More information
Description
Kolpingwerk is an international community established by blessed Adolph Kolping and united by the idea of offering help to people in need propagated by its patron. Since 2013, we have been running 15 Senior Clubs in larger and smaller locations across Poland. We always strive to address current needs and challenges experienced by people aged over 60. Last year’s evaluation of our Clubs indicates that seniors are more and more eager to engage protecting local nature. We were also mobilised to act by alarming reports of the Ministry of Family and Social Policy stressing the fact that Polish society is ageing at an extremely fast pace. To address the need for engaging an increasing number of seniors, we wish to develop an offer motivating them to act upon challenges of the modern world, such as climate change.We target our project at not less than fifty individuals aged 60+ from diversified rural areas all over Poland. We will additionally engage local communities in environmental initiatives under the ‘A Home We Share’ tagline. We want to work on 5 local programmes for local ecosystem protection. We will organise ‘Classes with Nature’ – planning workshops giving seniors an opportunity to design a programme for the local ecosystem. Environmental work will help us motivate seniors to engage in long-term activities aiming at protecting the climate. We will prepare educational and promotional materials devoted to senior activism which will be shared with other Kolping Clubs and senior organisations in Poland.
Summary of project results
The project addressed several important societal challenges. Firstly, it responded to the need to involve older people in environmental activities, which is important given the growing environmental challenges. Furthermore, the project sought to enhance the social activity of seniors through integration into the local community. In addition, initiatives such as Eco-Picnics and local educational meetings addressed the need for environmental education of the local community and the promotion of pro-environmental behaviour. A challenge we successfully addressed was the integration of project activities with local associations and institutions.
As part of the project, we carried out a wide variety of activities aimed at educating and activating senior citizens, integrating them into the local community and creating specific environmental activities.
The initial stages of the project included the preparation of recruitment and information documentation and the recruitment of local animators and participants. We then held a series of information, promotion and recruitment meetings, both online and locally in selected towns. These were important steps in familiarising seniors with the project and encouraging them to actively participate.
The main elements of the project were educational seminars, field workshops and planning workshops, which were aimed at increasing the participants'' knowledge of environmental protection and enabling them to develop concrete actions for local ecosystems. In addition, we carried out local initiatives, such as the establishment of a flower meadow or the enrichment of green spaces with melliferous plant species.
We also organised study trips and research walks, which enabled participants to have direct contact with nature and gain practical knowledge about the diversity of ecosystems. In addition, the organisation of local Eco-Picnics was an excellent opportunity to integrate the local community and promote environmental protection activities.
The implementation of the project has also been immortalised in the form of educational films, the main aim of which is to spread knowledge about environmental protection and promote good ecological practices.
We also organised a three-day Eco Forum, where we summarised the activities, as well as participants and all those interested in environmental issues were able to exchange their experiences. The Forum was also an excellent opportunity to promote the solutions developed and inspire other local communities.
We are very pleased with the results of the project, which have clearly contributed to promoting an informed approach to protecting local ecosystems and strengthening the senior community.
It was possible to develop five green areas by planting flowers, perennials and melliferous shrubs, which not only made the local space more attractive, but also contributed to environmental protection. In addition, the care of these areas was taken over by the project participants, ensuring that the activities will continue even after the project ends.
We have prepared 5 Programmes of Action for the protection of the local ecosystem, which can also be used in other localities, ensuring that the impact of the project is diversified.
Local initiatives have clearly involved the local community, strengthened the activities of senior citizens and helped to popularise ecology at a local level.
The project activities also fulfilled an educational function, providing participants with new knowledge and skills.
The main recipients of the activities were older people (aged 60+) living in small villages, who were involved in the project both as participants and volunteers. The local community and local government institutions also benefited from the effects of the project, demonstrating its significant impact on the local environment.