40 years ago, the free trade union Solidarity was founded. A peaceful mass movement that brought the communist regime in Poland to its knees, making a major contribution to overcoming real socialism throughout Eastern Europe. Its legacy remains valid, especially in the face of the multiple crises of our times.
The crew of the Lenin Shipyard in Gdańsk showed great courage by interrupting their work on 14 August 1980. In the communist 'working countries', strikes were forbidden, and speaking out against the policy of the authorities was not tolerated. Many of the strikers still remembered the workers' protests that had been bloody suppressed ten years earlier in Gdańsk and other cities on the Polish coast. They accounted for 41 dead, 1 164 wounded and more than 3 000 arrested.
On Friday, 11 September, in the St. Marienthal International Meeting Centre (IBZ-Internationales Begegnungszentrum St. Marienthal) in Ostritz there was a official opening of the Polish Language Competence and Coordination Centre (KoKoPol). During the inauguration of the Centre, a cooperation agreement was also signed with the "Krzyżowa" Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe, under which, among other things, language and cultural training for German diplomats, employees of companies and their management boards will be held in Krzyżowa.
The Polish Language Competence and Coordination Centre is to support and strengthen existing initiatives to promote the Polish language in Germany, to promote a positive perception of the Polish language and to organise practical language training related to professional careers (e.g. for diplomats).
7. The Intergenerational Open Cross-Country Reconciliation Runs under the slogan "Family without Violence" took place at the Krzyżowa Foundation on October 3, 2020. It was also the Open Lower-Silesian Cross-Country Final.
Competitors from the entire Lower Silesian Voivodeship, aged from several to several dozen years, covered distances from 100 to 2000 meters.
The aim of the event was to celebrate the Polish-German reconciliation, and this year also the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Warsaw. The idea of the Reconciliation Runs is also to support inter-generational solidarity, stimulate physical activity of families, elderly people, people inactive in terms of sports, social and professional activity, and to promote sports volunteering.
Event organizers: Powiatowe Zrzeszenie Ludowych Zespołów Sportowych w Świdnicy, Świdnicka Grupa Biegowa, OSP Grodziszcze, Krzyżowa Foundation for Mutual Understanding in Europe.
Read more: 7. The Intergenerational Open Cross-Country Reconciliation Runs - 3.10.2020
In September, traditionally, we welcome new volunteers to Krzyżowa.Two new fantastic friends - Emma and Anna-Sofia - have been with us for several days.
Where they came from, why they came to Krzyżowa and what are their first impressions - you can read about this in short self-presentations.
We are very happy that Emma and Anna-Sofia are already with us and we wish them that the time they will spend in Krzyżowa will be creative, interesting and full of good emotions!