ESC: Seeds of Change: Empowering Volunteers

The Regional Volunteer Center in Gdańsk has been operating since 1997 and is a non-profit organization, based on equal cooperation, professionalism and social commitment. Our goal is to disseminate the idea of ​​volunteering and civic activity for organizations, institutions and people as well as comprehensive supporting people and institutions interested in such activity. We also want to change the definition of volunteering in society's mentality so that it is associated not only with the area of ​​social welfare, but also with other areas, and additionally with the development and benefits for the volunteers themselves. Our mission directs our activities to build a civil society that is active, participatory, based on the principles of equality and solidarity. We try to reach the inhabitants of Gdańsk and the surrounding area, regardless of their age, gender, education or social position. Since 2001, we have been an independent association operating within the nationwide Network of Volunteer Centers. At the turn of the years, we have implemented projects focusing on the activation of local communities and projects aimed at changing the perception of volunteering and volunteering from activities for social assistance into conscious citizenship. We are the only organization of this type in Gdańsk and the only organization supporting voluntary work in the regional area. For activities in the region, we received a distinction in the competition for the best non-governmental organization 2011 - Award of the President of the City of Gdańsk Lech Bądkowski, the main prize (2012) in the Civic Society Category - the Amber Mieczyk Award for the best NGO in the province. Pomeranian Voivodeship and the main prize in the Competition for the best non-governmental organization 2012 - Award of the President of the City of Gdańsk Lech Bądkowski.