Krakow Ambassador of Multiculturalism Competition - 1st edition

The first Gala of awarding 4 "Krakow Ambassador of Multiculturalism A.D. 2018" titles together with a glass statuette of Lajkonik was held at the Museum of Municipal Engineering at św. Wawrzyńca 15.

As the Mayor of Krakow, Jacek Majchrowski, stresses, Krakow's history has for centuries shown Krakow as an open and friendly city that owes its cultural heritage not only to indigenous people, but also to those arriving from home and abroad. Apart from outstanding and uncommon individuals, Krakow has always attracted ordinary immigrants who brought diverse cultural influences to the city's tissue, and at the same time contributed to its socio-economic development. Krakow has preserved the traditions of a multicultural city whose history is related to the presence of Jews, Germans or Armenians until today. - New times pose new challenges, which is why I am even more happy with the award which appreciates people and entities involved in intercultural dialogue - said Mayor Jacek Majchrowski.

 - The award is part of the Open Krakow Program implemented in Krakow since 2016 - currently by the Social Policy and Health Department, and in particular the Unit for Multiculturalism and Social Projects, the aim of which is to implement the policy of Krakow openness to representatives of national and ethnic minorities and foreigners by building a sense of solidarity among the residents, and spreading knowledge about the culture and customs of other nationalities.

The winners of the competition were selected by the Chapter of Multiculturalism under the chairmanship of Dominik Jaśkowec, Chairman of the City Council of Krakow.

On May 23, 2019, during the meeting of the Members the Chapter, determined the number of titles awarded in accordance with the rules of procedure adopted at the meeting, , i.e.:

• in category A - non-governmental organizations, institutions, companies, informal groups: 2 titles
• in category B - individual persons: 2 titles.

The Chapter also accepted the design of the distinction by proposing the Lajkonik symbol - a graphic symbol of the competition in the form of a glass or ceramic statuette.

When selecting candidates for the title, the Chapter of Multiculturalism took into account in particular:

1. the period of activity for intercultural dialogue in Krakow,
2. effects and scope of activities,
3. innovative activities and activities going beyond statutory objectives,
4. diversity of undertaken activities.

The first Krakow Ambassadors of Multiculturalism are:

ENTITIES:

1. INTERKULTURALNI PL Association - the distinction was received by Jakub Kościółek PhD - President, Adam Bulandra, PhD - Vice President
2. Diversity Hub Foundation - the distinction was received by Anna Zaroda, PhD - Dąbrowska - President, Tomasz Dąbrowski,PhD - Vice President.

INDIVIDUAL PERSONS:

3. Olha Menko
4. Urszula Majcher – Legawiec

We congratulate the winners and present their achievements:

INTERKULTURALNI PL Association

It has been active in Krakow for the past 9 years. I was the first organization working for the development of a multicultural society.

The Association has developed a diagnosis of the needs of foreigners in Krakow and has prepared public and self-government institutions that help foreigners to accept them.

It has been organizing the Multicultural Interkulturalia Festival since 2012, allowing the society to learn about the diversity of European and non-European cultures in an interesting and participative way.

Thanks to the intersectoral activity of the Association with various public and local government institutions, a municipal integration strategy was developed, the culmination of which was the development and adoption of the "Open Krakow Program".

Thanks to the report that was developed, multilingual messages and signs appeared on railway and bus stations, as well as in urban communication.

The organization, thanks to the implemented international projects, has collected the best practices in the area of self-government activities in the field of integration or diversity policy.

Diversity Hub Foundation

One of the most important organizations in Poland was established in 2015, it cooperates with 200 corporations, universities and non-governmental organizations, the City Office of Krakow, it deals with diversity in the work environment, implements the mission of changing business for the better through diversity and inclusion - it influences social change.

• It organizes conferences, debates, sessions, days of diversity, training, workshops, webinars, direct advice and interventions, etc.
• It created a platform for exchanging knowledge and sharing good practices.

Olha Menko

Since 2017, she has been active in the field of intercultural dialogue. She created the Debate Club, where discussions on social issues are held. About 70 people have taken part in the debates so far.

Since 2018, she has worked as an editor-in-chief of an information portal for Ukrainians. The website publishes information necessary for the functioning of foreigners in Poland. As part of the portal's activity, she has co-organized multicultural events, such as ArtPicnik and film screenings.

Urszula Majcher – Legawiec

For several years, she has been active in Krakow for a multicultural society as the president of the Foundation for the Support of Polish Culture and Language. The Foundation's activities are dedicated to school education, training teaching staff, developing teaching materials.

Since 2018, she has been a methodological adviser for multiculturalism and worked in the Psychological and Pedagogical Counseling Center for children with educational failures, supported parents and students.

She implements challenges combining the competences of many environments: school, academic, NGOs and publishing houses that publish materials for teaching Polish as a foreign language.

Since 2017, she has been working socially in the Interdisciplinary Team for Cooperation for the implementation of the "Open Krakow Program".

She organizes or co-organizes conferences on multicultural issues in Polish schools and student education with migration experience.

For several years, she has been organizing training and competence workshops for teachers from all over Poland - dozens of training courses, several hundred trained teachers are the result.

She has been organizing urban games supporting the integration process for Krakow residents and foreigners living in Krakow since 2016– III games, an effective and innovative action.

We should also congratulate the other persons and entities submitted for the Krakow Ambassador of Multiculturalism A.D. 2018 title.

On the part of the inhabitants of Krakow, who submitted their candidacies, this is undoubtedly a tribute to their work for a multicultural community of values ​​and goals.

The involvement of people and entities listed below for the benefit of local community integration that draws development potential from diversity of customs, experiences and perspectives deserves thanks.

Individuals

No.	CANDIDATE	PERSON SUBMITTING THE CANDIDACY
1.	Olha Menko	Rafał Grabowski
2.	Borysław Czarakcziew	Martyna Nowakowska
3.	Urszula Majcher Legawiec	Wojciech Szydłowski
4.	Aliaksandr Turevich	Paulina Turevich
5.	Anna Wilczyńska	Katarzyna Przybysławska
6.	Joanna Talewicz - Kwiatkowska	Małgorzata Kubica - Hodura
7.	Karina Olesiak	Joanna Komoniewska
8.	Adam Bulandra	Jakub Kościółek
9.	Ernesto Bumba	Hanna Przegon
10.	Katarzyna Rajska - Szamraj	Liliia Andreiera
11.	Rafał Grabowski	Anna Lichnerowicz
12.	Jacek Zadora
13.	Dorota Bełtkiewicz	Weronika Król - Gierat, Brygida Klimas, Elżbieta Kurowska - Tabor, Rafał Salawa, Renata Kubala - Grabarz
14.	Katarzyna Ostręga	Arkadiusz Nowak
15.	Ignat Timer	Ignat Timer

Entities

No.	ENTITY SUBMITTED	PERSON SUBMITTING THE CANDIDACY
1.	Shell Business Operations Krakow	Urszula Zarzycka
2.	Democracy Defense Committee the Malpolska Region	Stanisław Abram
3.	Association INTERKULTURALNI PL	Jakub Kościółek
4.	International Feng Shui Poland Association	Rafał Czuk
5.	LOKKAL magazine	Kateryna Furina
6.	Culture Club Przegorzały, Dworek Białoprądnicki branch	Alicja Rożnowska - Szpot
7.	Understanding Foundation	Aleksandra Mykowska
8.	Social Security Institution. Branch in Krakow	Rafał Grabowski
9.	ACCENT SCHOOL OF POLISH Katarzyna Roś	Joanna Hajdas
10.	Mass Environment Foundation	Nadia Moroz - Olshanska
11.	One World One Heart Foundation	Rafał Grabowski
12.	Małgorzata Waliszko "Dialogue"	Anna Wilczyńska
13.	Rethinking Refugees - Knowledge and Action	Eva Knuth
14.	"U-Work" Foundation for Polish-Ukrainian Cooperation	Olha Menko
15.	European College - European Non-Public High School in Krakow, European Primary School with Bilingual Departments in Krakow	Jakub Markowski
16.	Julian Tuwim Primary School No. 37	Joanna Wołek
17.	"The University of Agriculture - open space for you" project team	Andrzej Lepiarczyk
18.	Diversity Hub Foundation	Tomasz Dąbrowski
19.	We learn the world Magdalena Moll - Musiał, Marcin Musiał s.c.	Anna Grabowska
20.	Islamist Blog - Anna and Karol Wilczyński	Fundacja Internationaler Bund Polska
21.	Mikołaj Rej Foundation Supporting Polish Culture and Language	Wojciech Szydłowski
22.	Collaborate, Krakow	David McGirr
23.	European Students' Forum AEGEE-Krakow	Kamil Bąbel
24.	Business Process Services ASPIRE Association	Piotr Wieczorek
25.	Provincial Public Library in Krakow	Żaneta Kubic
26.	Jewish Community Center Foundation - Jewish Community Center - JCC Krakow	Artur Brożek

We appreciate the efforts of all the nominees for the title, and in particular of the Laureates, and we want to express our deep admiration and respect. We wish you perseverance in the implementation of everyday challenges and initiatives undertaken for our city and successes in your personal life.

During the gala of the finale of the first edition of the "Krakow Ambassador of Multiculturalism" competition, it was also possible to listen to Francois Martineau with the band and taste culinary specialties from many corners of the world. You’re invited to view photos from the Gala.