The experience from the spring and summer actions helped in selection the proved forms that are really needed. The focus areas are Warsaw and Gdynia, a port city on the coast.
In Warsaw, the YMCA activities are based on cooperation with a sport club for children called MONSTERS. The club advertises their after-school programme in schools and in Ukrainian groups.
Except for sports they offer cultural educational and mental-health-oriented activities that help the new members of the Polish society in accommodation. For YMCA Europe that also means returning a good reputation of YMCA in Poland.
In September a Polish-Ukrainian sports team was formed and they represent the club in ju-jitsu or mixed martial arts tournaments in Warsaw and nearby places. Working towards common goals is naturally encouraging and foster integration despite ethnic background. The team has performed successfully in 3 tournaments and the interest in representing the club in one international team grows.
On October 28-29, another integration club event took place – Monsters Overnight – that's another outcome from the experience of previous several months. There was a lot of sport, fun, and useful skills.
The anti-stress exercises (mental health), common meals and staying out of home were crucial for creation the mood of togetherness. A new proposition was the competition in building with LEGO bricks – the idea caught on and had its follow up in social media (voting for the best project).
For YMCA Europe the first two months of the school confirmed the ways to reaching the communities in other places. That's what we need are needed programmes and people who can run them.
