Fundacja Viribus Unitis

Kontakt

Viribus Unitis Foundation

Foundation for the Support Education
and Development of Local Government among Youth

Address: 6 Kościuszki Street, 40 – 049 Katowice
Telephone/ Fax: +48 32 209 17 01

sylwia.kempa@fundacja.katowice.pl

 

The Foundation Viribus Unitis is an independent, not-profit development organization. Established at the University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland, in 1997 as a organization supported students’ development and local government. Since the very first day of its establishment Viribus Unitis Foundation has followed the principles of cooperation, free will, democracy, youth activity, society development, and entrepreneurship among students. Foundation has identified the following major goals and objectives:

  • Providing educational, cultural, scientific and informational exchanges between young people;
  • Fostering democracy by broadening and improving understanding of peace, democratic values and culture;
  • Providing professional assistance to public institutions, private business and NGO;
  • Conducting activities and projects based on principles of democracy, youth activity, educational development of the society.

Through partnerships and alliances, VUF undertakes a range of initiatives which intent to improve educational competences of the citizens, foster innovative approaches to development Now we are searching for overseas organization that can support our NGO in accomplishment of our project at the international level. We are also willing to get involved in the international project as a partner. General description of the profile of our activity is presented in further part of the offer.

For any further information please contact:

Sylwia Kempa
sylwia.kempa@fundacja.katowice.pl

Since its foundation in 1997 Viribus Unitis has undergone a process of steady growth. This growth has been reflected in increase of the number and scopes of projects implemented by our NGO at the national level.

Within its activities Viribus Unitis runs particular activities:

I. Running information point
Europe Direct Katowice (since 2005 - ongoing) www.europe-direct.katowice.pl

Europe Direct is a general information service, providing information on matters related to Europe and the European Union. It aims at to act as an interface between the EU and its citizens at local level. ED Katowice helps with general questions on every aspect of Europe and can put in touch with relevant specialist services if required, organizes events and activities to make the public aware of the EU. In addition Europe Direct organizes conferences, seminars, training courses, workshops and fairs related to European integration and directly participates in them.

Services we provide in ED Katowice include:

  • Quick answers to your questions on Europe,
  • EU facts and figures,
  • Free computer access in the library gives you easy access to EU websites,
  • Free publications, brochures and guides on all aspects of the EU.
II. Running information point

The Regional European Information Centre (since 2000 – ongoing) www.rcie.katowice.pl

The core work of the institution is providing information on a wide range of subjects concerning European Union. RCIE consultants conduct "European lessons" addressed to primary, secondary school pupils and students (e.g. the history of European integration, the functioning of EU institutions, structural funds, EU policies, all other matters related to the EU and to Poland's membership of the EU). They conduct also open lectures addressed to teachers, students, entrepreneurs, volunteers, and so on. RCIE consultants make presentations on selected EU topics to secondary school pupils and students. The Centre offers on a charge-free basis various publications, RCIE also provides free internet access. RCIE cooperates with many organizations and helps organizing events and activities to make the public aware of the European Union, its politics and strategic goals.

III. Realization of the European projects

Since 2000 Foundation has been obtaining and realizing European projects. It is able to plan, realize and monitor projects by ourselves. Foundation specialized in promotional, educational and informational projects. It also supports companies, institutions and NGOs in their projects’ realization process. Foundation is able to negotiates, work on final states and make annex contract if needed. The whole procedure of receiving European Funds from making up an idea to the final statement is our quotidian activity.

Foundation outline, create and implement the strategy of funds obtaining for a particular projects and long-term development. It prepares application for financial means drawing from the European Union according to EU requirements.

Foundation successfully completed the financial controls of Supreme Chamber of Control in 2004 and 2006. We participate in trainings and workshops organized by department of control and accounting of the Ministry.

Examples of the European project realized by Viribus Unitis Foundation:

  • “Z ekologią na ty” 15.08.09 – 30.11.09

    Project was financed by The Office of the Committee for European Integration. The purpose of this workshops was to explore attitudes, beliefs, and values related to the ecological approach among health education and health promotion. There were organized cycle of ecological workshops in 17 school in Silesian Voivodship. Project was created to celebrate the fifth anniversary of polish membership in EU.

  • “My company in my community” – 01.01.2008 - ongoing

    Project is entirely financed by the European Social Fund – Operational Program Human Capital in frame of contest organizes by Ministry of National Education. Project is accomplished in 5 Voivodship and consists of six 5-month training cycles.

    The main objective of the Project is to develop entrepreneurship and ICT competences. It provides wide range of educational activities such as e-learning trainings, traditional trainings supported by modern teaching methods e.g. simulation games introducing young business amateurs with basic knowledge in entrepreneurship. Project aims at enhancing the understanding of the entrepreneurship concepts and business thinking among youth. Within the scope of the project a series of “Entrepreneurship Day” is organized to enable young people to meet entrepreneurs to share their opinions and experiences. Students that takes part in the project get to know how to obtain European financial means for starting own business.

  • “Bliżej Funduszy” (Closer to the Funds) 11.2008 – 05.2009

    Informational and promotional campaign about European Funds. Project was realized under Operational Support Program in 7 voivodeships. The main tasks carried out under the project were as follow:

    • Workshops for pupils and students,
    • Information meetings for teachers and librarians,
    • “Dni Funduszy” (Funds Days) at the universities,
    • “Salon Funduszy” (Fund Exhibition) during XI Nationwide Fairs Education 2009 (three –day event),
    • 6 broadcasts in Radio Katowice
    • Articles in internet,
    • Calendar that shows good practices “European Funds in regions”
    • Board game “The way to European Funds”
    • Educational computer games – arcade game “Catch a fund” and mental game “Fund your future”

  • “Śląskie wrzuca 6 bieg” (Silesia moves up the sixth gear) 10 – 11.2009

    Project promoted benefiting from European Funds in 2004-2009. The main tasks carried out under the project were as follow:

    • Outdoor gallery that shows good practices that benefited from European Funds in Silesian Voivodeship (gallery was exhibited in Sosnowiec, Katowice, Bielsko – Biała)
    • 2 radio interviews with beneficiaries of EU assistance, that were broadcasted in Polish Radio Katowice
    • Calendar with visualization of 3 cases of benefiting funds in Silesian Voivodeship.

  • “Bliżej Funduszy II” (Closer to the Funds) – ongoing

    Project BF II is addressed to the whole society of 7 voivodeship, but mainly to the students and pupils. The period of the realization is 01-09-2009 to 30-03-2010. The main activities taken under project were as follow:

    • Workshops for students,
    • “Dni Funduszy” (Funds Days) at the universities,
    • “Salon Funduszy” (The Salon of Funds) during XI Nationwide Fairs Education 2009 - (three –day event),
    • broadcasts in Radio Katowice,
    • Articles in internet,
    • Art contest,
    • E- survey.
IV. Examples of the promotional, informational and educational events

  1. Outdoor event

    Organization of the “small European city” for children and adults, preparing artistic performance, promotion in mass media. Number of participants in the event: 20 000 (2005 – 2007).

  2. Running workshops and trainings about obtaining European funds

    Training cycle for Small and Medium Companies about opportunities to obtain funds for companies. Trainings for people starting up their own business – obtaining funds, preparing business plan. Trainings for culture institution on behalf of commissioned by Ministry of Culture and National Heritage

  3. Organization of the Educational Fairs (since 1997) and “The Salon of Funds”

    This is one of the largest event of its kind in southern Poland. Fairs are addressed to People seeking for education opportunities, those searching for right courses, who need special training with special time requirements, educational institutes seeking for cooperation with foreign education institution.

    The honorary patronage of the fairs: The Marshal of the Silesia, Mayor of Katowice, Silesian Curator of Education.

  4. “Day with European Union” 06-2003

    Preparing and realization together with Silesian Voivodeship Office the whole campaign before referendum in Silesian Voivodeship included “Day with European Union”. The whole campaign aimed at promotional polish access to EU. Outdoor event was consisted of:

    • Concerts,
    • Educational and informational contests,
    • Information point,
    • European debate,
    • European Kitchen.

  5. “Welcome in the European Union” - 05-2004, “One year in EU” – 05-2005

    Outdoor promotional events that were addressed to the citizens of the Silesian region. Their aims was to celebrate polish membership in EU. The events consisted of:

    • Concert,
    • Educational and informational contests,
    • Information point.

  6. “Europe closer to us” – edition 2004, 2005, 2006

    Project financed by The Office of the Committee for European Integration:

    • Information point,
    • Workshop and train.

  7. “European Union with climate” 09-12.2008

    Project included following activities:

    • EcoLife project took place in one Silesian school and consisted of two panels: EkoKnow and EkoStyle – about ecologic trends,
    • Forum of the Silesian European Clubs – workshops on climate change topic,
    • Ecologic workshop with teenagers,
    • Open lectures for local citizens,
    • Radio broadcast concerns climate changes in EU and world in Radio Katowice,
    • Trainings for librarians about European funds.

  8. Vote for Europe. Choose Europe! – April 2009

    It was a project organized as a part of the Program announced by European Commission. The contest aimed at promotion participation in election to the European Parliament th 7th June and provide information about functioning of the European Parliment.

V EURO – Consulting

Foundation helps NGOs and companies find and obtain financial and other means for projects from national and European funds. It offers a wide scale of consulting services, such as obtaining funds, financial and accounting consulting.

Fundacja na Rzecz Wspierania Edukacji i Rozwoju Samorządności wśród Młodzieży VIRIBUS UNITIS

2009