About Us - How to start a SATW partnership
How to start a SATW partnership
Establishing a link with a school close to your office is simpler than you might think. Here's how our Warsaw office launched its successful SATW partnership with the Special Educational Centre,Wegorgzewo, this year:
CASE STUDY: Poland - off to a flying start
1) Identify a school
C&W Polish office head Richard Petersen and marketing manager Iwona Kamysz first heard about the Special Educational Centre in Wegorzewo through a personal then a business contact. Based in one of the country's most beautiful but also poorest regions about a four-hour drive from Warsaw, the school educates intellectually disabled young people between the ages of seven and 25. Most pupils have limited opportunities for work experience, and unemployment in the region is high. After a visit to the school, Richard and Iwona were convinced SATW could make a difference.
2) Prepare proposal
A detailed proposal was prepared and submitted to the Trustees for approval. The Trustees are responsible for ensuring that all schools adopted under the SATW banner meet the specific agreed criteria and are viable proposals.
3) Build a programme
The Polish office then worked with the school's director to create a programme to best meet the needs of the young people.A combination of facilitating work experience opportunities and organising trips would be funded by a SATW charity auction and fundraising activities.
4) Get started!
Ten volunteers from the C&W Polish office (Dorota Skowronska-Kusnierkiewicz, Kasia Czerwinska, Monika Rusek, Ania Przytulska, Ewelina Szymkowska, Ania Kazmierska, Karolina Bontruk, Monika Mazurek, Kuba Marszalek and Iwona Kamysz) have achieved amazing results with their school in just a few months.
Six students were placed with major hotels in Warsaw - InterContinental Warszawa, Sheraton and Le Regina - for one-month work placements in the kitchen and house-keeping.The local C&W charity auction then funded a trip to Rome for 12 students and four of their teachers. Organised by Iwona and Valentina Giannotti at the C&W Rome office, the four-day visit took many of the students out of their home town for the first time. Dorota Skowronska-Kusnierkiewicz, HR Manager at C&W Warsaw office, was accompanying the group during the trip. Fundraising has also been impressive, with generous donations from clients Procter & Gamble, Auchan, Liebrecht & Wood, C&A and Medicover.
Director of the Special Education Centre Aleksandra Siwolowska said of the SATW partnership:
"The Schools Around The World initiative has opened up prospects for young people and those taking part have become stronger and more confident and have gained motivation to change their lives, to look for work and explore other cultures."
"The work practices and sightseeing in Warsaw gave me experience and emotions. I think I have started to believe in myself. I know how to work in a team. One can change in many respects after such a visit in Warsaw."
Karolina Rembisz
"I saw many interesting places: St Peter's Basilica, the tomb of John Paul II, the colosseum. I saw Pope Benedict XVI from a few metres. It was a very intense feeling. I will remember the trip till the end of my life."
Mariusz Rydzewski
