture, is often combined with feelings of boredom and occasional socially unacceptable behaviour. Among the various activities of the project, some are especially notionable: the foundation of a people's cabaret group, bringing the people together, entertaining them and fighting bad habits. The project has a territorial character and envisages participation and financial support of the local authorities.

Start in May 2000

Actors involved: social workers from GOPS Potęgowo, councillors and village representatives of the state administration ("Sołtys")

Activities organised so far involve:

- selection of the youth and children from pathological families;

- organising pathology-preventing activities for this group;

- engaging the group in the work for the village, such as: tiding up the basket court, cutting bushes and

  preparing an open air recreation place,

- engaging the youth in care-taking of the recreation place,

- creation of the traditions integrating the community like: "Spring in Żochowo" (spring cleaning, contests and bonfire), day of the mother and child, music & games for children and volleyball match; harvest festival

 

According to the organisers they experience many, often unpredictable, odds and the timing of the planned activities has to be adjusted already. Nevertheless: the activities have started and are carried out.

Matra COP supervisor is Małgorzata Szady, supported by P.Oniszczuk

 

3.2.5. Gdańsk-Wrzeszcz - "Pospolite Ruszenie" (2^nd prize in Pomorskie contest)

The name of the project, "Pospolite Ruszenie", means: "Common motion"

Initiator is social worker Anna Dunajska. The implementation will be done by her and her colleagues of MOPS team based in Wrzeszcz at 2 Wasowskiego street.

Goal of the project is to contribute to local community development by organising a voluntary work centre

Description: a centre of voluntary work would bring together the demand for help of elderly, disabled and sick people with the supply side of those who want to work on voluntary basis for the people in need. The project contains an educational offer for the would-be voluntary workers.

Activities: the project is in the preparatory phase. The project plan is ready, MOPS Gdansk promised initiator Dunajska a full-time contract for project related activity, the initial contacts are made and a place for the activities is available.

The following activities are planned for January and February 2001:

- presenting the project to the actors in the district of Wrzeszcz;

- starting co-operation with the Gdansk Centre of Voluntary Work and learning about their work;

- taking part in the training in the work with voluntary workers;

- preparing and equipping the office;

- recruitment and registration of voluntary workers;

- inventarisation of those in need of voluntary workers help;

 

Further activities envisaged are: starting co-operation with media and other institutes, looking for sponsors, continue work with voluntary workers, introduction of subprojects.

Start: May 2000 on a voluntary, informal base. The formal start was be on January 15 when a separate full time (42 hours) contract was given by Gdańsk MOPS to Mrs Dunajska.

Duration - May 2000/January 2001 to August 2001

Actors involved: MOPS Gdańsk, Team of Social Work in Wrzeszcz, councillors from the district, NGO's

Matra COP supervisor is Małgorzata Szady, supported by P.Oniszczuk

 

3.2.6. Potęgowo-Rzechcino - "Nadzieja" (3^rd prize in Pomorskie contest)

The name of the project, "Nadzieja", means "Hope". It is realised in the village of Rzechcino in the Potęgowo commune

Initiators and implementers are social worker Alina Wożniakof GOPS Potęgowo and active citizens

Goal of the project is to change the patterns of leisure time spending in the rural area, to stop cultural degradation of the village and to contribute to re-socialisation of youth from pathological families, by the foundation of a community centre offering activities and stimulating further initiatives..

Description: the project is addressed to the residents of the village of Rzechcino in the Potegowo commune. Social problems of the village are typical for Polish villages where the State Owned Farms collapsed: unemployment, helplessness, frustration and growing social pathologies. The conversion of a little former water heating plant into a community centre will facilitate further activities. The variety of activities described in detail in the project plan puts an emphasis on work with the youth.

The activities organised so far are:

- community events and festivals, prepared by the people from the village which integrate the local community;

- co-operation with the Commune Committee for Solving Alcohol Related Problems. Starting from February

                              2001 the activities in "a therapeutic ward" will be run for the youth from pathological families;

- the completion of the conversion of a little old heating plant building into a village meeting place is in full

  progress. A part of the rooms is already in use, though not completely furnished;

- founding of the association "Our beautiful village of Rzechcino";

- applying of the association for funds to the Voivode (=Province) and getting money for carpets, chairs and

  tables.

- collection, from different sources, of books for the library point at the place.

Start: April 2000

Actors involved are social workers from GOPS Potęgowo, councillors, village representatives of the state administration ("Sołtys") and local businessmen,

Matra COP supervisor is Małgorzata Szady, supported by P.Oniszczuk

 

3.2.7. Poznan-Glowna - Activating local community (1^st price Wielkopolski contest)

The name of this project is "Aktywizacja spolecznosci lokalnej rejonu Glowna". This means in English language: Activating local community Poznan-Glowna district.

Initiators and implementers are Anna Banaszak-Dankowska and Aleksandra Kowalska, social

workers from MOPR (Social Service Poznan region)

Goal of the project is to create a self support system in Glowna district in Poznan, by organising all actors and generate social power to solve the problems and initiate development of the local community.

Description: the project is addressed to the residents of Glowna district in Poznan. Its aim is to  improve the living conditions of  the people from this district. The project has a territorial character and functions as a clear example of neighbourhood work in an urban area.

Activities

The community work was and is carried out in the following steps:

1. Search of subjects of co-operation

2. Organising information actions for inhabitants in purpose to stroke interest for project (posters, media).

3. Organising meetings with residents.

4. Creating an initiative group.

5. Realisation of tasks, organising the initiative to solve existing problems in the community.

6. Organising integration meetings of community, looking for allies.

7. Contacting schools and finding people who want to be active for the district

Start preparatory phase from June 2000

Actors involved are social workers Karolina Bartkowiak and Karolina Grodzicka, primary school no. 45, Parish Roman-Catholic Church, students and teachers of Poznan School of social work, police, local media: Radio RMF FM, Merkury and Eska, and the newspapers “Glos Wielkopolski”, “Gazeta Poznanska”, "Gazeta Wyborcza" and "Gazeta Wielkopolska”.

 

3.2.8. Wrzesnia - Organizing youngsters (2^nd price Wielkopolski contest)

The name of the project is "Dzialajac razem-osiagniemy wiecej. Mlodziez dla spolecznosci Wrzesni, spolecznosc dla mlodziezy Wrzesni", meaning: "Youth for local community and local community for youth". A nice two sided name for mutual social involvement, expressing willingness from the youngsters not only to ask and to take, but also to do and to give. 

Initiators and implementers are student Hubert Sommerrey and social worker Renata Puszczewicz

Goal of the project is to create the Local Association of Youth “Przystan” that can voice youth problems, realize local facilities for youngsters and can give groups of youngsters a legal body to negotiate and co-operate with institutes. One of the actual targets is the creation of a Youth Centre in 44 Fabryczna street in Wrzesnia.

Description: an own, local Youth Association would assure free time activities for youth, can provide them with a location where they can realise own ideas and active involvement into social activities. There is need and willingness for co-operation and exchange amongst local youngsters. The project also contains an educational offer for the voluntary workers.

Activities: The project is in the implementation phase. A variety of activities is done and still going on. Main event was a hugh local meeting about problems and wishes of local youngsters on November 23, 2000 in Dom Kultura, visited by 450 local youngsters, local authorities, a member of parliament, representatives of institutes, Dutch and Polish Matra COP staff and journalists.

Start preparatory phase from June 2000.

Actors involved are Renata Puszczewicz, local schools, Poznan School of Social Work, police, councillors, social workers, local media.

Supervisor is Matra COP's social worker Renata Puszczewicz

 

3.3. Educational activities

3.3.1 CO Reader and CO Curriculum Plan

At the beginning of this reporting period, the CO reader was ready. It is an important product, because it contains basic texts for community work training and -practice in Polish language.

The reader is titled: "Organizowanie spolecznosci lokalnej - wybrane zagadnienia" (Community organization - chosen issues). It has 185 pages and two parts. Part 1 contains articles written by Polish and Dutch members of the Matra COP team. Part 2 is a selection of translated texts and summaries from three books about Community Organization who are inaccessible in Polish language, namely:

1. Paul Henderson and David N. Thomas: "Skills in Neighbourhood Work”, Routledge, London and New York

     1980.

2. Harry Broekman: "Professioneel opbouwwerk - Beroepsprofiel, kwalificaties, beroepscode, kwaliteitszorg”,

     Dr. Gradus Hendriks-stichting, Den Haag 1994.

     3.  Harry Broekman: "Handboek Opbouwwerk. Methoden, technieken en terreinen”, Dr.Gradus Hendriks-

          stichting, Den Haag 1998

 

Because of the importance of the reader, the Matra COP team considers this product as a draft version that will be tested and tried out in lessons and courses. In the last stage of the Matra COP project the reader will be edited and published in final version (see the extended time table in 2.1).

 

The CO curriculum plan in its original form is meant for an one year's specialisation. It was developed in cooperation with lecturers of the Noordelijke Hogeschool Leeuwarden (NHL) and was ready in January 2000. The plan is divided into four blocks, namely: (a) Introduction and theory, (b) Methods of community organisation, (c) Tools of the community worker and (d) Broadening and supplementing issues. The curriculum plan contains a detailed list of topics, form of the activities,  timing and a list of literature.

 

As described and explained in the 3^rd Progress Report, unexpected legal and management problems of the Gdansk School of Social Work, resulted in a delay of the start of the specialisation in February 2000.

This became cause of adjustments in the Polish Matra COP team and in the project plan. One of the decisions taken - approved by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs - was to rewrite the curriculum plan into a more compact one for a specialisation of half a year, to be implemented at two places (Gdansk and Poznan Schools of Social Work) from September 2000 to February 2001. 

This conversion of the original two semester curriculum plan into a compact curriculum plan for one semester, was done successfully by Matra COP's educational researcher & developer Piotr Czekanowski in the period February-March 2000 (see supplement A3 of the 3^rd Progress Report).

 

3.3.2. CO specialisation in Gdansk and Poznan: start and progress

Both Schools of Social Work, in Gdansk and Poznan, started the specialisation Community Organization, based on the one semester curriculum (see 3.3.1) in the first week of September 2000. Gdansk has 14 third year (= last year) students and Poznan 15 who are doing the course as part of their regular studies.

Their teachers are Matra COP's staff members Port Czekanowski and Przemek Oniszczuk (in Gdansk) and Zofia Androszowska and Mira Modzelewska (in Poznan).

The CO Reader (see 3.3.1) is the most important theoretical source for the students. All students have a copy of it for free. The reader is in draft version and therefore subject of try outs and evaluation.

The CO specialisation includes 7 theoretical teaching hours + 8 hours of practical placement per week during the last (the 5^th) semester of the 2,5 years social work study of the Polish Schools of Social Work. The theoretical lessons are on Mondays in Gdansk and on Fridays in Poznan. 

In the first two months of the specialisation, the activities of the teachers were concentrated on launching and conducting the lessons, on internal coordination in the school and on working out a proper formula of students' placements, in coordination with MOPS in Gdansk and MOPR in Poznan.

The students were taught according to plan. On November 1 the modules A and (3/4 of) B of the theoretical programme were given.

Students are enthusiastic and motivated. As extra activity, they joined together, in Poznan, a methodic workshop, given by two Dutch community workers on October 12, during Matra COP's October Promotion Tour.

At the end of the reporting period, the practical placements in community work projects for all students and their supervision, were arranged in cooperation and with help of the involved institutes and social workers the Gdansk and Poznan region.

 

3.3.3. CO courses & conferences

In the reporting period Matra COP organized one course (in Poznan) and took care for three local conferences (in Gdynia, Szczecinek and Poznan) for social workers and local authorities. Matra COP presented herself and her subject Community Organization on the 10th National Congress of the Polish Association of Schools of Social Work in Kiekrz on October 11, 2000. Dutch consultants also gave two lectures (in May and October) and two workshops (in October) for students.

A main, large scale event was Matra COP's Poznan Conference (see A), marking the start of the new Poznan section of the team. Very successful were also the local conferences in Gdynia and Szczecinek (see B), realised by Dutch consultants during the October Promotion Tour. 

 

    A. Poznan conference & basic course in Poznan

    Over 100 social workers and 20 important guests (presidents, aldermen, heads of departments etc.) from Wielkopolski Province took part in the Start conference of Matra COP in Hotel Poznan on June 28, 2000.

    The conference, that included also Matra COP's Basic Course Community Organization, was organised by the new Poznan section of the Matra COP team and was carried out by the (experienced) members of the (old) Gdansk section of the team.

 

    Preceding the conference, many preparatory activities and meetings took place. Matra COP found  new local institutional partners for her activities. Dr. André Grzybowski, vice president of Poznan, took patronage over the Poznan section of the Matra COP project.

Matra COP is supported by the following key persons:

     - mgr Maria Remiezowicz, director of the Health & Welfare Department of Wielkopolski Province

     - mgr Malgorzata Zaluska, vice director of the Health & Welfare Department of Poznan

     - mgr Wlodzimierz Kalek, director of Miejskiego Osrodka Pomocy Rodzinie Poznan (MOPR)

     - mgr Krzystyna Szot, director of the Torun School of Social Work (SPPSS).

                      

This powerfull support made the organisation of the conference possible. The preliminary settlements assumed a minimum number of 80 social workers taking part in the conference to guarantee realisation of the Matra COP Project in Wielkopolski.

 

The participants of the conference were presented the merits and experience in:

- theoretical introduction to the methods of community organization;

- the way of realisation of categorical projects with elderly people;

- video presentation with examples of community organisation in The Netherlands.

 

During the course the participants discussed the new tasks of social workers resulting from the method. Questions were raised: Will it be possible to employ professional community workers in Poland? How to estimate the effects of local community work? How to find time to do community work as part of the present job?

 

The aim of the conference was:

a. To acquaint the Poznan region with the idea of community organisation and with the main aims and

     activities of Matra COP Project.

b. To present the process of local community work and a detailed description of two of the nine stages of the

     work: collecting data and organising meetings.

c. To encourage cooperation of social workers with Matra COP by announcing the Contest for community

     work projects.

 

Because of the diversity of aims a and b, the first part of the course was more general. The Matra Cop team wanted to show to the public the specificity of local community organisation, the characteristics of community work as a profession and Matra COP's experience in the Gdansk districts Wrzeszcz and Orunia.

The second part of the conference contained the essential elements of the basic course community organisation for social workers, as developed by Matra COP in Gdansk.

 

The programme of the conference was as follows:

 

 

The participants received the following Matra COP materials:

1. Organizowanie spolecznosci lokalnej. Podstawowe informacje

2. Czym jest organizowanie społeczności lokalnej. Podstawowe informacje

3. Organizowanie spolecznosci lokalnej. Kurs I stopnia dla pracownikow socjalnych opracowany i realizowany

                                 w ramach polsko-holenderskiego projektu Matra COP.

 

The Poznan Conference was very successful. Not only because of the quantity (many participants, and a lot of publicity), but also because of the interest and motivation of the participants and the engagement and support of important local authorities. It is important to stress that the new Polish Matra COP team as a whole, demonstrated her competence and self reliance: the successful conference was a 100% Polish production. No Dutch consultants were involved.

 

B. Conferences in Gdynia, Szczecinek and Kiekrz

1) On May 8, 2000 and October 10, 2000 Matra COP was invited to and lectured about local social policy & community organization for 70 social workers and civil servants in Gdynia, a town with 250,000 inhabitants in Pomorskie Province. Both conferences were hosted by the local government. The October conference was held in the meeting hall of the municipal council, was part of Matra COP's promotion campaign and was reported by the local and regional newspapers, radio and television stations. 

2) On October 13, the Dutch consultants lectured for approx. 80 social workers an civil servants in the city hall of Szczecinek, a town with 50,000 inhabitants in Zachodnio Pomorskie Province.

3) On October 11, Matra COP's project manager addressed a speech about the need for community organization in Poland, to the approx. 100 participants of the 10^th National Congress of the Polish Association of Schools of Social Work in Kiekrz. The speech was received with applause and enthusiasm from the participants. Students of the CO specialization study in Gdansk and Poznan, promoted Matra COP in a special stand at the congress.

 

3.4. Consultancy & exchange

 

3.4.1. Working visits

A. February and April visits

Although Matra COP's project manager Willem Blok was leading the intensive reorientation and adjustment period from March to May, he managed to limit the number of working visits to Poland to only two: a short visit from February 14-15 to Gdansk (combined with other duties) and a working conference with Gdansk and Poznan participants in Szczecin from 14-17 April. Most contacts between him, former local coordinator Przemek Oniszczuk, educational researcher & developer Piotr Czekanowski and the new Poznan partners, were by E-mail, telephone, fax and mail.

 

B. Working & monitoring visit in May

The May visit to Poland was a multi purpose one:

1) Matra COP's project manager accepted the invitation of the local government of Gdynia (Pomorskie Province) and lectured on May 8, 2000 about local social policy and community organization for approx. 70 social workers and civil servants in Gdynia's City Hall;

2) the winning community work projects of the Pomorskie Contest in Potegowo were visited by the project manager and NHL director Tony de Wit. They also met the social workers of Gdanks-Wrzeszcz, who won the 2^nd price in the contest.

3) the reallocation and adjustments of Matra COP were formally confirmed by the institutional partners in Gdansk and Poznan during monitoring meetings, attended by project manager Willem Blok and NHL director Tony de Wit.

4) working meetings of project manager and new Poznan team on May 11, 12 and 13

5) the project manager lectured Poznan students about modernization of social work

 

The programme of this visit was as follows:

 

 

 

C. October Promotion Tour

A Dutch delegation of six persons, toured five Polish cities in nine days from 7-15 October, 2000.

The delegation was formed by:

- Annemarie Blom (community worker in Groningen),

- Jaap Ikink (consultant in Overijssel),

- Berto Merx (journalist & communication consultant),

- Richard Aldridge (filmmaker of NHL Audio Visual Centre)

- Klaas van Langen (photographer of NHL Audio Visual Centre)

- Willem Blok, NHL lecturer &  Matra COP's project manager

 

The aim of the Tour was to inform and educate social workers and local authorities about community organization and to promote this work as a valuable specialization of modern social work.

 

The programme was filled with a variety of activities:

-    Working visits to community work projects and social work institutes

-    A workshop and lectures for students

-    Attending and the presentation of the Gdanks-Orunia district in Dom Kultura

-    Local conferences about Community Organization in Gdynia and Szczecinek

-    Presentation of Matra COP and community organization on the 10^th National Congress of the Polish

     Association of Schools of Social Work in Kiekrz

-    Strategic meeting with Wielkopolski authorities about social developments in Poland and perspectives and

     subjects for Polish-Dutch cooperation.

 

The Promotion Tour achieved the goals: it was, in terms of education, exchange and promotion, worthwhile and successful.

The programme of Matra COP's October Promotion Tour is included in chapter 3.5 of this report.

 

3.4.2. Students exchange

As described in the 3^rd Progress Report, the Matra COP team decided, that for logistic and educational reasons, sending out many students for one week is preferable above a few students for a longer period. In the former reporting period,13 Dutch students from NHL visited Gdansk, one of them twice because of his final theses.  

14 Polish students, the ones who applied for the CO course in Gdansk, visited The Netherlands in March and April 2000. They were hosted by the Dutch students who were send out to Gdansk.

The Polish students were send out with an assignment in the sphere of orientation, observation, data collection, research and comparison.

The names of the Polish students are: Aleksandra Mróz, Marta Krajewska, Emilia Milos, Katarzijna Potrykus, Monica Brozoza, Anita Ambroz, Katarzijna Oziemczuk, Magda Siwy, Rozalia Salek,  Piotr Olech, Domian Dabski, Pawel Procenko, Tomasz Gackowski and Marzena Bialous.

All Polish students reported about their visit in terms of "great hospitality", and "learning full". It was an extra motivation for the CO specialisation.

 

Dutch Matra COP secretary Tjitske Idsinga did the logistics of the students exchange. Local coordinator Przemek Oniszczuk prepared and coordinated the exchange at Polish side. 

 

3.5. Promotion & information

Matra COP's promotion & information policy ("Do the PIP") that was formulated in July 99 and facilitated from Matra COP's budget (see 2^nd Progress Report), is needed to come and stay in touch with the different target groups of Matra COP in Poland, to inform them about Community Organization and to stimulate them to practice this work in their own institutes.

 

3.5.1. Events and tours

The Polish Matra COPpers (re)presented the project and her objectives in many forms, and during many occasions.

In this reporting period, two big events were highlights in the ongoing promotion campaign for community organization in Poland. Those two events generated much publicity and popularity of community organization in Polish Social Work. 

Those events are: the Start Conference in Poznan on June 28, 20000 and the October Promotion Tour. The Start conference is fully described in chapter 3.3.3. See there.

Matra COP's October Tour is only mentioned in 3.4.1 and will be further described in this chapter.

 

A. October Promotion Tour

As reported in chapter 3.4.1, a Dutch delegation of six persons, including a journalist, a filmmaker and a photographer, toured five Polish cities in nine days from 7-15 October, 2000.

The aim of the Tour was to inform and educate social workers and local authorities in Poland about community organization and to promote it as a valuable specialization of modern social work.

The programme was as follows:

 

 

Most parts of the tour were reported by local and regional Polish Press.

There were also some reports in the Dutch Press: the provincial newspaper "Fries Dagblad" published a diary (see supplement A1) and the NHL Krant published a report and an engaged article about the state of social affairs in Poland (see supplement A2).

The media people in the Dutch delegation did approx. 20 interviews, took 1600 photo's and shoot 9 hours of video. These materials were used for the articles as mentioned and will be used for the production of a video film and a photo book as mentioned in the project plan (see 1.2).

 

3.5.2. Publications

The list of Matra COP publications, produced in the 3^rd and 4^th reporting period, is as follows. Most of the publications were made in the former period and were attached to the 3^rd Progress Report as loose supplements:

- Brochure "Klub Wrzos"

- Information brochure community organization: "Czym jest organizowanie spolecznosci lokalnej" in two

  versions, one for education and one for practice

- The curriculum Community Organization:"Specializacja Organizowanie spolecznosci okalnej"

- Reader Community Organization: " Praca ze spolecznosciami lokalnymi - wybrane zagadnienia" (available

  on request, due to the large extend)

- Posters about Community Organization

- Report of the Regional Conference on 18.11.99

- Report "Try out lessons Matra COP 2",

- Report of Matra COP's start conference in Poznan on June 28, 2000

- Video of Matra COP's start conference in Poznan on June 28, 2000

- Diary in Friesch Dagblad, October 21, 2000: "Sociaal werk in Polen ondergewaardeerd" (see supplement A1)

- NHL Krant, October 18, 2000: "Sociale dilemma's in Polen" (supplement A2)

- The Matra COP website on the Internet contains much information. The website is in two languages, English

  and Polish, and is situated on the NHL server in Leeuwarden. The Internet address is http://come.to/Matracop

  The website functions as a kind of permanent public "progress report".

 

3.6. Personnel & organization

On November 1, 2000, the Matra COP team consists of the following persons:

Poland:

- Polish coordinator: mgr. Marian Zukowski (Poznan)

- Educational developer and vice Polish coordinator: mgr. Przemek Oniszczuk (Gdansk)

- Educational researcher & developer: dr. Piotr Czekanowski (Gdansk)

- Educational organizer & developer: dr. Mira Modzelewska (Poznan)

- Project developer/social worker: mgr. Danuta Czapla Kierbel (Gdansk)

- Project developer/social worker: mgr. Renata Puszczewicz (Poznan)

- Social work teacher: mgr. Zofia Androszowska (Poznan)

- Consultant/organiser: mgr Malgorzata Szady (Pomorskie Province)

- Financial assistant: mgr Ewa Grocka (Poznan)

 

The Netherlands:

- Project manager: drs. Willem Blok

- Secretary: Tjitske Idsinga

- Financial assistant: Jan Post

 

Mgr Przemek Oniszczuk changed position on May 15, 2000, when mgr Marian Zukowski became Polish coordinator.

Przemek Kobialka did not return as secretary in the new, reorganized Polish Matra COP team.

The secretary tasks were divided over the Polish coordinator and his vice in Gdansk.

Gdansk financial assistant Ewa Piatek was, according to plan, succeeded by mgr Ewa Grocka in Poznan from Juni 1, 2000.

 

From June 1, 2000 Matra COP is supported by two more institutional partners, namely:

- the Poznan School of Social Work

- the Poznan Social Service MOPR.

 

 

4. Interim assessment

In this period all four measures to strengthen the institutional base of the project and to assure the continuity, proposed in the 3^rd Progress Report and approved by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, were taken and implemented successfully.

These measures were:

     1.  involving a second school of social work (SPPSS Poznan) as full project partner;

     2.  adjusting and re-allocating the Polish project team;

     3.  launching a compact CO specialization in two schools

     4.  temporizing the activities by extending the duration of the project with three months,

          within the existing budget.

 

Ad. 1: The Gdansk School of Social Work proved to be a motivated, professional, active and flexibel partner from the very beginning of her involvement. The director and vice director did not hesitate to invest their energy, creativity and extended network of relations in Matra Cop.

 

Ad. 2: The reorganization and reallocation of the Polish Matra COP team took place in May and June, 2000. It went fast and smoothly, with approval of all people involved. The new local coordinator played aan important role in this. At the very moment that the Ministry's approval was received, the employment contracts were signed and the salaries paid. 

The new Polish team members met twice, before they realized as a team their first big event in the form of the succesfull Poznan Conference on June 28, 2000 (see 3.3.3).

 

Ad. 3: The CO specialisation study was started and implemented at the Schools of Social Work in Gdansk and Poznan according to plan, as described in 3.3.2.

 

Ad. 4: The delay in the project's progress was limited to February, March and April, 2000. From May 2000, the Matra COP team initiated and carried out more activities than planned for two reasons: (1) the team operates from two places and (2) the scope of the activities is widening from the regional to the national level.

Not only the CO specialisation, but also the CO courses and conferences for social workers are given on more places, and even more than two (see 3.3.3).

 

The number of small scale community work projects initiated and/or adopted by Matra COP, has raised from 2 to 7 in the reporting period. This is a result of the decisions to organise contests for social workers (see 2^nd Progress Report) and to reallocate the Polish Matra COP team.

These community work projects are of vital interest for the realisation of Matra COP's aims.

The projects demonstrate the method, encourage the residents, give social workers the opportunity to show their engagement, involve local social work institutes, offer the students opportunities to gain practical experience and promote community organization in Poland.

 

It is a pleasure to conclude that from the start of the new team until now (February 2001) the activities are in full swing, only interrupted by summer and Christmas holidays.

Although this is the work of all Polish team members, I like to mention here Mira Modzelewska,  Marian Zukowski and Danuta Czapla-Kierbel. Mira and Marian prepared Matra COP a great reception in Wielkopolski region and enlighted a big Poznan torch which they carry around with pride.

Danuta is "mother" of Matra COP's oldest community work projects in Gdansk. One of them, Wrzeszcz, takes nation wide attention these days on Polish television and from the Polish Government. The project has even won a national price from the Polish Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs !   

 

Thanks to these enthusiastic and motivated people, Matra COP achieves her goals and will pass the finish line on July 1, 2001 as a winner.  

 

5. Proposals for adjustments or re-orientation

There is no need for adjustments or re-orientation, other than some shifts in the budget (see B4).

The changes we proposed in the 3^rd Progress Report are approved by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

We are grateful for that, because in practice they worked out fine. They strengthened the institutional base of the project and guaranteed the progress.  

  

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