ESC: Volunteering - dialogue, culture, diversity

The Borussia Foundation is located in Olsztyn. Olsztyn is city which is also the capital of the region (voivodship) Warmia and Mazuria, situated in the north-eastern Poland. The region is located next to the border with the Kaliningrad Oblast of the Russian Federation. Strong majority of people from the city and the region consists of those who came here after the world war II. Warmia and Masuria is by numerous national minorities. Olsztyn is one of the cities in wchich the amount of inhibitants increased after World War II: at this moment there are about 175 500 people living here. Olsztyn is an academic center and at the same time it is a center of administration and economy of the region , where agrarian land dominates. After State Homesteads were shot down, this district of Poland is filled with structural unemployment. An economical development is relatively slow because of lack of investment. Despite the great touristic values and landmarks, the region doesn't develop very well. A huge problem concerns a low activity and mobility of inhabitants, and also lack of sense of regional identity, as well as attachment among present occupants. Activities of Borussia include Olsztyn and the region of Warmia and Masuria. The Borussia Foundation is a non-profit organisation devoted to building and strengthening the culture of tolerance and dialogue between people of different nation, religions, traditions, as well as building civic society. We contribute to the propagation of the idea of a united Europe through cultural and educational programs for youth and adults, our publishing program as well as a range of cultural activities. Most part of our projects have an intercultural context. The activities in different fields also give Poles the chance to become familiar with practical issues touching the European Union and the values promoted by the European Union: freedom, variety. We work intensively with youths and organize international meetings and workshops. Our aim is to initiate constructive and innovativeprojects wchich serve the local community, and wchich are able to motivate them to common educational and cultural actions and also to create cultural values. That is why, we supported for many years the renovation of Mendelsohn Haus, wchich in one of the most prestigious Olsztyn's buildinhs - the Hall of Consecration ("Bet Tahara"), built by the distinguished modernist architect Erich Mendelsohn. The Borussia's aim was and is not only to saving the historic property, but also giving it a new feature - by the creation of Centre for Intercultural Dialogue, the Mendelsohn House, which becomes the place for non-formal education, meetings, creativity working groups of people from different reliogions, cultures and confessions. At the present, the Foundation employs 6 people and it cooperates with a group of 5-10 local and international volunteers at the different age. Most of them are youths. The Borussia Foundation organizes seminars, conferences, international youth exchange, workshops and camps. Its activity is aimed to set up the projects wchich are dedicated to protection of cultural heritage, history and current problems of the region as well as the art projects, such as: theatrical, musical, plastic. Furthemore organizes some trainings for the animators. All of them are addressed to the youth and the elder people who live in the region Warmia and Masuria.