Description
The project seeks to strengthen the level of involvement and a sense of community among children and young in cancer treatment, rehabilitation and after completing the treatment cycle as their reintegrate into their peer groups. This is in response to an identified need for children and young people in cancer care to stay in touch with their peers and for young people to be active in their community. The project will result in a stronger sense of community, an improved mental well-being of the young patients and increase level of community engagement of both groups. Young people will be more open to voluntary work once they have been offered attractive volunteering opportunities. The target group involves the current and former patients of 3 Silesian cancer wards in the Child Cancer Clinic in Zabrze, Katowice and Chorzów, and secondary schools students for across Silesia, approximately 360 individuals. Volunteers from these groups will be working together to design and deliver activities for patients. The Partner will add value by offering its expertise and allow for an exchange of experience between two organisation which are leaders in the respective geographies.
Summary of project results
"Recently, there has been a significant increase in Silesia in the number of patients in children's oncology hospital wards, thus increasing the number of families who need psychological, social and financial support. In 2011, the Foundation provided support to about 300 beneficiaries, whereas in 2013, there were about 500 beneficiaries (patients and their families benefited from various kinds of support). However, the number of young people willing to make long-time commitment to volunteering decreased. According to the research conducted by Klon/Jawor Association in 2013, the commitment duration is the main concern for young people aged 15-26 before getting involved in volunteer work. The aim of the project was to integrate children and youth during the treatment, rehabilitation and after the treatment was completed with their peers through participating in joint activities and projects. The project implementation resulted in increasing the feeling of inclusion and decreasing the feeling of social isolation and loneliness among the current and former patients of three Silesian children's oncology hospitals. Sick and healthy project participants got integrated through joint planning and conducting support activities. 83 volunteers participating in the project organized activities for about 400 beneficiaries. There were 2 big local integrative events, 42 smaller events were organized in hospital wards. 18 training sessions and 64 preparatory meetings were organized. A manual with practical guidelines on how to develop voluntary services addressed to children with cancer was published. The beneficiaries of the project implementation were children and youth during cancer treatment, rehabilitation and after the treatment was completed in three children's oncology hospitals in Silesia as well as secondary education students from the Silesian voivodship. The project partner - the Regional Volunteer Centre - provided expertise necessary for recruiting the project participants, ensuring the quality standards for managing voluntary work and for creating a model of cooperation with volunteers within an organization."
Summary of bilateral results