Children from Special Childcare Centre No. 1 were invited. The event was held on 29 May at the Stallion Herd. Competitions and games; open carriage, motorcycle and jeep rides; a dancing troupe; and a meeting with fairy tale characters were all held outdoors. There were plenty of grilled sausages, ice creams, beverages, candyfloss, etc. “We are playing with children under the banner: I am just like you – I want to give and take, play and laugh,” says Luiza Śliwinska. “We collected the funds for the picnic ourselves and received some help from sponsors. We are very glad to please the children in this way.”

Employees of GE Money Bank have taken different actions to support their local communities in the countries they work in. They have done it in Poland in Gniezno, Gdansk, Cracow, Tri-City and Warsaw. These activities included the purchase of equipment, games and toys for Special Childcare Centre (SOSW) No. 1 in Gniezno. Moreover, they renovated the playground, repainted the gate in front of the centre and covered the strip of land behind the hedge with greenery. “Thanks to this, we hope that the centre is nicer and more child-friendly,” says Mariola Kasprzyk, a leader of the “The happiness of children lies in our hands” project. “Employees of GE Money Bank are involved in many actions for their local communities every day. They take part in voluntary blood donation campaigns, they help hospitals, children’s homes”.

Gazeta Wyborcza (Poland’s leading business daily), 20 May 2006

"The Big Cracow of Small Explorers"

Games and playing in the Aqua Park, visits to the cinema and theatre, a trip to Wawel and to the zoo, a trip to Ojców – these are only some of the attractions which the local branch of the Community Social Welfare Centre (MOPS) no. 1 in Kraków, prepared for the children. Nearly 200 children from the poorest families participated in the programme entitled “The Big Cracow of Small Explorers.”

The kids could take their parents with them. – For some families the trip was the first excursion of this type in their lives – says Marta Kowalewska, the manager of the Branch no.1. Social welfare workers unanimously admit that it would almost need to be a miracle to organise such an event from own resources of MOPS. The spending of each and every Polish zloty is strictly planned. – It is believed in our society that the welfare centres provide one with resources to buy food and clothes that are necessary.

Integration events or trips for poor families are viewed as extravagance – says Marta Chechelska, the spokesperson of the Cracow MOPS. – Meanwhile, kids from such families mostly need good childhood memories. Luckily, MOPS workers have enough ideas. For some time there have also been sponsors ready to complete these ideas. But only when they get enough support from the workers of MOPS.

The programme “The Big Cracow of Small Explorers” was financed by GE MONEY BANK.