Back to the Garden – sixth edition in Gdańsk
Gdańsk Tourist Organisation has actively joined the Back to the Garden project conducted by Polish Tourist Organisation and Our Home Association. On 23-24 May in Gdańsk more than 20 volunteers took part in various maintenance works in the Dom nad Jarem children’s home.
This is the latest edition of an initiative, which has representatives of local sectors and authorities extending their helping hand to the neediest institutions in Poland. After Warsaw, Kraków, Wrocław and Przemyśl, now it was time for Gdańsk. The discussed undertaking is generally intended to help family-based children’s homes by means of arranging renovation works and diverse highlights for their wards. Dom nad Jarem was this year’s choice of Our Home Association.
“One of the girls was dreaming of a dance course and now she will be attending free classes for the next 12 months. Another child will receive orthodontic braces, and a yet another one – year-long, individual speech therapy sessions. In addition, Dom nad Jarem residents got a trampoline and garden furniture for everyday fun activities”, sums up Łukasz Wysocki, president of the board with GOT.
We wanted to make their dreams come true and provide them with unforgettable moments that, unfortunately, otherwise would not be possible. Thanks to the cooperation of local communities, together we can help and create some wonderful memories for the children. While the kids were enjoying seaside attractions in Gdańsk and Pomlewo (Hotel Kozi Gród), the participants immediately got down to work. Three groups dedicated to carpeting, gardening and construction were busy changing the building and its surroundings. At the same time, the kids were jumping to their heart’s content on the Movement Arena trampolines and trying their hand at driving go-karts in Pitstop (both attractions available at the Energa Gdańsk Stadium).
Castorama, OBI, Hotel Kozi Gród, Movement Arena, Reborn Dance Studio, Miasto Gdańsk, MPA Poland, Leroy Merlin, Vivadental, Ogrodnictwo Jaśmin Remigiusz Bodel and PitStop Gdańsk have declared their support. Piotr Kowalczuk, deputy mayor of Gdańsk, was an active participant.
“Back to the Garden 2016 is the sixth edition of a project that features the meetings industry giving back to local communities. I am glad that this year, together with Gdańsk Convention Bureau we were supporting the child and adolescent wards of Our Home Association in Pomerania. I would like to thank you for all the heretofore efforts. I feel happy that we can not only talk business and promote Poland, but also support future leaders”, emphasises Krzysztof Celuch, manager of Poland Convention Bureau – Polish Tourist Organisation.
”The area where we were staying, going for walks and riding the pedalo was the thing I enjoyed most about the whole trip. I really liked the fact that the hotel had a pool and a hot tub. Thanks a lot for everything”, Paulina (15 y.)
“I had a good time at the swimming pool, the hot tub and the go-kart rack. I really like jumping on our new trampoline”, Oliwia (12 y.)
“The trip was very nice, with everyone finding something for themselves, the trampolines were awesome and so were the go-karts. Back at the hotel, it was great to swim in the pool, go bowling and ride the pedalo. There was a lot to choose from plus the beautiful area and views around the hotel. I am sure everyone will remember this trip, we had such a blast that we didn’t feel like going back. THANK YOU :) - Gabi (17 y.)