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New Energy 2 - youth rehabilitation centre in Lipanka (eastern Poland)

Camp code:

PL-SCI 5.3

Country:

Poland

Start Date:

09 Aug 2025

End Date:

23 Aug 2025

Topic:

5: Poverty and social injustice

Work Types:

Agriculture / Social

Number of volunteers:

8

International age:

18 - 99

National age:

18 - 99

Required Language:

English

Spoken Language:

Polish

Description: Stowarzyszenie Jeden Świat - SCI Poland has been cooperating with Monar for 20+ years. Monar is the largest Polish NGO focused on supporting people who struggle with drug addiction, the homeless, HIV-positive people or people with AIDS, as well as many other groups in need. It runs 30 rehabilitation centres in different parts of Poland, 5 of them specialising in youth therapy. The substance rehabilitation centre in Lipianka is situated 90 km from Warsaw, in a small, quiet village among fields and forests. There are approximately 30 patients in Lipianka centre where they live together during a one year therapy. The patients are between 18-13 years of age and they come from different backgrounds and different parts of Poland.

Type of Work: The main task of volunteers is to interact and socialise with the community, by supporting them in their everyday work (gardening, cleaning, working in the kitchen, etc.) and taking active part in leisure-related activities. Games, camp-fires, sports activities, workshops with/for the residents will bring fresh energy and relaxation to the centre. The centre also organises one-day rafting trips on local rivers, where participants will have the opportunity to kayak. The main purpose of the workcamp is to show volunteers what life in therapy looks like and to create an environment facilitating the process of healing for patients.

Study Theme: Issues related to drug addiction and substance abuse and life during anti-drug therapy. Volunteers will have a chance to learn about overcoming addiction and they will also learn alternative ways of life, embracing a more social and community-oriented approach.

Accommodation: Volunteers will sleep at the centre in shared rooms. Bathrooms will be shared with the patients. Volunteers must remember about sensitivities of the facility and the regulations in place. Drinking and illicit substance use is strictly prohibited, even outside the centre, meaning that you must not show up at the centre having consumed some alcohol as it can be easily detected. Some patients may be vulnerable so any conversations about alcohol or any substance use would be considered as insensitive and are strongly discouraged.

Language: English, Polish

Requirements: cultural sensitivity, resilience and flexibility

Approximate Location: Lipianka - near the town of Ostrołęka, 90 km from Warsaw

Notes: Please remember that the insurance from SCI is not valid during your trip to and from the workcamp and it covers ONLY the duration of the camp Volunteers from EU must bring their European Health Insurance Card.

Please kindly note that there is an additional incoming fee of 50 Euros for all volunteers applying through Partner organisations or Contacts of the SCI network. Check the status here: https://bit.ly/3vhBD5J.