Conditions that bring out best and enable individuals to grow – Study visit to Barka Poland

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My three day study visit provided me with insights into various projects conducted by Barka in Poland, revealing the organization’s multithreaded approach to creating desired social change. I find it challenging to describe my experience. Reaching beyond all I imagined, it took me by surprise and touched me unexpectedly on a professional and personal level.

Assisted by Marysia and Dominik, I started by visiting Barka’s headquarter and two of the Social Integration Centres (CIS) in Poznan to learn about the ways of creating pathways to social integration and opportunities for re-entering the labour market for the long-time unemployed persons.
As I was talked through the history of Barka, I could see every part of the centre was buzzing with activity. I visited the headquarters and impressive archives of polish Street Newspaper. I could witness people participating in sawing and computer workshops. I also had a glance on the carpentry workshop and ongoing building of another school facilities. I also visited already partly renovated by workshop participants building of a new CIS.
Through the provision of work and training and participation in running the centre, CIS aims to change the routine of living an unemployed life, and enable the participants to meet and create socially meaningful bonds. It encourages taking responsibility for the project, and tries to break the culture of passive waiting for change. It creates a chance for all sorts of people presenting themselves to the program with an array of complex personal difficulties – struggling to make ends meet, feeling alienated, suffering from low self-esteem, addiction problem, etc…
However, despite the project leaders’ passion and knowledge, running the centre is by no means an easy task. Participants are not necessarily attracted to the program, even though there are many benefits to be had – these are not necessarily even noticed – but often by existing financial incentives. This creates a challenging mix of individuals genuinely concerned and enjoying the experience, as well as those who are not interested in engaging with the program and try to outsmart the rules or sabotage the values that are so alien to ‘normal’ polish culture of distrust and pathologic individualism.

On the second day of my visit I was scheduled to visit two villages: Ryczywol and Wola Ujska. I was driving with Marcin who talked me thoroughly through all the meanders of setting up a Social Economy Centre. He explained in details how Barka tries to link all the chaotically scattered pieces of supportive legislation and available financial and human resources to empower local communities around Poland.
We were driving through beautiful fields and forests, surrounded by the balsamic scent of pine trees in the morning yet already hot sun. We were passing vast meadows flickering playfully with cornflowers and poppies, and small tranquil villages with storks nesting picturesquely on the electricity polls. We were going further and further to the heart of rural Wielkopolska region, far away from urban centres, far away from traffic, far away from hustle and bustle of city life. Soon after we reached our destination, it occurred to me that we were also far far away from prospective educational and employment opportunities. Despite the beauty of a bright summer day, our 4 hours long meeting with the small group of the local residents was rather depressing. Filled with bitter frustration, they revealed doom and gloom of their existence as they struggled to make ends meet and saw no way to improve the situation. Living in a relatively small yet seriously fragmented community where people don’t talk to each other, barely acknowledge their neighbours… and consider it normal, they seemed permeated with a deep sense of hopelessness, feeling of deprivation and disadvantage. I could sense an overpowering lack of trust in and for each other, forgotten ability to cooperate, scary individualism on the edge of alienation within the community. I was carefully watching how Marcin, who facilitated the meeting, was patiently trying to dig through the layers of hurt, sadness and disappointment, to smooth over harsh judgements thrown back and forth, and mildly start to work them to be the change they wish to see.

The atmosphere of the meeting with the second group that day, was much more cheerful, since the participants were already discussing existing possibilities of themselves creating employment opportunities. It was fantastic to participate in a space that seemed safe enough for everyone to share their ideas, doubts or solutions and where every idea or doubt seemed important enough to be discussed.

The differences in ways of thinking and attitudes between these two neighbouring communities were striking and I became aware that despite the amount of difficulties, it is possible to overcome deeply rooted culture of hopelessness, helplessness and dependency, trying to encourage people to empower themselves and to start building a community.

On the final day of my stay, together with Leszek and Janusz, I visited Chudobczyce, one of several Barka collectives where people live and work together creating a sustainable community. Almost immediately on our arrival we were offered a plain meal – a wonderful simple gesture indicating a warm kindness and in a way old-fashioned polish welcome for a stranger who may bring news from the world as well. Chudobczyce was like a time travel for me, bringing back the memories of grandma’s kitchen and visits to a family farm, excitements over young piglets and fear of geese; the world of work-worn hands, benignant wrinkly smiles and kind interest in one another resulting in ‘real’ meaningful conversations.
I had previously heard about the pig house in Chudobczyce, but I had not known that love for caring for an animal could give one such a deep sense of fulfilment. I knew about learning through work, but I had not suspected how much dignity and sense it could inject into a person’s life. I knew that a couple of ugly pieces of communist architecture apartment blocks constructed without much thought on a patch of land in the middle of nowhere gave a second chance in life to many; I hadn’t realized the extent, the depth and the quality of the change it brought to them. Listening to stories and witnessing the transformation of people I had met before dying on the streets of Dublin, unable to wash themselves, not mentioning overcoming their addiction; and now I was looking at them working, smiling, with glowing skin and glowing eyes, able to dream again – it was a truly enlightening and humbling experience. Seeing the end result of the efforts of work carried out in Dublin is extra motivation for me.

Trying to recreate the culture that nurtures social bonds instead of market competition, Barka does not offer quick fix solutions to social exclusion. It tries to address the complexity of the needs of the individual as well as those of the community. It aims to see the people through the prism of their potential and ability. It strives to create conditions that bring out best and enable individuals to grow.
It gives me hope to know that projects like these exist. They offer people a sense of dignity and self-respect, which in turn leads to them following a more positive journey through life.

Joanna Rutkowska
Employment Coordinator in Barka Dublin

Meeting with representative of Return Hotline

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At the end of July Barka IE staff and manager of the Mendicity Institution Charles Richards had a meeting with Barbara Reze, who is a staff member of Return Hotline project organized within the EHC European Homecare Ltd. The Voluntary Return Hotline is a non-profit project funded by the Department of Justice and EU return fund to provide information to asylum seekers and vulnerable irregular migrants about supports available in Ireland for people who wish to return home but may not have the financial means to do so. People can call the Hotline for free and they receive the contact details of the services relevant to them.

Barka staff visit to residents of Camden Hall Hostel

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From the 17thof July Barka IE reconnection project staff began to work in Camden Hall Hostel, where about 90 homeless people sleep each night. Barka employees work with hostel residents, coming from Central and Eastern Europe. After talks with Barka IE staff several people who sleep in Camden Hall Hostel began to come to engage with Barka in the Mendicity Institution. In the Mendicity Institution they can participate in trainings, English language and computer course organized and run by one of the Barka staff members. Several residents of Camden Hall Hostel were referred to North Frederick Street Hostel.The NFS residents will still have to demonstrate motivation and commitment to change their lives. Employees of Barka IE visit migrants from Central and Eastern Europe, sleeping in the Camden Hall hostel every Tuesday and Thursday between 08:00 and 09.30 a.m.

Meeting with representatives of The Rough Sleeper Team from Simon Community

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On the 24thof July Barka IE staff was invited to the meeting with the Simon Community Outreach Team. Barka staff spoke about a number of Barka projects and how their work in Dublin looks like. The result of this meeting is the participation in working with The Rough Sleeper Team on every Tuesday morning.

Meeting with representative of COPE Galway

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On the 24thof July Barka IE staff and manager of the Mendicity Institution Charles Richards had a meeting with representatives of COPE Galway which lead COPE Galway Fairgeen Hostel and COPE Galway Day Centre. During the meeting Barka staff and Charles Richards presented the ethos, programs and operation of Barka in Poland and abroad. Then COPE Galway representatives informed about the extremely poor living conditions of homeless Polish staying for several years in Galway. Barka staff went to Galway for two days between the 21st and 22nd of July to meet the Polish homeless and Polish priest. Andrew – Barka’s Leader presented his testimony, the story of his life, reintegration and the want to “return” to society as a valuable citizen. Barka employees held long talks with the Poles living on the streets. They plan to return to Galway in the future and try to convince Polish homeless to change their life, and above all to save their life.

An invitation to take part in a training program in Barka PL (July and August)

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Barka IE is organizing a two-weeks training program in Barka’s Network in Poland.

The training is fully financed by Leonardo da Vinci Mobility 2012 project. The first group of 5-6 persons will come to Barka in Poland between 15th and 27th of July. Please find in the attachment the registration form and a brief letter about the purpose of the training.

We warmly invite all of you to take part in this event! If you have any questions please contact Maria Sadowska

e-mail: maria.sadowska@barka.org.pl
mobile: +48 530-435179

Registration form august


Training in Barka’s models of social work for vocational education and training professionals (PDF)

Registration Form For Two Weeks Training Program in Barka’s Network in Poland 15th – 27th of July (DOC)

Andrzej Sydoruk – Barka Leader

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Andrzej has been working In Dublin since January. He is one of the most experienced leaders of Barka! He was operating in seven boroughs of London within the framework of Barka UK.

“To save even one human being’s live is a great success and cause for further work. In Dublin we managed to help already 20 people” – he said.

Betty Sisson – Study Visit to Poland

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First we would like to thank the Barka Foundation for inviting Mendicity to Poznan Poland and for the hospitality they extended to us. We had a very busy schedule outlined by Dagmara Our party included two people from DCC, Gerry Folan and Lisa Kelleher, myself and Charles from Mendicity one detox nurse from Simon, Mary Fleming,. one director from De Paul Ireland, Brian Higgins and my husband George who took an interest in the business setups and was invaluable at asking the right questions regarding the financing of projects etc,. Thanks to Dagmara our schedule worked very well, our bus was waiting outside with our driver Leschek after every visit.

During our trip we stayed in a place called Chudobczyce, which was just outside Poznan. This is a collective farm of approx 40 acres. The farm has a large market garden area where all the vegetables are grown. Their livestock is mainly sheep, goats and pigs. There is ongoing construction for further expansion for living and educational needs. There is a large apartment block where many families live, many of these men have been through the reconnection experience themselves and have decided with their families to stay and work for Barka.. One of the people we met was Tomasz Flinic, he had been in prison since he was a young boy until Barka helped him, he told us his story himself. He has devoted his life to helping others. He now lives in Chudobczyce with his wife and children. Our ‘hotel’ on the farm was very simple, clean and comfortable. We ate every day at the main house, the food was wholesome and plentiful. Altogether we visited 19 places in three days, in some cases the communication was difficult as everything had to be translated. We asked many questions and all were answered willingly.

A short history of Poland is helpful in under standing the situation there. Poland is bordered on both sides by Russia and Germany. Poland’s history was defined by large estates owned by the aristocracy; many ordinary Poles worked the land. At the outbreak of World War Two Poland was invaded by Germany at the outbreak of World War Two. The horrors and turmoil of war was impounded by the invasion of Russia after the war, when there was a return to collective farming. Many Poles were displaced after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1989. Many emerged from a system where they had been taken care of by a communist government yet were very poor, the economic system was destroyed and many became homeless. In 1989 Barbara and Tomasz Sadowska opened their home and soon there were16 people living there. This was the beginning of the Barka Foundation.

We visited many centres during our study visit, where social enterprises have been set up such as, market gardening, computer training, dress making, cooking/baking, people are encouraged to set up their own businesses as co-operatives and work for themselves. The Government has become more involved as they see how successful they are.

Reconnection Programme

Our group were particularly interested in the homeless situation as we wanted to know how social integration is achieved through the reconnection programme. Most interesting for us was a visit to a homeless hostel which had previously been used as an army barracks. This unit housed 180 people and Barka has taken over the running of it. The general profile of the people living there were mostly elderly both men and women with a few middle aged and younger, it appeared to me that many had been on the streets for a long time with subsequent health problems due to substance abuse and addiction .I also noted that many people appeared to have underlying psychiatric problems, There were three to four people to a room They were also allowed to stay all day and seemed to have plenty of freedom to move around, to go outside or chat to people in their rooms. Barka has done its best to modernise the place however it still felt very institutionalised and people had very little room for privacy, in spite of this they seemed happy. There is absolutely no drinking allowed, and no person is allowed in who has drink taken. They did admit however in the Polish winter when temperatures drop to minus 20 they are allowed in to sleep on the floor of the common room or library

Another interesting meeting was with government officials in the social welfare dept., we also met with social workers. It seemed to us that they had a much tougher attitude toward long term unemployed than we have in Ireland They have embraced the Barka programme and cooperate with them by referring people to their centres Barka stress the dignity of work and see the acceptance of long term unemployment as counter productive in a healthy society. The officials were shocked at the amount of money received in Ireland, in Poland they receive approx 200 euro a month We questioned their policy of not allowing people who drink into their hostel at night, their reply that ‘these people always survive’, brought an outcry from the Irish group particularly from DePaul, Mendicity and Simon who said, no they do not survive, they die, have accidents, end up in hospital or prison.
Our most memorable meeting was with eight or nine young men who lived on the farm at Chudobczyce, these were young people who had been reconnected from several places, many from England. some of them went to England with the promise of work from a Polish man, they were exploited by this man and were not paid for months when they were paid they were given £200 for six months work, and then he abandoned them. They had poor English, little money and they were illegal. They ended up in a squat, started drinking and their lives spiralled out of control, they were eventually contacted by Barka on the street and were persuaded to return home everyone one of them said they were delighted to have their lives back, they had been in Chudobczyce for several months working on the land and on construction. Most of them said they would go back to their families but a couple said they would love to go abroad again but this time they would plan it properly and not trust anyone.

Most people who reconnect to Poland go to stay in the farm near Poznan, there are three farms altogether. There they get medical attention. Detox and therapy are provided by professional people outside. The farm is their home and they are looked after all the time by leaders who themselves have been through the whole process. Some make contact with their families and eventually go home but many stay and work on the farm and they are paid by the Co-operative. They seemed quite happy and grateful to Barka for their new life

 Summary

Poland is a beautiful country very like Ireland, the scenery is quite pastoral, the land is not divided by hedge rows and ditches but wide expanses of fields coming almost down to the road, there are few cattle and horses, all of the land is tilled for growing. Poznan is just like any other bustling city, however the reality is there is serious unemployment. Poland does not have the structures in place to deal with the demands of an economy in recession. There is a culture which expects people to look after themselves and to find work however menial.

The Barka philosophy is to provide people with the skills and training to get back into the labour market, they believe in the dignity of work; and that people can work together to achieve this. They believe that long term dependence on state welfare is demoralising. Their method is one of positive reinforcement and encouragement. We were impressed as we visited the various social integration projects at how industrious and happy the participants were.

We reckonise that reconnection is only part of the Barka programme, yet it is this area that is of most interest to Mendicity. After this study visit we were reassured that upon arrival in Poland people who are reconnected are taken care of and looked after. We believe that Mendicity’s partnership with Barka is worthwhile.

Andrzej’s goodbye party

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These pictures illustrate the meeting of Barka IE on Wednesday 20th of June 2012. You can see here representatives of Board Members, employees and Barka volunteer.

Dear Mary

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Dear Mary,
Thank you very much for your mail. It is very interesting and important for all of us to know your opinion on the study visit.

I would like to explain that Polish approach to homeless people addicted to alcohol is quite diverse. Actually there is a lot of support options for those who refuse treatment.
I need to highlight that during communist time Poland had one of the highest rates of alcohol consumption per person in the world. In 1975 Tomasz Sadowski, who founded Barka Foundation, was among those who began the process of creating in Poland a new culture of sobriety. It was a time when there were created different kinds of therapy (funded both by public and private sources), support groups and associations, AA groups and others. As a consequence there has been a significant number of recovered people, who are able to help others towards recovery. These groups are very active and effective among those who drink and do a great job in motivating them to stop drinking. However there is still a number of people who need support and we have been assisting those through social economy projects.

It is said that besides the US, Poland is one of the countries which have a very well developed system of rehabilitation and the culture of sobriety.

It is interesting to note that AA groups have been considered one of the greatest discoveries of the XX century.

For those who have not yet decided to enter therapy, Barka creates community-based support groups (they start to realise that they have an addiction problem and receive a deep support and encouragement to enter therapy. The support continues after therapy as well). The support is operated mainly by Barka leaders (recovering alcoholics) who have been sober for at least a few years.

Barka does not run therapy as there is a lot of rehabilitation centers in Poland. We help destitutes, who have no contact with family, nor access to work places. We help them develop their potential through social economy.

Kind regards

Dagmara
Barka IE