Polish-Ukrainian meeting with good
Friday's (25 March) integration picnic on the university campus lasted for over three hours. The Polish-Ukrainian meeting brought a lot of good. Our Ukrainian guests living in the UO halls of residence eagerly took part in the meeting. The weather was fine, so there were no obstacles to have a good time.
Children, of course, had the most fun as there were many attractions prepared for them. There were games and activities, face painting, demonstrations of rescue equipment and providing first aid, a traffic town, police quad rides, close encounters with the Policuś mascot, knights' shows, drawing and lots of sweets.
Adults, on the other hand, could obtain information on Polish regulations and formalities they need to fulfil in order to stay in Poland. They were assisted by volunteer interpreters, mostly students from our university.
The picnic was attended by, inter alia, the Rector of the OU, Prof. Marek Masnyk, the Vice Rector for Academic and Student Affairs, Prof. Izabella Pisarek, the Chancellor, Zbigniew Budziszewski, and the Mayor of Opole, Arkadiusz Wiśniewski.
Spontaneous idea and all hands on deck
“The idea of organizing an integration meeting arose spontaneously and immediately something that could be called a quick move began,” said Prof. Adam Drosik, Dean of the Faculty of Political Science and Social Communication, the faculty that - under the auspices of the University of Opole and with the support of the Students’ Union and the Office of Marketing and Public Relations - organized Friday's picnic Polish-Ukrainian Meeting with Good. “We decided that it would be nice to welcome our Ukrainian friends not only by providing them with material aid safety, which is of course the most important thing, but also in a different way, by preparing attractions for kids, while for adults, a handful of information about the functioning of offices, institutions and facilities, which - as people who want to live a normal life in Poland - sooner or later they will have to visit. That is why the meeting is attended by, inter alia, representatives of the Marshal's Office of the Opole Voivodeship, the Voivodeship Office, the Town Hall of Opole, the Voivodeship Job Centre, the police, the fire brigade, the Tax Office, the National Bank of Poland, etc.”
The Regional Tourist Organisation of Opole made sure that visitors could learn something about Opole and the Opole Region. It also prepared guides to the Opole region in Ukrainian.
University shows what humanism means
“The event we're taking part in today is aimed primarily at integrating our guests with the university community, but it's also supposed to help them get acquainted with Polish services, offices where they'll have to deal with all the formalities related to their stay in Poland," said Żaneta Rojek, president of the Students’ Union of the University of Opole. “We've been creating a completely new society for a few weeks now, and we're trying to make it function as well as possible.”
“I'd like to express my highest respect for the entire university community, because it's not the first time the University of Opole has shown what humanism is, what having a good heart means, and it's also able to motivate all of us to show that heart," said Arkadiusz Wiśniewski. “I think that what's happening today on campus is just the beginning, that there will be more such actions,” he added.
“I am delighted with the way our academic community responded to this very difficult situation," said Prof. Izabella Pisarek.“I am most impressed by direct, material help, but also by help such as we have received today. I would like this to last as long as it is needed.”
Rector Marek Masnyk stressed that the university tried to create a friendly atmosphere for the Ukrainian guests so that they could at least partially recover from the trauma of war and feel safe.
Ukrainian mothers could not hide their emotions. “So much good, so much heart... thank you for everything. For safety, home, support…,” we heard during the picnic.