ASF Association in Poland (Stowarzyszenie ASF w Polsce)

ASF Association in Poland (Stowarzyszenie ASF w Polsce) was founded in 2009 by former volunteers who participated in the ASF volunteer program in United Kingdom, Germany and Poland, started in 1996 and developed in cooperation with our partner organization Aktion Sühnezeichen Friedensdienste (ASF) from Germany. The founding memebers oft he Association wanted to share their experience gained in the voluntary service and motivate young people to follow the idea. Similarly to ASF in Germany who has been active in the area of international voluntary program for over 60 years ,we put emphasis on historical and political education. Our main focus lies on the period of the World War II and the consequences of National Socialism. We work against racism, xenophobia and all forms of discrimination to promote peace, tolerance, solidarity and understanding between nations. Our organization supports individuals and groups exposed to isolation and exclusion at the present time in order to reduce barriers and help with inclusion and integration . We fulfil these goals primarily through organizing and promoting international voluntary service. Our volunteers are active in the following sectors: • working with minorities, working with people with disabilities, • social work, • social inclusion, • helping elderly people, especially survivors of the German persecution in the time of National Socialism, • interreligious dialogue, • fighting racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and any other form of discrimination, • human rights and memorial sites. By placing volunteers in the mentioned projects and by accompanying them during their service, we guarantee the process of international, intercultural and interreligious learning and build awareness of individual and social commitment that leads to further commitment of our volunteers after their voluntary service. Beside our organization, there are many other countries cooperating with ASF Germany: Czech Republik, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium, Israel and USA. In September this year, Greece will also become a cooperation partner of ASF. It offers us the possibility for a wide cooperation between the partner organizations across many countries through voluntary projects and other forms of exchange. ASF Association in Poland is especially involved in the volunteer programs in Germany and United Kingdom acting as a sending organization for Polish volunteers, since 1999 as an organisation supporting ASF Germany and from 2009 as an independent sending organization. Every year we recruite 6-8 volunteers for both programs. On the other hand we are a coordinating organization for the hosting program in Poland allowing volunteers from Germany and Ukraine to work for Polish charities, memorial sites, non-governmental organizations and public institutions, educational centres. Every year we coordinate the hosting program for around 16-18 long-term volunteers in following partner organizations: Museum Stutthof and Museum Majdanek in Lublin Brama Grodzka –Teatr NN in Lublin (cultural institution) Jewish communities in Warsaw and Gdansk Jewish Museum Galicja in Krakow Jewish Centre in Oswiecim Maksymilian Kolbe social centres for elderly people, especially survivors in Lodz, Warsaw, Gdansk, Krakow, Lublin Centre for after school activities for children and youth in Lodz Foundation for German-Polish Reconciliation in Warsaw (support for survivors and educational work) Foundation Synapsis in Warsaw (work with adults with disabilities) Maltese Centre in Krakow (work with children with disabilities) Foundation Krzyzowa for European Understanding International Centre for Youth Meetings in Oswiecim Polish-German Youth Cooperation in Warsaw. In some projects we have German-Ukrainian tandems offering the volunteers the possibility for exchange and mutual support. We maintain contact with our sending partners, especially our partner organization in Ukraine in case of visa and o