About us – Stowarzyszenie "Wiatraki Mazur"

Association

WINDMILLS OF MASURIA

Who are we?

We are an association registered in the National Court Register in 2011. Our mission is to develop and activate local communities.

Our activities are focused on three pillars:

>> adult education, including: seniors, representatives of local governments, local NGOs and cooperation with active residents, in particular with "new settlers" - people who came to Masuria from other regions of Poland and actively develop their villages;

>> youth education: since 2016, we have been conducting classes in rural schools for the development of social competences;

>> promoting the idea of volunteering: since 2018 we have been conducting classes in schools aimed at developing social competences through volunteering, from January 2020 we are a local partner of the Solidarity Corps (governmental program).

What we do?

We conduct free classes for kids (11-16 years) from 5 rural schools in Masury region. Through volunteering, they learn in practice of cooperation, creative thinking, entrepreneurship, leadership, responsibility, empathy and digital skills. We use active form of work (games, gamification, social actions taken by kids). During 1 schoolyear we work with 70-80 kids. In the next 5 years we plan to run lessons for 1000 kids from 10 rural schools. We need your help!We conduct free classes for kids (11-16 years) from 5 rural schools in Masury region. Through volunteering, they learn in practice of cooperation, creative thinking, entrepreneurship, leadership, responsibility, empathy and digital skills. We use active form of work (games, gamification, social actions taken by kids). During 1 schoolyear we work with 70-80 kids. In the next 5 years we plan to run lessons for 1000 kids from 10 rural schools. We need your help!

Challenge

It all starts with a dream. Kid’s dreams shape the place of residence. The smaller the town, the narrower the horizons. Kids don’t go beyond their horizon because they don’t know they can. We help them broaden their horizons and make them aware of their possibilities.

Polish public school does not train social and civic competences, but focuses on individual development and competition. Our project allows to go beyond the scheme and learn kids in practice.

Solution

Through volunteering, we help kids to learn in practice of cooperation, creative thinking, entrepreneurship, leadership, responsibility, empathy and digital skills.

Our free monthly lessons combined with social actions planned and implemented by kids are good sample of checking their skills. Gamification helps them to maintain the motivation and practice teamwork. Feedback from schoolteachers exceeded our and their expectations. This model really works!

Long term impact

“Tell me and I will forget, show me and I will remember, let me experience and I will understand” – a quote from Confucius is our motto.

The implementation of the project allows kids to believe in their abilities and empower youth from rural areas, and improve social competence. We evaluate them with the LeverBasic tool and we know that this method works. Positive feedback from youth and teachers proves that the program is effective.