Students visited Orphanages No. 3 "Słoneczna Polana" (Gen. Józefa Sowińskiego 3) and No. 4 (Taternicza 8) in Łódź. As part of the research project, the students interviewed the orphanages' residents and arranged games and activities for them, during which everyone – children, older residents and UniLodz students – could spend time together and get to know each other better. Because as a university, we want to be a part of our local community, conducting research with and for people. Together, we want to create a #HumaneUniversity.
Time Spent Together Matters
The visit was, above all, a wonderful initiative on the part of Dr Zoja Kuca. I'd never had the opportunity to participate in such a meeting before. It shed a completely new, positive light on how I perceive institutions like orphanages. I'm happy I could participate in something so valuable
– said Martyna Kaczmarek, a student participating in the project at Orphanage No. 4.
Meeting with the youth from the orphanage showed me how much change can happen in a short time. At first, the participants weren't very willing to talk, which was a considerable challenge for me and a lesson in patience. Over time, however, the atmosphere relaxed and a safer space for conversation was created, allowing the participants to open up. For me, this meeting was a huge lesson in humility and allowed me to understand, even if only to a minimal degree, the challenges they face
– added Julia Piech, who carried out the project at the Orphanage No. 3 "Słoneczna Polana".
Fun and games – never enough
At the end of the meetings, barbecues were held, providing time for casual conversation, listening to music and even more games and activities that brought everyone together and kept the smiles on the faces of both students and children in care.
The research project has been conducted as part of a course in Interpersonal Communication – Skills Training. Dr Zoja Kuca from the Department of Literature, Culture and Communication at the Institute of East European Studies, Faculty of Philology, University of Lodz is the course leader and the project initiator.
Source and edit: Daria Knera, Centre for Brand Communications, Univeristy of Lodz
