Dear Readers,
Another year has passed – it’s time for a moment of reflection and to summarise what the last months have brought us. It has been a year full of emotions, new experiences and challenges that have allowed each of us to grow. Here’s a calendar of the most important events of VC UW 2024.
January
A new year, a new us, but what remains unchanged is the Filling in pets’ bellies action. During the tenth edition of the event, we attempted to make the unbearable (but soon to be over) exam period a little more bearable together. 😴
February
It was a time full of positive emotions.
Our volunteer, Heybat Naghiyev, was selected as the best international student of master’s studies for 2024 and received the Interstudent award during the ceremonial gala. We are glad that we could participate in his nomination and accompany him on this special occasion!
Some of you had the chance to spend Valentine’s Day with us at the Nowolipie Intergenerational Activity Centre. ❤️🐶 You also eagerly participated in workshops with a dog behaviourist, and the outcome of both activities was donations for the Zwierzochron Foundation and Koty z Grochowa. Well done!
March
March brought the first signs of spring.
At the workshops held at the Nowolipie Intergenerational Activity Centre, we created floral decorations for seniors, and as part of the conclusion of the Filling in pets’ bellies action, we stretched our bodies after the winter sleep during “Yoga for Dogs.” In collaboration with the Psychological and Counselling Services Centre, we also launched a new initiative for students – the Neurodiverse Club.
April
Ah, April! It was a month full of activities.
Preparations for Miasteczko na styku kultur - Cultural Hot Spot UW event were in full swing, and meetings of the Neurodiverse Club gained momentum. In the meantime, we joined the initiative of the Independent Student Association at UW in support of the Po DRUGIE Foundation by conducting handcraft workshops.
May
Time for growth and the implementation of plans.
May brought our flagship event realised in collaboration with Welcome Point UW, the Students Council of UW, and the Student Council of the Faculty of Oriental Studies: Miasteczko na styku kultur - Cultural Hot Spot UW. Every year, we are incredibly impressed by the commitment of our volunteers in co-creating this largest multicultural event at UW. This year, over 60 volunteers contributed to creating a unique atmosphere!
June
The first half of the year is behind us, and in the air, one can feel the onset of the exam period and diploma examinations. We hope everything went well for you. During this time, we were intensively working on the next results of the UNICOMM project and preparing for a unique event…
July
Summer is in full swing! Time for a vacation break from studies – whether travelling, working or at home. Meanwhile, at VC UW, it was one of the most intense but also unforgettable moments of the year! The Summer Academy on Student Participation, part of the UNICOMM project, was a week full of international exchanges of experiences, integration and creativity.
August
Time to catch our breath, but also to plan activities for the upcoming academic year…
September
A return to normality and one of the largest undertakings with your participation!
The conference: Annual Meeting 4EU+ Alliance, to which 47 volunteers applied. That’s the spirit! In addition, we recorded tutorials together, transforming VC UW into a film set and realising scripts created by participants of the Summer Academy on Student Participation. 🎬
October
The academic year has truly begun, bringing many exceptional activities. Two interns, Alisa and Misza, joined the VC UW team (a warm greeting to them! ☀️).
Thanks to Marjona, during the Multicultural Meetings at UW, we took a “journey” to Uzbekistan. Perhaps someone among you – dear Readers – would like to present their country in the upcoming year?
October is also the perfect opportunity to meet new people and integrate, which is why we once again invited you to participate in the Networking and Intercultural Communication Workshop. How was it? Feedback from participants speaks for itself!
November
VC UW initiatives turned out to be a good way to brighten the long evenings and cool days. Meetings of two Neurodiverse Clubs – one for students and one for PhD students – have already begun. We repeated the handcraft workshops, this time in the version of autumn crocheting🧶, thus inaugurating the Filling in pets’ bellies action. We also had the chance to meet during a clothes swap or to share tales of myths and legends during the meeting Let’s Talk: Myths.
December
And so we have reached the end of the year. December was a time for reflections and gratitude for everything that has happened, as well as for celebration. We particularly enjoyed our meetings with you during the ceremonial awarding of certificates to the most active VC UW volunteers on International Volunteer Day and during the workshops as part of the Mission: Christmas Tree at VC UW and CAM Nowolipie. This year, we created surprises for children living in regions affected by active warfare in Ukraine.
The year 2024 also brings further activities and outcomes from the UNICOMM project, which would not have been possible without the involvement of students from UW.
We especially encourage you to familiarise yourselves with and make use of “Come for Cookies. Stay for Community.” A Toolbox for Community Building, Facilitating Participation, and Enhancing Belonging for Higher Education Communities. Additionally, we direct the staff of higher education institutions to a series of infographics and podcasts.
Year in Review
Looking back at this year, we see how much has happened. By working together, we can achieve more!
Every conversation with you is a pleasure for us! You are the best! Be proud of yourselves!
We eagerly await the next year, filled with new challenges, opportunities, and possibilities. We hope it will be just as special as the one that is now passing.
If you want to reminisce with us about the last few months and stay updated on upcoming activities, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
With gratitude,
the Volunteer Centre UW Team
