We decided to end the school year with a bang, and we were helped by Orange Polska, which organized a unique Mentoring 2.0 for our youth. For two days, kids from Warsaw and Lodz took over the company’s headquarters, where they could once again see that working in an unusual place can bring a lot of satisfaction!

Our kids were delighted with the people and the attractions prepared for them. We felt like the most important guests in the world and saw that working in a pleasant atmosphere and having a good relationship with co-workers is something to pay attention to when looking for a job.

• 

• 

• 

For our kids from Lodz, coming to Mentoring 2.0 in Orange Poland was also an opportunity to visit Warsaw, walk around and marvel at the Old Town. Between workshops, the youngsters were able to relax at the Gromada Hotel, in the very center of Warsaw, which hosted us royally!

Thank you to Orange Polska for showing our youth that it is possible to work in an interesting and developing place doing what you love! We thank the Orange Foundation for this wonderful initiative. Special thanks go to Ms. Bożena Leśniewska, Vice President of Orange’s Business Market Management Board for the inspiring meeting, and to Mr. Grzegorz Klimczyk for his help in organizing the workshop.

We would also like to thank the Gromada Hotel for the accommodation and food for our young people from Lodz.

About Orange Polska

Orange Polska is a leader in the Polish market for fixed telephony, Internet and data transmission. It offers comprehensive telecommunications solutions available throughout the country. Orange Polska’s goal is to provide superior customer satisfaction and attractive returns to shareholders by becoming the most preferred provider of telecommunications, multimedia and entertainment services using modern technologies.

Operating a drone, drawing with charcoal, moving into virtual reality with VR goggles, behind-the-scenes app development…. sound like a lot of fun? That’s what the next edition of Mentoring 2.0 looked like, this time prepared by PwC!

The meeting began with an introduction to the company’s activities. We learned that PwC is engaged in assisting other companies in various fields – including business and technology consulting. After the introduction, the young people were divided into 4 groups so they could learn the ins and outs of working in different departments of the company. We were very curious about what challenges they prepared for us!

At the end, Mr. Marcin Byrt, Partner of PwC, spoke. Our young people listened to an inspiring story about his path to professional success. Thanks to this meeting, they became convinced that it is worth drawing on their experiences, even if something seems to us to be a failure at the moment. Because sometimes from an unfulfilled actor, a great specialist can grow up and fully realize his work! Of course, at the end of the workshop PwC rewarded our talented young people with pizza. There was time to sum up the meeting and exchange impressions.

We would like to thank PwC for the valuable workshop and well-prepared program. Special thanks go to Mr. Marcin Byrt for the inspiring meeting and to Ms. Karolina Radzikowska for her commitment and organization of our visit to PwC. Thanks to such companies, our young people are beginning to believe that they can succeed and do extraordinary things in the future!

About PwC

PwC is an organization that provides professional consulting services and operates in 152 countries. PwC’s goal is to build public trust and respond to the key challenges of the modern world. The company provides clients with the highest quality services in business, technology, tax and legal consulting and auditing. In Poland, PwC has offices in seven cities, as well as a Financial Crime Unit in Gdansk and Warsaw, two Shared Service Centers in Katowice and Opole, and a PwC IT Services unit in Lublin. PwC’s Polish companies employ more than 6,000 people, including nearly 2,000 in technology teams.

Another meeting within the Mentoring 2.0 series is behind us – this time we were invited to ISS Polska, which showed our youth the secrets of working in the most important departments of its organization.

This year’s edition of Mentoring 2.0 was primarily an opportunity to learn about the behind-the-scenes work in a large company supporting external customers. ISS Polska fulfilled its task superbly and prepared an extremely interesting and valuable program of activities for our kids, so that everyone got something out of it for themselves. At the beginning of the meeting, the young people learned what ISS Polska does and what work in their organization looks like. Later we proceeded to the most important element of the workshop – practice!

The participants were separated and each got a taste of real work in different departments: IT, reception, human resources, recruitment and day service. The young people were able to learn what the work in each department consists of and what a typical day at a particular position looks like. ISS Polska employees also prepared interesting tasks.

Of particular interest to the participants was the day service department due to…. Ms. Krysia, who stole everyone’s hearts! Ms. Krysia was portrayed as the good spirit of the organization, who makes sure that everyone’s work is pleasant and enjoyable. Until now, participants remember her with a smile!

The atmosphere of the company is definitely something that delighted our kids. After the meeting, they agreed that in such a place, this adult work doesn’t seem so scary! Especially when, as a reward for their commitment to the tasks, our hosts prepared pizza for the participants to recharge their batteries.

We would like to thank ISS Polska for showing our young people that interesting work can bring immense satisfaction and that it is worthwhile to seek one’s dream career path!

Mentoring 2.0 is a fantastic adventure for both participants and hosts, so we invite you to join us! We guarantee a solid dose of inspiration and satisfaction!

About ISS Polska

It is a leading company in creating friendly workplaces and comprehensive facilities management, offering high-quality solutions that contribute to better business results and make work easier, more productive and more enjoyable.

The end of the year is fast approaching! For us, it’s a time to take stock – a lot of good things happened at our organization this year, we learned a lot and experienced many exciting moments. In today’s post, we would like to share a fantastic project we implemented this year with the support of the Empiria i Wiedza Foundation as part of the InwestorJa program. The project included 3 cycles of workshops for our youth in Lodz and Warsaw.

My goal – the new me!

Have you ever had the feeling that what you are doing does not make sense and that your motivation to act is close to zero? Young people who grow up or leave orphanages often struggle with a sense of lack of purpose, they don’t know their potential, they don’t know what they want to do in their adult life. They also often lack someone to push them and motivate them to change their lives. This is when WE step in!

At the “My goal – the new me” workshop, we showed the kids that they have resources and potential that they can use to achieve THEIR goal! First, we learned how to define a goal so that it would definitely be OURS. Each participant also had the opportunity to discover what talents and competencies they have and what they can use them for. We also worked on building motivation so that it comes from our own need.

“Anyone can speak!”

How to believe in the power of one’s own voice? How to get along with the other person when we are in conflict? How do we find in ourselves the desire to get along?

As part of the project, we also held a workshop called “Everyone can talk!” where we learned how to deal with difficult communication situations. Since we know how important it is to practice, during the meeting young people had to face fictional situations and find solutions to conflicts. Thanks to the workshop, young people not only learned what arguments to use in conversation and how to present them, but also gained self-confidence.

We are very happy when we see that our activities bring results, and young people use the acquired knowledge in practice! We keep our fingers crossed for all project participants, their goals and aspirations!

The project was subsidized by the Empiria i Wiedza Foundation in the ” InwestorJa” program.

What a beautiful time it was!

We have just returned from the camp in Bęsia, where we spent 11 wonderful days, experienced lots of unforgettable moments and learned many valuable lessons. Do you want to know the details? Read on!

I AM A HERO!

This year’s LIFE-CHANGING HOLIDAYS was held under the motto of Heros’ Postulates, which defined what kind of world young people want – a fair world in which everyone has a voice and people are able to communicate without violence.

Our kids took part in a number of development workshops, where they were able to discuss important topics of concern to young people in a safe space and friendly atmosphere.

Particularly memorable for our charges was the workshop on breaking the circle of mistakes, during which they had to inflate two balloons – one until it bursts and the other until it stops and slowly let the air out. Through this exercise, the young people learned how to approach mistakes – not to give up, but to analyse the situation and look for solutions so that they can improve.

I CREATE BEAUTIFUL MEMORIES!

Czym bBut what would a holiday be without a break from everyday worries and responsibilities? In addition to acquiring new skills and competences, our Heroes had time for active leisure and fun.

What can we say – there was a lot going on!

We would like to thank all our Donors from the bottom of our hearts – without your support, we would not have been able to organise the Life-changing Holidays!

Many thanks to HAYS Poland for funding the transport!

The camp was co-financed by the Fundacji Orlen, towards which we also extend our heartfelt thanks!

The summer holidays are coming, the diplomas are waiting to be handed out. But what has the school year been like for our kids in terms of physical activity? Did they look after their shape in addition to their studies?

Anyone who follows our social media has surely noticed that the answer is YES! Several of our charges bravely and regularly attended fitness clubs to improve their condition, build healthy habits and try new challenges. They were eager to share their progress with us, sending lots of photos!

Good cooperation and opportunity for young people

All of this was possible thanks to the support of ZDROFIT fitness club chain, which once again donated free annual passes to our charges.

It is important to recognise the importance of supporting the physical development of our young Heroes and Heroines who are growing up in or have left orphanages and are beginning their independent journey.

It has long been known that movement can replace many medicines, but no medicine can replace movement. Physical activity not only affects health, it also helps to cope with emotions and stress, to find time to relax and to clear your head in the rush of everyday life.

• 

• 

• 

Exercise is not only about physical development

Depending on their age, our charges derive completely different experiences and values from regular training.

For younger children, learning is easier when they can count on a regular boost of endorphins from physical activity. In addition, exercise provides an opportunity to be alone and to collect one’s thoughts – in a children’s home, you are constantly in a group, and everyone sometimes wants some time alone.

The adult charges learn through training how to organise their daily schedule, how to reconcile their duties with their rest (which can be forgotten due to workload!). Exercise also adds a certain rhythm to the day and week. This is very important at the beginning of the independent path of our charges. When they leave the institutions, a lot of things are new, everyday life is turned upside down. The sense of having a good routine provides a foundation for building self-confidence and stability.

What’s next?

We are sure that many of our charges will also visit fitness clubs during the summer holidays, so that the condition developed during the year will not go to waste. Others, on the other hand, will want to return to exercises from September and we believe that thanks to further fruitful cooperation with the network of ZDROFIT fitness clubs it will be possible.

• 

• 

The beginning of a career path is a difficult road, when everyone is just discovering their potential. Our charges (young Heroes), after leaving their children’s homes, are brave enough to develop and want to show the world that they can do a lot. They are looking for professional opportunities. It’s great when companies look to work with them!

One of the charges in Łódź took her first professional steps at the Hebe Drugstore.  

The internship allowed her to gain new skills such as operating a cash register. It was also an opportunity to develop other competences such as: customer service, planning of activities and teamwork.

The first step can be the beginning of a beautiful journey, which is why it is so important to give opportunities to young people who are strong (because they have been through a lot), who have great strength to act and change their future and the world for the better.

Investing in young people always pays off. After all, we never know who might be the world’s best salesman!

—

In Łódź, the Foundation’s activities are made possible by the project “Dobry Początek” (“Good Begining”) co-financed by the European Union as part of the Regional Operational Programme of the Łódzkie Voivodeship 2014 – 2020.

Teaching the skills needed to start living independently is one of the Foundation’s core tasks. Fortunately, our Heroes, who have been brought up in orphanages, are eager to take part in the workshops. The cooking classes are particularly popular.

In Łódź, two unique workshops were prepared for our charges by the team of one of the Domino’s Pizza restaurants. The meetings were a combination of learning to cook and, at the same time, the opportunity to learn the secrets of working in a professional kitchen.

Life and career education

For some of the kids, it was a purely life lesson: how to plan work in the kitchen, how to take care of tidiness during (and also after!) cooking and how to handle yeast dough.

Other participants also took away professional inspiration from the workshop. Some are studying at gastronomy schools, while others dream of working as chefs and cooks, and the opportunity to work as a professional pizzaman is a goal they will pursue.

Young people’s goals – the success of us all

Each of our charges has dreams and goals, the realisation of which gives them a chance for a happy personal and professional future.

The success of young people is a great opportunity for all of us. As they enter adulthood, they will begin to change the world around them, and we can benefit from this. So let’s invest in exceptional and strong adolescents, because it’s not just delicious pizza they can give us.

—

In Łódź, the Foundation’s activities are made possible by the project “Dobry Początek” (“Good Begining”) co-financed by the European Union as part of the Regional Operational Programme of the Łódzkie Voivodeship 2014 – 2020.

The main aim of all the workshops we run for our kids in Warsaw and Łódź is to develope new skills and competences in young people. They are supposed to prepare them for an independent future in the best possible way. The topic of the last few meetings has been communication. After all, in everyday life, regardless of age, you have to get along with the world!

How do you communicate yourself (also online)?

Fine feathers make fine birds? How do you show your passions and dreams where everyone is in the spotlight, i.e. in social media? This is what a group of our mentees in Łódź learned from an expert in communications and PR.

It turned out that even at a young age, it is possible to show ourselves to the world as competent in topics we are passionate about. Our profile can give the audience valuable information and knowledge, and give us the opportunity to build our personal brand (sounds serious, right?).

We can share our passion for football, cooking, dancing with the world. It was wonderful to watch the workshop participants’ eyes light up more and more. Everyone was very involved in the workshop and outdid themselves with ideas for their future and for themselves.

What surprised most was the story of one of our girls. At the beginning of the workshop she was withdrawn. She didn’t want to share her plans.

“I don’t know what I’ll be doing tomorrow morning, let alone in a few years?” – she asked.

However, it only took a little time and to make interesting conversation at the workshop for the mentee to open up. She began to talk about her dream. It is to create her own dance studio, which she is already working towards, as she has started a choreography course. That is quite an impressive plan to communicate! We picked our jaws off the floor.

We are keeping our fingers crossed for the dreams of all workshop participants!

How to talk when the topic is very difficult?

Not every conversation in our lives will be easy. However, even those that will be a great challenge can be prepared for. The techniques of difficult conversations were honed by our mentees from Warsaw (under the guidance of a crisis communication specialist!).

The group learned the importance of starting a message with “I” instead of “you”.

(“I am saddened by your words”, instead of “you keep picking on me!”).

We practised proposing solutions instead of throwing unnecessary accusations and taunts. An important moment of the workshop was an exercise that made the group realise how much we have in common as people (including those people we find difficult to get along with).

This is how I found out that the recipe for having any difficult conversation well is the three-word rule:

“Love”, “Human”, “Banana”. 

Sounds enigmatic? Perhaps, but after all, we can’t give away all the workshop techniques. 😀 

Most importantly, our kids are already putting their new skills into practice in conversations with friends, teachers and also with their independence assistants at the Foundation.

———

In Łódź, the Foundation’s activities are made possible by the project “Dobry Początek” (“Good Begining”) co-financed by the European Union as part of the Regional Operational Programme of the Łódzkie Voivodeship 2014 – 2020.

In Warsaw the Foundation’s activities are made possible thanks to funding from the Capital City of Warsaw.

On the one hand, the smell of popcorn and a big-budget production that takes your breath away. On the other, a unique theatre and performance that involves the audience in its co-creation. Recently, our young people were able to get a taste of culture in different ways!

Łódź – meeting with the Batman

A group of our charges in Łódź went to a show of the latest film about the adventures of Batman. The climatic film, realised with visual panache, delighted the young people. And since the atmosphere in the cinema hall is conducive to absorbing entertainment with even greater fascination, emotions reached their peak!

It turned out, however, that in addition to the special effects and superhero adventures, the film became the pretext for many valuable conversations between our kids and the independence assistants. After all, the story of Bruce Wayne is about looking for answers to many difficult questions: how to cope with tremendous loss? Does it make any sense to resort to revenge, and how do we actually seek relief in a world that is surrounding us?

Warsaw – theatre, but a bit different

Charges from Warsaw took part in a performance by the Potem-o-tem theatre entitled „Po(*)łączność”. It is a story about one possible future scenario, but also about the development of divisions that make it difficult for whole societies, but also for each of us.

The interactive theatre experience was great proof for our young people that theatre is not ‘boring’ and that there is no need to run away from it. It can be fascinating, inspiring and – at the same time – simply a moment of rest from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

A lesson in cultural interaction and… relaxation

Young people preparing to leave foster care and young people who have already left it often find it difficult to plan their leisure time independently and to open up to new forms of entertainment.

Finding a moment for yourself, peace and quiet is a challenge when suddenly there is no group of peers around and your schedule is no longer overseen by educators from the institution. Loneliness begins to overwhelm, and freedom and independence are hard to take advantage of when you have no idea how to do it.

The cultural outings we organise are another step towards independence for our charges.

Without help, this would be impossible

The cultural outings are made possible thanks to Hays commitment to supporting the development of our charges. Thank you very much!

In Łódź, the Foundation’s activities are made possible by the project “Dobry Początek” (“Good Begining”) co-financed by the European Union as part of the Regional Operational Programme of the Łódzkie Voivodeship 2014 – 2020.

In Warsaw the Foundation’s activities are made possible thanks to funding from the Capital City of Warsaw.