Rohan Tryc-Bromley and the 30.past.89 project
This summer, Rohan Tryc-Bromley, our Year 12th student to be, is taking part in the international 30.past.89 project. He sent us word about this initiative and a few photos.
Next
This summer, our students organised a two-week summer camp for refugee children living in Warsaw.
Those kids, aged 7-13 years, fled such countries as Iraq or Kirghistan to find safe haven in Poland. The camp was an opportunity for them to experience fun activities, make new friendships and take part in exciting field trips. Our students took the children to the zoo, the trampoline park and the Polish Radio headquarters. They also visited Centrum Nauki Kopernik and Łazienki Królewski Park. Not to mention the indoor activities and workshops that students organised for the kids in Akademeia High School.
Julia Piłka, our Year 12 student and one of the volunteers who organised the camp, has shared with us her reflections on that remarkable experience and she has gained out of it:
“I have improved my interpersonal skills. I have learnt how to interact with children and gain their trust and respect. As a result, they shared their personal stories with me, which made me understand their backgrounds and reasons for migration.
I have expanded my knowledge about refugees – I got an insight into their everyday lives. In addition, I have gained some hands-on experience in organising events for minors, such as parental care issues. Lastly, I have developed my campaigning and securing sponsorship skills which will be extremely helpful in further events.
Seeing the tremendous happiness of the kids caused by for example getting ice-cream or pizza motivated me to work the hardest possible on providing them with great memories. All these experiences made me decide to help organising the refugee camp again next year.”
Here is another testimonial from Alicia Siddons, an Akademeia Tutorial College alumna and a camp volunteer:
“It was a privilege to be part of a summer programme that enriched, inspired and thoroughly entertained participants and volunteers alike. Whether playing sport games, singing karaoke or grappling with foreign languages, there was never a dull moment to be had. It isn’t often that one has the opportunity to reach out across a range of age, cultural and language barriers – and it isn’t always the easiest of tasks either. But what a heartwarming experience to find one’s efforts received with joy, gratitude and earnest gestures of friendship! I can’t imagine volunteering for anything more worthwhile.”