HELP LIBERIA FOUNDATION

Help Liberia Foundation Participates in NGO Workshop in Warsaw

Posted by Help Liberia Foundation on December 30, 2004

A workshop on “Developing Countries and Polish NGOs” was held in Warsaw, Poland. The workshop, which consisted of a two seperate 3-day sessions (one in November and another in December, 2004), was organized by the Polish Humanitarian Action (one of the most active charity organizations in Poland) and the Institute of Developing Countries of Warsaw University, and was sponsored by the Government of Canada (CIDA).

It was probably the first workshop in Poland to be directed only at NGOs working in the countries of the South. HLF was honoured to be one of the participants.

The participants included members of NGOs, missionaries working in Africa, people from Amnesty International and UNHCR office as well as volunteers who worked in Africa last summer. The lectures were conducted by the professors and the staff of the Institute of Developing Countries. The workers of PAH (Polish Humanitarian Action) and the volunteers had presentations on their different programs in Tanzania, Ghana and Iraq.

Some of the participants, working as a group, are discussing a new project. L-R: Agnieszka Mikulska of PAH (a volunteer working in Tanzania), Draginia Nadazdin of PAH, Karolina Grzanka of PAH (a volunteer working in Ghana) and Ewa Bajbak of Amnesty International

The aim of the workshop was to develop/expand the knowledge about the Countries of the South, present their possibilities, indicate the databases needed for research, point out certain dangers and problems associated with the process, as well as to create awareness of the great importance of what is called “development education.” Two videos were shown to illustrate certain issues. The participants were also given some time to present their organizations and discuss their specific problems. Help Liberia Foundation was presented by The President of the Board, Ms. Anna Dobrowolska, who was also given a diploma at the end of the workshop.

L-R: Anna Dobrowolska of HLF and Draginia Nadazdin of PAH

It is also worth noting that because so many Polish organizations were interested in the workshop, arrangements have been made for another one in January of 2005, especially for those NGOs that weren’t accepted in the last one.

Concerning the relationship bewteen Poland and Liberia, it was discovered that Polish – Liberian connections date back to the beginning of 20th century. There are books written by Poles in the 30s, describing their trips to Liberia. There are also many books and magazine articles about Liberia (both scientific and literary works) in the Warsaw University Library. Liberian Studies Journal, published at West Virginia University in the States, is regularly sent to the Warsaw University. Arrangements are being made for Help Liberia Foundation to give a presentation on Liberia at Warsaw University in Spring, 2005.

For more information, contact HLF.