The Academy of the Future helps children

“I'm fighting for myself and my dreams” – story of Sebastian

The Academy of the Future - with the help of teachers from schools - reaches Children who have low self-esteem. Some of them do not fit in at school, some have difficulties in contacts with peers, most have not yet discovered their potential, strengths and dreams. Every year, the Academy of the Future recruits approximately 2,000 Children to the program. Children from all over Poland. In the program they receive support from adults who show them their potential and encourage them to dream.

At the Academy of the Future each meeting with Child is created to build children's self-confidence, self-esteem and the ability to recognize their strengths. Answering teacher’s questions, playing football with your friends or talking to a friend from the bench - these are small successes that start bigger change. And the Volunteer helps and accompanies the Child in this process.

Volunteer meets the Child once a week at school. He/she focuses his/her full attention on a Child. This presence strengthens the child's self-confidence and teaches that every day can bring a small success that Child can be proud of. This is the foundation, which help Children to become a self-confident adult in the future.

“I'm fighting for myself and my dreams,” says Sebastian, who is one of the Children in the Academy of the Future. Read his incredible story, how meetings with Volunteer help him to believe in himself.

Hi! My name is Sebastian, I am in 6th grade. Two years ago I was a boy without dreams. I didn't believe in myself, I felt like no one liked me. Today I know that it was me who was closed to people and the world. My life turned upside down in one day. My mother was very sick, my aunt took care of us. After some time, I started going to football training. I was physically weak, I got better over time, but I still lagged behind the rest of my friends. One day I burst into tears and told my aunt that I couldn't play football anymore. I almost gave up, but I went to a sports and recreation camp. Then my mother died, or as my aunt says, she went to heaven to live with angels. It was very difficult for me. Right after the school started, I met a Volunteer from the Academy of the Future. We started to meet once a week. The Volunteer spent a lot of time with me, helped me play football and basketball and with my homework. I started to become more confident. During the PE lesson, the basketball coach said that there would be a big basketball tournament. I volunteered. I invited my Volunteer and my aunt to the tournament. I was very nervous that I wouldn't be able to do it, but they supported me. I'm proud of myself for playing. Currently, I train in a basketball club and I am active in the SIEMACHA association. I'm glad I overcame my fear and gained self-confidence. Don't be afraid to fight for your dreams, despite everything!

The Academy of the Future helps Children, who, like Sebastian, don’t see their true potential. But smart adult, Volunteer, can change it. Thank you for supporting out program – you are important part of that change!

With gratitude

The Academy of the Future Team

Imagine a snowball fight – made of paper; snowmen and baubles – made of buttons; Christmas trees – made of ribbon and Jenga blocks; Christmas trees – made of cardboard triangles; angels – made of wool; sleigh for Santa – made of cardboard. Thanks to the Academy of the Future, everything is possible. Look how Children and their Volunteers spent time before Christmas.

In the Academy of the Future one Child meets one Volunteer each week. But there are also group meetings for Children and Volunteers in every school. They are prepared for integration and celebrating special occasion.

During Christmas events, Students from the Academy throughout Poland prepared cards and wishes for all Friends of the program: donors, parents, legal guardians and volunteers. Below you can see their works full of creative expression and heart.

Hot chocolate, a Christmas tree made of blocks, a made of paper snowball fight

Children and Volunteers, as well as Parents and Legal Guardians met on St. Nicholas Day at the Center for Non-Governmental Organizations. There were many attractions for Children during the event. The meeting started with making Christmas cards and decorating gingerbread. While eating gingerbread, the children received a cup of hot chocolate with whipped cream, small marshmallows and Christmas sprinkles. There was also hot winter tea - with raspberry juice, ginger, honey, cloves and fruit. There was plenty of laughter and conversation during these activities. After decorating gingerbread and making cards, it was time for Christmas activities. Children and adults build a Christmas tree with Jenga blocks with a domino effect, solve the Christmas crossword, help Santa find his way to the gifts in the Christmas maze, fill the bag with gifts to the brim thanks to the Tetris game. The meeting ended with a paper snowball fight and the completion success cards, which could then be exchanged for a sweet gift from Santa Claus. All participants – childeren and adults - were smiling throughout the entire event.

Meeting with Saint Santa Claus

During another Christmas meeting Children made various Christmas decorations and learned new dance for Santa Claus. The children were very happy and smiling and coulnd’t wait for Santa Claus to come. They were proud of every Christmas decoration they made. “It was wonderful to watch them take part in all the tasks and see how much they enjoyed them. This whole event will remain in our memory for a long time," recalls the volunteer.

Making gifts, building a Christmas tree and singing carols

After a short integration during which everybody needed to learn each other's names and things that would be associated with each Participant, everyone got a sticker with their name. This was needed for the next activity: the task was to create a gift for a randomly selected person, e.g. a Christmas tree decoration, and put it in a gift bag with a card with the name of who the gift was to. The second activity was in groups and the task was to decorate triangle-shaped cardboard boxes that together would form a Christmas tree. There were only 10 minutes for it! After completing it, the participants sat down at the Christmas table and listened to Christmas carols. Everyone one got handmade gifts and chocolate Santas. “Everyone left with smiles on their faces,” sums up the Volunteer.

Elf, decorating gingerbread, building a sleigh for Santa

Another school also prepared many attractions. The children spent time with the animator - a cheerful elf, who brought everyone in Christmas spirit by many games, balloons and all other interactions with the Children. Volunteer Kasia conducted a Christmas quiz ending with a song about gingerbread. After the song, the Children and Volunteers sat down at the tables to start decorating gingerbread. There was icing, various sprinkles and colored markers available. The next point on the agenda was to create a sleigh for Santa using cardboard, and when it was done, Santa Claus himself entered the room! “The children received gifts and went home very happy" recalls the volunteer.

Cinema and coloring Christmas cards

In another school, Children and Volunteers went to the cinema to see the animated film "The Wish". Children were so happy from the beginning. At the cinema, it was fun to buy popcorn and not let it spill. After the film, everyone eagerly shared their impressions. Some children really liked the fairy tale. And the rest said that the visit to the cinema itself was nice and that this is already an attraction. After the movie, everyone colored Christmas card. The event itself was intended to integrate the group and to create a sense of teamwork, mutual trust.

Cards and a chain for the Noble Gift

Christmas event was aimed to get to know each other and to integrate within one school. With the accompaniment of Christmas songs, Volunteers with Children created cards and paper decorations and decorated gingerbread. Everyone had a great time, the atmosphere was joyful. Both Children and Volunteers were very involved in the creative process. “It was a wonderful time during which we could get to know each other better and do something creative together. We would like to give some of the cards and paper chains that we made to donors of the Noble Gift program to thank them" says the Volunteer.

Origami Christmas tree and wool angels

During another meeting, Children and Volunteers had to make an origami Christmas tree from paper, an angel from wool, and answer all questions in a Christmas quiz. For each successful completion of a task, they received a star, which was pinned to a special card. For obtaining 3 stars there was a reward - a chocolate Santa Claus. During the meeting all Children and Volunteers were very involved and willing to help to each other. “After the meeting, I received information from the mother of one of our Students that she kept talking about how nice it was. And one boy, who had to leave us earlier, said: Mom, have you already come for me? I'm just getting started," recalls the Volunteer.

Those magical and creative events were prepared to show Children with low self-esteem that they are unique, creative. They bonded with other people, were involved in many activities and saw that they can do great things - this was a magic of Christmas, this was a magic of the Academy of the Future!

Thank you for being part of the program and letting Children to believe in themselves!

With a lot of gratitude!

The Academy of the Future Team

Links:

• Christmas cards made by Children from the Academy of the Future