FOUNDATION WORKSHOPS TRIPS

We welcomed autumn busily – behind us were workshop trips that gave us a boost for the coming end of the year. The away workshops are often breakthrough moments in working with our young people. It’s a beautiful time when they discover themselves and open up to others.

KNOW YOUR STRENGTHS

A lowered head, a hood over his head… when Piotrek came to the Foundation he applied the principle of limited trust. As with many of our new charges, so with him there were questions. Will I be accepted? Will I find myself in a new group? Does it make sense?

In order to help our new charges find their way in the Foundation and start working with an independence assistant, we organize for them trips Meet Your Strengths. Under the watchful eye of a qualified and experienced trainer and coach, the young people go on a journey through the land of their personality. The program is intensive – participants take part in workshops, perform various tasks and solve a test. All this is done to learn as much as possible about themselves – their dominant brain hemisphere or intelligence, learning style, personality type and Gallup talents. We show them that something that has always been perceived by those around us as a disadvantage is simply a trait, the recognition of which can make it easier for us to learn or function in society. Piotrek was very surprised to learn that his inability to sit still indicates that he has a kinesthetic-tactile learning style and absorbs knowledge better when he moves and is engaged in something.

By discovering their potential and the meanderings of their personalities, kids begin to understand themselves better. During the trip, they often hear for the first time that everything is fine with them and that every trait is valuable – it’s just worth learning to use it skillfully. This is also helped by individual coaching sessions with a coach, who creates a detailed report for each participant. During the meeting, young people learn how to work with their strengths, how to develop them and use them in building a good future. Independence assistants give the report to the participants’ caregivers during the meeting. This also gives them a chance to better understand their charges.

On the trip Piotrek slowly began to open up. Every day he spoke more and more confidently at the workshop, more and more often you could see a smile on his face – it was the first time he heard so many good things about himself. Not insignificant was the support of the group, which integrated strongly during the classes together. Piotrek was worried whether he would find his way among strangers – after all, he often felt invisible among his peers and was the loner type. However, at the end of the trip he stated with amazement: “I have new friends. I’m not alone!”. At the farewell there was no shortage of emotions, but fortunately we knew that the next day we will meet at the Foundation and there are many interesting projects ahead! Because the result of the trip is not only new friendships, but also the belief that dreams are achievable!

A HAPPY WAY TO ADULTHOOD

The time after leaving foster care is especially difficult. Without proper support, it’s hard to embrace the new reality and start a fully independent life. In addition to the feeling of loneliness, there are problems with everyday things to do – paying for an apartment, going to the doctor, bank or office, preparing a healthy meal for themselves…. It is difficult for them to find their way in the adult world. In the process of becoming independent, professional support is key, so that the young person feels that he has the ground under his feet. Therefore, on the last weekend of September we went to Nieporęt, where our young adults took part in a development workshop.

During the trip, participants had the opportunity to find out… what color they are! Sound mysterious? It is, of course, about the color of personality – blue, green, yellow and red. Each of them corresponds to a certain group of characteristics – for example, green stands for a caring, empathetic, patient, calm person, and red for a determined, competitive, demanding and determined person. The class helped participants not only discover their personality, but also learn how they can use it – at school, at work or in their interactions with other people. The joint trip was also a time to let others get to know us, try to open up to others and build relationships not only with peers, but also with their independence assistants. We learned to listen to each other and communicate in a kind yet effective way. Participants particularly remembered an activity in which they drew a person whom they then had to depict with a caricature. The group then guessed who the drawing depicted. The task showed how important it is to listen to the other person, paying attention to what he or she wants to convey.

The first away workshop for young adults was an intense, but also a beautiful, valuable time. We came back full of enthusiasm for further work and are already looking forward to the next trip!

The trip for the older group of wards was carried out as part of a public task financed by funds from the budget of the Mazovian Voivodeship.