Solidarity Experience
15th – 24th July 2008, Cracow, Poland
The third Viviamo Sumer Camp, organized by WYA Europe, took place in Cracow in mid-July 2008 and focused on the topic of solidarity. Participants, who gathered in Poland - the cradle of Solidarity movement, came from different parts of the world: Costa Rica, Peru/Spain, Austria, Romania, Russia, Croatia, France, Italy and Poland.
The 10-day-programme consisted of lectures, workshops, volunteer work with children and the elderly in need as well as sightseeing and a variety of leisure activities. This year we partnered with the Cracow-based-NGO, The Spring Foundation, which is involved in different grassroots development projects and coordinates volunteer work locally.
The composition of the programme allowed WYA members to reflect upon the meaning of solidarity as a value in their personal lives as well as in society. They could observe how the Solidarity movement influenced Polish history and impacted people. Thanks to the examples of "solidarity heroes", such as Karol Woytyla, Jerzy Popieluszko or Maksymilian Kolbe, they discovered that solidarity can be possible even in the most difficult circumstances, as under the communist regime or in the concentration camp. Volunteer work with children or visiting the elderly gave the participants an opportunity to discover how important solidarity is, especially when exercised in a simple daily self-gift to others and by appreciation of the person. They had a chance to share this experience with Cracowian citizens and tourists during the "Solidarity event" on the Main Square as well as enjoy it among each other during the camp.
Project description
During this year's Viviamo Summer Camp WYA members had a possibility to attend a serious of lectures and workshops, which addressed the idea of solidarity from various perspectives. The first lecturer and a good Friend of Viviamo, Professor Czeslaw Porebski (Jagiellonian, Tischner and Liechtenstein Universities), spoke about the philosophical understanding of values and their place in social life. The understanding of the concept of solidarity was deepened thanks to the lecture of an essay "The ethics of Solidarity" by Josef Tischner. The second lecturer was Mr Boguslaw Sonik, Member of European Parliament from Cracow. He shared his personal experience of involvement in the Solidarity movement from its very beginnings and explained how it changed his life. Participants could learn from his witness about the impact of solidarity on the Polish society and its influence on the history. The theme of the lecture was completed with a movie and a discussion of the "Man of iron" (1981, by Andrzej Wajda) and a study of the "Solidarity decade", chapter of Norman Davies' history book "God's playground." The third lecture held by Professor Kazimierz Dadak (Hollins University) let the group reflect on the concept of solidarity from the perspective of economics. Dadak compared the solidarity principle with the principle of subsidiarity and explained the social implications of their practice. This reflection brought us to a discussion on the notion of solidarity as a policy response and especially as a response to global development challenges. Two workshops took place on this issue, during which participants worked on the language of international documents from the European Parliament and UN Cairo +5 Conference.
Viviamo participants visited Auschwitz - Birkenau concentration camp and had a chance to reflect upon history there. The influence of injustice and brutality of war and regimes on societies was also clearly visible after a movie about the life of Jerzy Popieluszko, one of the Polish martyrs of the communist regime. "The one who does not remember history is bound to live through it again" says the banner on the front of the Auschwitz museum.
The experience and knowledge was shared with others - with children and the elderly during volunteer work in the afternoons, as well as with Cracowian citizens and tourists during the "Solidarity event" on Sunday. Red ribbons, tied ankles, Solidarity banner to be crossed together and a lot of laughter became symbols of that day.
Even the persistent rain did not stop Viviamo participants from sightseeing and touristic attractions in the evenings. They had a chance to enjoy the Main Square in all its charm, have a memorable walk along Planty and Barbakan, get to know the Wawel Castle with its famous dragon as well as get a snack in the magic Kazimierz district.
Reflection from the organisers
"I am happy we could have this camp in Poland. The heritage of Polish history and culture matched the topics we intended to study very well. Solidarity is a key idea for the WYA mission. We focused on the understanding of the concept but also had a chance to experience the most practical dimension of it - the volunteer work with people in need. It was very simple but we touched the core of the value." Francois Jacob, WYA Europe Director, France
"The spirit of 'Solidarnosc' was present during our trainings. The testimony of Mr Sonik, who spoke about his involvement in the first Solidarity group in Cracow still as a young student, was most moving to me. In the afternoons, armed in theory, we could do the concrete work - I was a part of volunteer group working with children. I am convinced that the wisdom, joy and solidarity shared during those days in Cracow will bear best fruit for everyone." Malgorzata Komsta, WYA Europe Intern, Poland
Participants' memories
Back to Viviamo! Europe
