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Siemacha Association

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Siemacha Association
Stowarzyszenie Siemacha
Named afterRev. Kazimierz Siemaszko CM (Siemacha)
FormationNovember 30th 2003
FounderRev. Andrzej Augustyński CM
Founded atKraków
TypeNGO, non-profit (NPO)
Legal statuspublic benefit status (OPP)
Purposehelp for children
Headquarters42, Długa St. Kraków, Polska, EU
Serviceseducation, sport, therapy
Official language
Polish
President
Rev. Andrzej Augustyński CM
Ms. Irena Kruczek, Ms. Anna Litwora, Ms. Marta Syrda, Mr. Mariusz Hornowski
Budget€ 7mln yearly
Staff265 employees: educators, coaches, therapists
Websitewww.smhassociation.eu
Formerly called
„U Siemachy”

Siemacha Association[1] (Stowarzyszenie Siemacha) - a Polish membership-based non-profit organisation founded in November 2003 in Kraków in order to establish an institutional framework for specialised day-care facilities operating in Kraków since October 1993 under the name: Dzienne Ośrodki Socjoterapii "U Siemachy" (Day-care socio-therapeutic facilities "At Siemacha's" ). The educational model stressed the significance of peer-to-peer relationships in the process of socialisation and building trust. The facilities had a set day schedule, numerous workshops and studios, planned subject-oriented classes and a team of carefully selected educators.

Heritage

Activities of the Association were organised in the historic house by the name of Rev. Kazimierz Siemaszko CM who in 1886 used the support of the Diet of Galicia and Lodomeria in Lwów, the local authorities in Kraków as well as private donors to buy a building on 38 Długa St. (currently 42 Długa St.) because of spreading poverty and demoralization. He used it to establish "a place of shelter and voluntary work for poor abandoned boys". After his death in 1904 it was renamed as Zakład Wychowawczy im. ks. Siemaszki (Educational Facility by the name of Rev. Siemaszko). It operated until 1954 when it was taken over by the communist authorities. The last director was Mons. Albin Małysiak, who later became the auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Kraków[2].

After almost 40 years, the building that was used as a child welfare facility until 1991 was given back to its rightful owners. Rev. Andrzej Augustyński[3] conducted necessary preparations, in particular he arranged workshop rooms, organised the admission process and acquired employees and on the 2nd of October 1993 cardinal Franciszek Macharski celebrated the opening of the new facility for schoolgirls and schoolboys in need. It was a day-care facility offering after-school educational and creative activities, psychological support, meals and group excursions. Cardinal Franciszek Macharski left a mark on the history of the Association as a patron, mentor, defender, friend and the first honorary member.

Services

The Association was established in November 2003 in Kraków and it was registered in May 2004. It received the status of a public benefit organization in September 2004. On registering the Association, the building on 42 Długa St. became its seat and underwent broad revitalisation. All workshops, offices and administration rooms were modernised. A new auditorium was added in 2008 meant for organising events, meetings and daily activities for children. The auditorium was built with substantial financial support from: Adam Placek, Stanisław Łukasik, senator Krzysztof Kozłowski, Zbigniew Engel, John Czaplinski.

The Siemacha Association focuses on operating day-care facilities, orphanages, modern sports facilities as well as counselling and therapy facilities[4]. The Association conducts long-term public services commissioned by local authorities. It acquires funds from sponsors, uses donations from 1% of income tax and runs its own business activity. The organisation pays great attention to the quality of its services[5]. Siemacha facilities are operating as a consistent system offering multi-dimensional support to children and their families[6].

The Association sees opportunities in the growing demand for professional social services, the popularisation of the concept of social entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility[7][8]. For effectiveness reasons the organisation combines a variety of facilities for children into one organism with a diversified offer[9]. The Association is apolitical.

The Association's strategic partners are the Fundacja Demos (Demos Foundation) and the PKO Bank Polski Foundation[10]. The most important organisations supporting the operations of the Association are: Tauron Polska Energia, Grupa Inter-Bud, Toyota Motor Poland, Grupa Oknoplast[11], Fundacja Lotto (Lotto Foundation), Gemini Park, Pfizer Polska, BP, AmRest. The Association collaborates with local authorities - it performs social services and organises events, participates in promotional activities and exchange of experience. The main public partners of the Association are: Kraków, Województwo Małopolskie (Lesser Poland Voivodeship), Wrocław, Rzeszów, Kielce, Tarnów, Powiat Tarnowski (Tarnów County), Powiat Dąbrowski (Dąbrowa County).

Innovations

Collaboration with shopping mall owners results in establishing modern youth facilities located at the malls or in their vicinity. The first facility of that kind was opened in November 2010 by Gemini Park in Tarnów[12][13]. They also organise events for mall customers in collaboration with the mall management. They are currently operating in Kraków, Tarnów, Kielce, Rzeszów and Wrocław.

Since September 2014 the Association has been running an orphanage, a day-care facility, a holiday facility, sports facility and an equestrian sports centre in Odporyszów nearby Tarnów[14].

Awards

  • Organizacja Społeczna Roku (NGO of the Year ), Krynica 2014
  • Małopolski Lider Przedsiębiorczości Społecznej (Lesser Poland Leader of Social Entrepreneurship), Wieliczka 2011
  • Cities for Children Award, Stuttgart 2010
  • Anioł Ciepła (The Angel of the wormth), Tarnów 2010
  • Nagroda Pro Publico Bono (Pro Publico Bono Award), Kraków 2006
  • Kryształy Soli (Salt Cristals), Kraków 2006
  • Nagroda Totus (The Totus Award), Warszawa 2001


Awards listed on Siemacha Association's website[15].

References

Website: http://www.siemacha.org.pl/

  1. ^ "SIEMACHA Association - Global Compact Network Poland". Global Compact Network Poland (in Polish). 2016-12-15. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
  2. ^ "SMH Association • Identity". smhassociation.eu. Retrieved 2018-09-02. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |title= at position 16 (help)
  3. ^ "Andrzej Augustynski". Ashoka | Everyone a Changemaker. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
  4. ^ "SMH Association". smhassociation.eu. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
  5. ^ Schild, Hanjo; Connolly, Nuala; Labadie, Francine; Vanhee, Jan; Williamson, Howard (2017-11-13). Thinking seriously about youth work: And how to prepare people to do it. Council of Europe. ISBN 9789287185471.
  6. ^ Stowarzyszenie SIEMACHA (2014-06-05), Chris Lowney dla SIEMACHY, retrieved 2018-09-02
  7. ^ Ashoka Polska (2018-06-14), MOOC: Building the culture of social innovations | Module 2: Social innovations in practice Siemacha, retrieved 2018-09-02
  8. ^ "Corporate social responsibility was rewarded for the third time on December 8 in the Łochów Palace and Folwark. During the "Responsible Business Awards" ceremony we honored companies whose achievements in terms of prosocial activity and CSR were truly exceptional". www.executive-club.com.pl. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
  9. ^ Stowarzyszenie SIEMACHA (2014-10-25), Wilfried Lemke visits SIEMACHA Association, retrieved 2018-09-02
  10. ^ "Charity activities of the PKO Bank Polski SA's Foundation | Annual Report 2014". www.raportroczny2014.pkobp.pl. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
  11. ^ "SIEMACHA - Oknoplast". Oknoplast. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
  12. ^ "The Warsaw Voice". www.warsawvoice.pl. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
  13. ^ o.o., YC Sp. z. "Siemacha - Rafał Sonik". rafalsonik.pl. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
  14. ^ Flipsnack. "Nowoczesny dom dziecka". Flipsnack. Retrieved 2018-09-02.
  15. ^ "Stowarzyszenie SIEMACHA • Nagrody". siemacha.org.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2018-09-02. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |title= at position 24 (help)
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