It’s time to wrap up the project „We’re working together, seniors” funded by the government’s multi-annual programme for older people, „Aktywni+”, for the years 2021–2025 – 2024 edition. A time for reflection is also a time to thank the project participants and to encourage them to continue their involvement and to build relationships. We would also like to highlight our collaboration with local organisations, institutions and individuals. We would therefore like to thank the senior citizens for the generosity of spirit and commitment they have shown in carrying out our project. It has been an incredibly inspiring time, a time of intense activity, new challenges, collaboration and many successes.
Objective and activities
Our aim was to inspire older people and encourage them to take action to improve the quality of life for themselves and those around them, as well as to identify and support leaders within this community. Senior leadership is a valuable source of wisdom and experience that can inspire younger generations to become socially active and to build strong, cohesive local communities. As leaders, older people have a unique ability to combine tradition with modern solutions. In this way, they strengthen intergenerational bonds and contribute to building a better world. That is why our activities were focused on intergenerational integration and building relationships within the local community. Meetings and joint initiatives provided an opportunity to exchange experiences and forge new connections. Finally, the project encouraged older people to take an active role in their community, supporting them in bringing their own ideas and initiatives to life.
As part of the project, we jointly carried out a series of remarkable activities: face-to-face training sessions and workshops attended by 44 people, and away workshops for 40 older people, during which they developed plans for initiatives. These were subsequently implemented by the leaders. Over 312 people took part in the events held across three districts. The project was originally aimed at 50 older people from the cities of Katowice, Mysłowice and Zabrze, as well as neighbouring towns within the Upper Silesian conurbation. Ultimately, 76 participants joined the project.
INITIATIVES
As part of the project, the senior citizens carried out no fewer than 8 initiatives. Descriptions of these are given below:
1. Senior citizen for good senior care.
One elderly person caring for another – usually a parent or relative – is a difficult topic that is often overlooked in public discourse. Our senior citizens have recognised this! As part of this initiative, which ran from 29 November to 11 December 2024, five highly informative lectures were delivered by: psychologist Dr Urszula Kłosińska, geriatrician Dr Paulina Dębowska, physiotherapist Magdalena Jantos, and Joanna Czerwiec, a nurse from the Social Care Home. Nine people took part in the sessions.
We would like to thank the leader of this initiative – Iwona Kańtoch – for her tremendous commitment, hard work and the heart she has put into it.
2. Integration workshops for senior staff aged 45+ and 60+, which took place on 7 December 2024.
Making Christmas decorations together is a brilliant opportunity to bond and spend time being creative. The result was a collection of unique decorations donated to charity for Albert, who has autism. Some of the decorations were given to children from Primary School No. 21 in Zabrze. The decorations were presented to them as a token of thanks for the Christmas performance they had put on for the children in their care The „Razem Na Bytomskiej” Day Care Centre” in Zabrze.
A total of 57 people took part in the workshops.
To the leaders of the Initiative: Krysia and Arek Rogala – a huge thank you for your commitment, energy and positive spirit.
3. Health education for older people
As part of the initiative, a fitness and health workshop entitled „A healthy body, a healthy mind!” was organised.”
The aim of the initiative was to increase older people’s knowledge of healthy eating and improve their mental and physical well-being by running health and exercise workshops at the Zandka senior citizens’ club in Zabrze. The idea behind the sessions fitted in perfectly with the trend of getting fit for the festive season.
We’d like to thank the leaders from Zabrze – Janina Holda, Jadzia Młody and Halinka Paradowska – for their brilliant organisation; everything went perfectly.
Sixteen people took part in the course. Duration: 25 November 2024 – 16 December 2024.
4. A Christmas surprise for the children at the DDP in Zabrze
The initiative took place on 12 December 2024. The Christmas spirit came to „Razem Na Bytomskiej” Day Centre” in Zabrze. All thanks to the initiative’s leaders: Janina Holda, Jadzia Młody and Halinka Paradowska.
The programme included, amongst other things: morning exercises, a concert by young people from Primary School No. 21 in Zabrze. The Association of Retired Police Officers in Katowice has prepared some Christmas decorations for the children as a thank-you for their wonderful performance.
Another highlight of the event was a performance by musician Marcin Cięszczyk, who played the accordion and encouraged the elderly to join in singing Christmas carols. The organisers – the leaders of the initiative – handed out Christmas hampers to the residents of the Day Care Centre as part of the St Nicholas’ Day celebrations.
5. Bringing generations together
The initiative aimed to organise two intergenerational meetings – on 21 November 2024 and 3 December 2024 – during which the only sounds to be heard were singing, laughter and the clapping of hands.
The following competitions were organised:
- a music programme along the lines of “Name That Tune”
- knowledge of older and newer games
- cinematic
Who among us doesn’t recognise lines from cult films such as “Marian, it’s rather posh here”, “A customer in a tie is less of a troublemaker” – if you’re very familiar with these, then your youth or adulthood probably fell in the 70s, 80s or 90s. Generation Z and those even younger may not be familiar with them, but it’s worth catching up on that knowledge quickly! That’s what these kinds of get-togethers are for.
As part of the ‘Bridging Generations’ initiative, our senior citizens also organised a Polish–Ukrainian Christmas get-together. It was an intergenerational and intercultural gathering. There was an exchange of experiences and festive traditions, as well as festive refreshments and presents.
All this accompanied by live music and a sing-along of Christmas carols.
The event was attended by young people from SPILNO HUB KATOWICE.
Beata Schwarz was the leader of the initiative – everything was organised beautifully; thank you.
6. St Nicholas’ Day outing
On 22 November 2024, the senior citizens invited us to the „Animal World” MiniZoo in Zabrze. A unique spot on the map of Zabrze, created with passion and a love of animals. It was set up by a young girl with the help of her parents in 2020. The place may be small, but it has a lovely atmosphere and offers the chance to interact directly with the animals.
Add to that the wonderful winter atmosphere, snow-covered Christmas trees and rays of sunshine… We couldn’t have picked a better time.
The first attraction was a visit to the mini zoo. The project participants saw alpacas, Vietnamese pot-bellied pigs, lambs, donkeys, fallow deer, Hudson squirrels, various species of birds (including parrots and pigeons), reptiles and even fish. After the mini zoo, a guide took the group on a tour. This meant that everyone could learn something interesting about the lives and habits of the more than 170 animals living there.
Santa’s sleigh was parked by the alpaca enclosure. It was hard to spot Santa himself there (as you’d expect: he had his hands full), but we were lucky all the same, as he’d left something for us. The ladies received Santa hats and the gentlemen received festive socks. In addition, everyone received a symbolic potted Christmas tree. Afterwards, it was time to feast together by the bonfire, accompanied by live music performed by Stanisław Bartnik. Refreshments and hot drinks awaited the revellers.
The gathering took place in a lovely atmosphere, and, importantly, being out in nature was a real treat for our bodies and minds.
7. Integration and tradition: “Barbórka”
The aim of the initiative was to bring together local residents, as well as representatives from other towns and young people, and to revive and uphold the traditions of the miners’ festival. The special guest at the Barbórka celebrations was Mr Dariusz Wójtowicz – Mayor of Mysłowice.
There was an original talk on Silesian traditions, competitions, discussions about the region and some great music.
Care has also been taken to ensure that regional, traditional cuisine is available.
We would like to thank the leaders of the initiative – Basia Olszak and Małgosia Barańska – for a lovely Silesian Evening and the wonderful atmosphere.
The event was attended by 50 senior citizens and invited guests.
Place and date of the initiative: The „Three Emperors” Special Events Venue”; 4 December 2024.
8. Integration and tradition – A Christmas wafer gathering with senior citizens from Mysłowice at Urban Lab
The latest initiative organised by the senior citizens as part of the project took place on 18 December 2024 in Urban Lab Mysłowice.
The meeting was attended by 70 people – senior citizens and invited guests. Among them were: Mayor Dariusz Wójtowicz, MZGK Director Małgorzata Książek-Grelewicz, Head of Architecture Bożena Zając, and Aleksandra Kamińska. On that day, the participants felt like one big family. A handshake, a warm word, and simply being together brought joy and hope. We would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the guests who attended for the time we spent together and for their invaluable help in organising the event. We would like to thank the leader of this initiative, Basia Olszak, for coordinating the entire event. We would also like to thank all the senior citizens for their extraordinary commitment and the effort they put into preparing this celebration. Your efforts made this gathering truly special.
Target group
All the activities we undertook as part of the project helped to strengthen advocacy for the interests of older people across the entire Silesian conurbation. One such activity was a survey carried out amongst 1,000 older people in the GZM Metropolitan Area. It focused, amongst other things, on their social needs, civic engagement and opportunities to get involved in participatory processes. A large group of older people took part in the survey. We collected over 1,000 questionnaires. The findings of the survey were presented in a separate report.
Acknowledgements
For us, every activity is more than just the implementation of initiatives. It is the people, their stories, their commitment and their growth that give us the strength to carry on. The past few months have shown that, by working together, we can achieve a great deal. We would like to thank everyone who has been part of this journey. In particular, we would like to thank the beneficiaries, partners, staff and collaborators, and we appreciate your commitment, passion and contribution to the development of the local older people’s community.
However, that’s not all. This year has been full of hard work, challenges and inspiration for us, but we’re looking to the future, ready to take on new projects. We invite you to follow our work and support our initiatives – together we can achieve even more!
We wish everyone good health, happiness in the New Year 2025 and continued success in their community work!