FUNDACJA INSTYTUT RE INTEGRACJI SPOŁECZNEJ

We are a non-profit organization. We work on a local, regional, national and international level. The main objective of our organization is education (i.a. supporting, promotion and development of children and youth’s educational path), culture, art, promotion of health and sports, which is inspired by and based on our previous commercial experience. We also support new reforms in non-formal education, shape pro-European civic attitudes, popularize the idea of European integration and implement democracy rules. We also aim to raise all educational initiatives connected with human rights. The target groups of our activities range from pre-school children, through early school and young children, youth, adults to senior citizens. We organise plenty of social activities for people of all ages. Through our projects, especially addressed to youth and children at a formative age, we want to provide new solutions in various fields of social life especially to protect human rights and freedom and to make people treat each citizen equally regardless of their religion, beliefs and background or history, but also we want to entrench some universal values in them, teach entrepreneurship and equip them with transversal skills or abilities useful in adult life i.a: creativity, imagination, critical thinking, teamwork, independence, problem-solving, decisiveness etc. We cooperate with various schools and organize plenty of public presentations, debates and conferences targeted at entrepreneurship and civic attitudes respecting EU citizens. In our actions we also handle migration wave problem, thus attempting to sensitize people to others’ fate and plight. Our foundation pursues the following objectives: • educational and cultural activity, particularly aimed at developing young children or youngsters’ talents; supporting adult education • initiating and supporting innovative techniques or solutions (different fields of social life) • supporting non-formal education, through succouring reforms in education, the exchange of good practices and mobility of individuals (youth exchanges, voluntary service) • shaping pro-European civic attitudes • civic counselling • promotion of tourism • popularizing new technologies in far-fetched counselling services • protection of human rights and freedom • educational and research initiatives in the field of human rights • environment protection • vocational and social rehabilitation (NEETs) • health protection • popularizing the idea of integration • shaping and strengthening tolerance towards cultural and religious diversity • implementation of democracy rules • combating addictions, violence, racism, xenophobia, populism • reinforcing European cohesion and the appurtenance to EU Our foundation organizes different events (also on a European scale) related to the scope of our activity, among the others: photography workshops, exhibitions, conferences/ meetings for youth, lectures, discussion panels and theatrical performances. We also produce short films/ videos covering globally significant issues. The foundation entered into cooperation with many institutions, community day care centres, foundations and associations such as: “Edukator”, “Amazonka” or “Polskie Stowarzyszenie Diabetyków” (the Lodz Municipality). We largely cooperate with centers supporting the mentally handicapped and the physically disabled or with people whose impairments or disability affect their functioning. Bearing in mind human beings with fewer opportunities (social, cultural, geographical, economical etc.) the foundation provides them with psychological support. The organization encompasses two basic departments: Voluntary Service and Youth Exchanges. The Institute has developed a wide network of international partners in Europe and actively supports focus groups, special interests groups, forums and blogs run by youngsters who want to deepen their passions and voice their beliefs and convictions in public. . The youth debates we organise are dedicated to the following issues: • refugees and migration (incl. economic migration) • respect for human rights, freedom and dignity • cultural and religious diversity • promotion of tolerance • sensitizing of society to other people’s problems • combating discrimination, prejudices, racism and populism • combating violence and addictions • opportunities and threats to digitalization • increase of intercultural awareness • respect for “otherness” – physically and mentally challenged in our society • strengthening the appurtenance to EU – “Me – a European” • reforming youth policy with youth’s active participation