Polish YMCA Section in Great Britain
Polska YMCA w Wielkiej Brytanii
Registered Charity No: 1175952
Last Thursday, we held a vernissage entitled 'The beginnings of the Polish YMCA in Great Britain - war times and first years in exile'. We would like to thank Consul Jolanta Srebrakowska and all guests for coming and singing together, Jadwiga Słomka and Marek Maryniak for the artistic part of the evening, and Radio Wnet for the coverage of the event. The exhibition was organized as part of the Polish Heritage Days Embassy of the Republic of Poland in London
Polska YMCA is extremely saddened by the war in Ukraine and the suffering of Ukrainian people.
To show solidarity with them we held an evening of music and song with performances from Jadzia Słomka, Magda Hegarty and Alicia Peacock, as well as, Marek Maryniak leading the Ukrainian national anthem.
TVP Polonia
PODSUMOWANIE ROKU 2021
About our Summer Camp 2021!
Polska YMCA Lake District - Summer Camp 2021 Summary
After missing our annual camp last year, for the first time since camps began in 1950, we came back even stronger in 2021. This summer we travelled to the scenic lake Windermere, in Southern Lake District, with a group of 60+ campers – half on their first camp!
Newcomers got their first taste of the competitive, yet supportive, atmosphere on camp straight away, with both the Cross-Country race and our traditional Gym Test taking place in the first few days. This continued throughout with daily Team Games, during which each group would enjoy colouring themselves with the paint of their team and then challenge each other in activities like Netball, ‘Dwa Ognie’, and Kabaddi.
These were only some of the sporting highlights on camp, however. The ‘Polska YMCA Olimpiada’ provided another opportunity for campers to show off their talents, while the ‘Druga Klasa’ hike brought everyone together for a day of hill-climbing and lakeside walks. For those up for the challenge, the later ‘Pierwsza Klasa’ hike involved a gruelling 20 hours and 70km of walking, traversing the highest points in the area and leaving Lake Windermere far behind on the horizon.
Between all such sporting activities were enjoyable events like the Scavenger Hunt and the Quiz. These were fun chances for campers to test their general knowledge and problem-solving skills, completing tasks in their teams like the popular ‘bring us 50 blades of grass’. Messy Games offered another opportunity for teams to compete, this time with more dirt, water, and flour involved…And, of course, we couldn’t stay in a place as beautiful as Lake Windermere without taking a few beach-side swimming breaks as well!
Aside from the occasional campfire or Night Games, every day would end with a ‘kominek’ – a time for the whole camp to come together. To the tune of favourites like ‘O Marianna’ and ‘Wonderwall’, the common room was filled every evening with lively singing, dancing, and even some guitar playing!
Despite starting camp as a group consisting largely of strangers and first-time campers, we finished the 12-day trip as a tight-knit, Polish YMCA family. We all can’t wait for camp next year, and everyone is invited! (Planning has already begun…)
Newcomers got their first taste of the competitive, yet supportive, atmosphere on camp straight away, with both the Cross-Country race and our traditional Gym Test taking place in the first few days. This continued throughout with daily Team Games, during which each group would enjoy colouring themselves with the paint of their team and then challenge each other in activities like Netball, ‘Dwa Ognie’, and Kabaddi.
These were only some of the sporting highlights on camp, however. The ‘Polska YMCA Olimpiada’ provided another opportunity for campers to show off their talents, while the ‘Druga Klasa’ hike brought everyone together for a day of hill-climbing and lakeside walks. For those up for the challenge, the later ‘Pierwsza Klasa’ hike involved a gruelling 20 hours and 70km of walking, traversing the highest points in the area and leaving Lake Windermere far behind on the horizon.
Between all such sporting activities were enjoyable events like the Scavenger Hunt and the Quiz. These were fun chances for campers to test their general knowledge and problem-solving skills, completing tasks in their teams like the popular ‘bring us 50 blades of grass’. Messy Games offered another opportunity for teams to compete, this time with more dirt, water, and flour involved…And, of course, we couldn’t stay in a place as beautiful as Lake Windermere without taking a few beach-side swimming breaks as well!
Aside from the occasional campfire or Night Games, every day would end with a ‘kominek’ – a time for the whole camp to come together. To the tune of favourites like ‘O Marianna’ and ‘Wonderwall’, the common room was filled every evening with lively singing, dancing, and even some guitar playing!
Despite starting camp as a group consisting largely of strangers and first-time campers, we finished the 12-day trip as a tight-knit, Polish YMCA family. We all can’t wait for camp next year, and everyone is invited! (Planning has already begun…)
#PLHeritageDays 2021 Nasza Polskość - Being Polish
What does being Polish mean to you? What forms your Polish identity? Is is the language, the food, the traditions, the feeling of community?
We asked our members, families and friends to share with us what being Polish means to them!
Jak odczuwacie swoją polskość? Co to dla Was znaczy bycie Polakiem? Czy to język, kuchnia, tradycje, poczucie wspólnoty?
Zadaliśmy to pytanie naszym członkom, rodzinom i przyjaciołom - posłuchajcie co mieli do powiedzenia!
What does being Polish mean to you? What forms your Polish identity? Is is the language, the food, the traditions, the feeling of community?
We asked our members, families and friends to share with us what being Polish means to them!
Jak odczuwacie swoją polskość? Co to dla Was znaczy bycie Polakiem? Czy to język, kuchnia, tradycje, poczucie wspólnoty?
Zadaliśmy to pytanie naszym członkom, rodzinom i przyjaciołom - posłuchajcie co mieli do powiedzenia!
#PLHeritageDays 2021 Project 2:
#ZjednoczeniwPiosence #UnitedinSong #CzarnaMadonna
’Mazury’ would like to thank all who joined our virtual choir to sing the beautiful ‘Czarna Madonna’
Podziękowania dla wszystkich którzy dołączyli do naszego projektu wirtualnego chóru 'Czarna Madonna'
#ZjednoczeniwPiosence #UnitedinSong #CzarnaMadonna
’Mazury’ would like to thank all who joined our virtual choir to sing the beautiful ‘Czarna Madonna’
Podziękowania dla wszystkich którzy dołączyli do naszego projektu wirtualnego chóru 'Czarna Madonna'
Media o naszych projektach PHD
TVP Polonia - Polskość, Goniec.com, Magazyn z Wysp, TVP Polonia - Madonna, Polonijna Agencja Informacyjna,
TVP Polonia - Polskość, Goniec.com, Magazyn z Wysp, TVP Polonia - Madonna, Polonijna Agencja Informacyjna,
PODSUMOWANIE ROKU 2020
English Version
| Summary of the year 2020 |
11 listopada Święto Niepodległości
11 November Poland's Independence Day
11 listopada to Święto Niepodległości – dzień dla nas bardzo ważny, bo mimo, że nie mieszkamy w Polsce, jesteśmy dumni z naszego pochodzenia i naszej polskości, jest to ważna część nas i naszej wspólnoty!
Poprosiliśmy członków zespołu Mazury i Polskiej YMCA
aby przesłali nam zdjęcia które pokazują co #naszapolskość dla nich znaczy, i jak ją pokazujemy w naszym codziennym życiu. Zapraszamy do obejrzenia kolaży #naszapolskość!!
O naszym projekcie można przeczytać na portalu goniec.com
On 11 November we celebrate Poland’s Independence Day when, in 1918, after 123 years Poland returned onto the map of Europe. It is a day which remembers the Polish fight for freedom, sovereignty and the ability to celebrate our culture and heritage. We asked our members how they celebrate their Polish heritage, and how they cultivate it in their every day lives! From food, to books, to song, to Polish traditions, we invite you to check out our collages. We may not live in Poland, but we are proud of our heritage, and love to share our culture with others!
11 November Poland's Independence Day
11 listopada to Święto Niepodległości – dzień dla nas bardzo ważny, bo mimo, że nie mieszkamy w Polsce, jesteśmy dumni z naszego pochodzenia i naszej polskości, jest to ważna część nas i naszej wspólnoty!
Poprosiliśmy członków zespołu Mazury i Polskiej YMCA
aby przesłali nam zdjęcia które pokazują co #naszapolskość dla nich znaczy, i jak ją pokazujemy w naszym codziennym życiu. Zapraszamy do obejrzenia kolaży #naszapolskość!!
O naszym projekcie można przeczytać na portalu goniec.com
On 11 November we celebrate Poland’s Independence Day when, in 1918, after 123 years Poland returned onto the map of Europe. It is a day which remembers the Polish fight for freedom, sovereignty and the ability to celebrate our culture and heritage. We asked our members how they celebrate their Polish heritage, and how they cultivate it in their every day lives! From food, to books, to song, to Polish traditions, we invite you to check out our collages. We may not live in Poland, but we are proud of our heritage, and love to share our culture with others!
Zosia & Lucjan 10 Years
In September 2020, Zosia Lesiecka and Lucjan Santos-Witkowski (our amazing dance instructors) celebrated 10 years since they taught their first Mazury lesson!
That's 10 years of leading Mazury's three groups, Juniors, Middles and Seniors!
10 years worth of Friday evenings, dedicated to us and helping us learn to dance, perfect our steps and also feel a part of a family.
Od najmłodzego do najstarszego członka zespołu, dziękujemy Wam. Dziękujemy za każdy taniec, za każdy moment wsparcia, za to że w nas wierzycie, i że się o nas troszczycie
Bez was, nie byłoby nas
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