Poland

Population: 38.7 million (Source: World Bank 2000) Poland was the first country in post-Communist Eastern Europe in which Hamlet Trust forged links, helping Krakowska Fundacja Hamlet to be formed in 1991. Hamlet currently has links with 6 organisations. They are: Nowe Braterstwo (New Brotherhood), Krakow Feniks Stowarzyszenie, Bialystok Krakowska Fundacja Hamlet, Krakow Nadzieja (Hope), Oswiecim Psyche, Bielsko-Biala Szansa (Chance), Warsaw STOP PRESS: Read below about New Brotherhood's recent grant from Hamlet Trust.     Nowe Braterstwo - New Brotherhood Leader of Organisation: Pawel Stanisz, Chair Board members: Teresa Budziosz, Treasurer Joanna Zareba Mariusz Cygan, Secretary Address: 31-056 Kraków, ul.Józefa 1, Polska Tel: +48 12 4306791 Fax: +48 12 4306831 Email: nowe-braterstwo@gazeta.pl or hamlet@ceti.pl Nowe Braterstwo is a self-help NGO founded in 1992. The group, linked to another Hamlet NMO Krakowska Fundacja Hamlet, brings together users, ex-users and survivors of psychiatry. Visiting and helping psychiatric patients in hospitals is our main current activity, and we also participate in legal advocacy and activities in the framework of ENUSP. A day centre provides a number of activities for service users including music therapy, English lessons NEW: A small grant from Hamlet Trust in 2005 is being used to fund English lessons for group members, to enable increased cooperation and sharing of experiences with other NGOs, including other members of the Hamlet Network. English courses to develop language skills and computer courses. In addition, a sewing machine was funded to enable group members to make patchwork tablecloths and cushion covers which are then sold locally to the many tourists Krakow receives. Income from selling patchwork will in turn be used to pay for further English lessons once the Hamlet grant comes to an end. They hope that all these activities will attract new members to the group. Back to top Feniks Stowarzyszenie Chairman: Wojciech Aponiewicz Address: ul.Boruty 19, 15-157 Bialystok, Poland Tel: +48 (0)85 676 3032 Fax: +48 (0)85 676 3033 Email: feniks.ngo@wp.pl Feniks Association is a voluntary, independent organisation which brings together people with mental health problems. We gave our association the name “Feniks” because like a phoenix our members are reviving again after difficult periods caused by health relapses. Our aims: 1. Developing and implementing initiatives, attitudes and activities which promote active rehabilitation for service users 2. Creating a climate of trust and respect for people with mental health problems 3. Promoting a positive picture of clients of psychiatric service and challenging stereotypes and prejudice 4. Providing organisational support for individuals and other organisations to enable them to carry out social and occupational rehabilitation projects. WHAT WE CAN OFFER those wishing to become members of our association: Above all the feeling that they aren't alone with their problems. We organise self-help groups and carry out training to help people return to work and live in the community, proving that that they are precious and normal people. Our future plans include the appointment of a support worker, to whom the clients will be able to turn for help, and eventually to employ a lawyer. We also plan to further develop plans for the organisation of sports, recreational and integration events. Back to top Krakowska Fundacja Hamlet Board Members: Jacek Datka – Chair Maryla Aleksiejew – Co-ordinator Tadeusz Skiba Maryna Rostworowska Dorota Beksinska Andrzej Zieba Address: Jozefa Str 1, 31-056 Kraków, Poland Tel. +48 12 429-56-94 Tel / fax: +48 12 430-68-31 Email: hamlet@ceti.pl Website: www.hamlet.org.pl (in Polish) Krakowska Fundacja Hamlet (KFH) is a non-governmental organisation, operating in the mental health field, established in 1992. Its main objectives are: To assist people who have undergone a mental crisis in forming self-help groups and associations To set up alternative services in the community, such as self-help houses To organise supported employment placements for people with mental health problems or learning disabilities To provide information to users and families To promote the artwork of service users and ex-users KFH's main projects include: The "Miodowa 9 Cafe" social enterprise, which provides supported work, training and rehabilitation for service users The Self-Help Community Centre, a project which supports the Nowe Braterstwo self-help group of users, providing alternative day-long structure in the community, a programme of daily activities, cheap meals, and the assistance of social workers and a psychologist in solving many life problems "Sienna 5" art gallery, which promotes paintings and handicraft by people with mental or learning disabilities. KFH is also active in: Giving support and training to various NGOs and institutions operating in the mental health field, both in Poland and abroad Participation or organization of conferences, workshops, seminars, study visits Provision of information and advice to users and carers Training of and assistance to unemployed users Public education for students and other groups in the community. Back to top Nadzieja - Hope Main contact: Anna Krzemien Address: ul. Soltysow 2, Brzezinka 32-600, Oswiecim, Poland Tel: +48 033 / 069386086 or 0338431678 Email: krzemyk41@wp.pl In 1997 Hamlet Trust provided funding for Nadieja to support the development of a self-help Day Centre, which has since flourished. Today the organisation promotes the artwork of its members (especially service users), provides education on mental health issues and publishes a newsletter. Future plans include the organisation of educational and cultural trips for service users and their families and carers. Back to top Psyche Chairman: Jerzy Fujarczyk Address: ul. Malczewskiego 10/16 43-300 Bielsko-Biala Poland (Contact by post only) Psyche, a self-help group based in the south of Poland, received support from the Hamlet Trust Small Grants Programme in 1999. Funding to buy tools and materials have enabled members of the group to provide a “handyman” service to the local community. This in turn has helped service users to earn an income as well as helping to reduce stigma, as local people come to recognise that service users are capable of maintaining high working standards. Back to top Szansa - Chance Main contacts: Maciej Nowicki, Anna Wiszenko Address: ul. Partyzantow 2/4, 05-802 Pruszkow / Warsaw, Poland Tel: +48 22 758 6005 Fax: +48 22 758 7570 Szansa is a mixed-led group whose aim it is to help users, ex-users and their families to provide education and information in the field of mental health and to set up and run hostels. They currently have one hostel located within hospital grounds but independent. Szansa’s members include hostel inhabitants and other service users and ex-users. They have been successful in identifying employment opportunities for some of their members. Szansa have received a number of small grants from Hamlet Trust, each time for specific, sustainable projects. In 1999 Hamlet funded Szansa to purchase bicycles to enable service users to improve their fitness and thus their general wellbeing, and also to socialise more. These bicycles are continue to be used by group members and have proved a great success. Similarly, swimming sessions funded by Hamlet in also proved to be a good opportunity for socialising with other people, while a patchwork group has been started and hopes to raise funds for the organisation and a small income for group members. Back to top