Kooji does Poland...Again! - Day Six

Fundacja Miedzy Nami

Today was a very early start, but the whole team were really excited about the day ahead. We all dashed off for the bus to Kreznica Jara, a village just outside the city of Lublin, where the arts therapy centre ‘Fundacja Miedzy Nami’ is based. We spent the morning collecting the remaining footage for our project and checking over all the details with Marzena and her IT Manager. There was a lot to discuss with them about the documentary film and promotional flash website, that is being produced as part of our final year group project. These will be used to help raise an awareness of the centre and its artists. Johnny and I will be working on the flash website as an ongoing project through our company Kooji Creative, once the initial version is completed in time for my end of year show.

The artists in the Handicrafts Workshop

Shrek inspired artwork :)

A beautiful hand-made landscape

Slawek working on his woven rug

A huge selection of rugs, cushions and nick-nacks

A closer look

Branded T-Shirts

We gathered video footage of the artists in the workshops and took high resolution photos of artwork that will be used in the gallery section of the website. Although we were tempted to continue working, Marzena invited us to take a break. Today’s lunch was a generous serving of our most favourite Polish dish: Pierogi. This had been cooked in the Cookery Workshop earlier that day and was delicious.

We felt that this was the most appropriate time to show our appreciation for sharing this meal with us, and began presenting everyone with the specially made branded t-shirts we had produced for them. The Student Centred Change Management office had kindly agreed to pay for these and they were very well received by all. It was an extremely emotional moment and I was really taken aback by the reaction of our friend, Agnieszka, who we had been told was very nervous around cameras. Nothing seemed further from the truth when she pulled me towards the cameras and gave me a huge hug. It was incredible.

Marzena claps as the gifts are dished out

(left to right) Wieslawa, Marzena, Anna and Jolanta

Check out all those sponsors!

Katherine and new friend Agnieszka

Another heart-breaking moment was when one of the disabled participants came to us looking for his t-shirt. We looked all over but couldn’t find his size. Raf took off the t-shirt he was wearing and gave it to him. It was an amazing gesture and really selfless of him.

Chata Swojsko Strawa

That evening we took Marzena, Janusz and Justyna to a local restaurant called ‘Chata’ and treated them all to a meal. It was our way of thanking them for such a memorable visit. It also gave us the opportunity to present Marzena with the money we had raised over the last few months from Cake Sales and fundraising events for Fundacja Miedzy Nami. Many of the ceramic pieces that are made at FMN are shipped over to Emaus in Cambridge and then transported to Leeds Met. Selling these in the UK is a large part of this fundraising initiative as they are very popular here and can generate a lot of interest.

Katherine presenting Marzena with the fundraising money

The artists in the Ceramics Workshop and a selection of their work:


Later the same evening our friend Hubert Gorczyca from Fundacja Fuga Mundi, the video production company we were introduced to during our last visit, came to see us. We hope to help FFM and Hubert later this year to promote his film projects. Seeing him again was brilliant and it gave us a chance to catch up.

The time came to say our farewells and we waved goodbye to our friends. To our surprise Marzena and Janusz both agreed to visit us here in the UK for our end of year show. Janusz is quite scared of flying so this is a huge gesture on his part. Having them both at our final exhibition and showcase will be wonderful as this gives us a chance to introduce them to our tutors back home at Leeds Met.

http://www.chata.lublin.pl/

It’s Murder on the Dance Floor

After our hosts left, the team decided to dance the night away in a nearby discothèque. Dancing isn’t one of my strengths, but no one seemed to mind and it finished off a perfect day.

>>> Kooji does Poland...Again! - Day Seven