Fundacja Centrum Aktywności Twórczej

Fundacja Centrum Aktywności Twórczej is a fully legal non government organisation, existing in Leszno since 30th December 2008. Foundation CAT was initiated by young, local activists, engaged in cultural and educational development of the local community of Leszno. The energy, creativity, vision and especially the need for changes in the local environment gathered already dozens of people between the age of 13 and 40 around the institution. It is because of the accumulation of the above ideas that Foundation CAT was called to existence. The Foundation's aim is to activate the local community, particularly in terms of transcultural integration, and promote the idea of voluntary work. The Foundation creates places of voluntary work for the youth and supports such activities in the context of older people alike - it is Leszno's Centre of Volunteering since 2015.

The Foundation has got very rich experience in cooperating with the public sector, non-governmental organizations, the business sector and networks of organizations, from Poland and from abroad alike. It is a member of Anna Lindh Euro-Mediterranean Foundation for Dialogue between Cultures. It also collaborates with the Youth for Exchange and Understanding network in Brussels. Since 2009, it is also one of the two Wielkopolska's Eurodesk information points (Point of the European Youth Information).

The main activities focus on three areas: -Developing knowledge of other cultures, breaking stereotypes, raising the level of knowledge about cultural diversity (including events organized in Leszno such as the Festival of Cooltures, the International Youth Day, the Europe Day, an International Dinner or a Volunteer Day). The Foundation is a hosting and sending organization within the European Voluntary Service programme, carrying out projects not only in Europe, but also in Africa. Volunteers who were hosted by the Foundation came from Ghana, Macedonia, Spain, Italy, Armenia, Portugal, Serbia, France, Ukraine, Georgia, Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey and many other countries. The Foundation puts great emphasis on implementing international standards of education in the context of non-formal and informal education, establishing cooperation with foreign partners. In its activities the Foundation supports establishing new contacts, partnerships and networking. It is focused on international cooperation and building strategic partnerships to continuously improve and dynamize their actions.

-Educating and organizing leisure time activities for children and the youth with particular focus on methods of non-formal and informal education (arranging language cafes, organization of international exchanges, participation in the scholarship programme within the framework of the project "Diploma of Dreams", running day camps and activities in schools of Leszno, organization of international conferences). The Foundation concentrates on activities promoting English language learning among young people as the key to a dynamic and flexible approach to the job market. Some of the activities and workshops are delivered in English (sometimes with a language support). The Foundation uses International Certifications.

- Activation, animation and amusement (including workshops such as: soap making, handicrafts, photography, dance, or weekly meetings with board games, organized flashmobs).
The Foundation recognizes the increasing importance of soft skills in the education of the youth and adults, including, among others, active listening, building relationships, strengthening trust, empathy, the ability to integrate / reintegrate into the labour market. That is why it constantly develops the methodology in the field of education of young people and adults by providing training that is adapted to the needs of senior citizens, people working in the social economy, educationists and youth workers, raising their competences. Foundation is expanding its activities also into the activation of older people (60+) - it has successfully completed the ASOS (ministerial, national grant) and supports local initiatives that resulted from the project. The project will be managed with equality based on the methodology of the Project Cycle Management (PCM). The staff have participated in many training courses on the development and implementation of projects, independently conducted or were partners in many projects with international character.