{"id":276,"date":"2023-12-28T11:57:55","date_gmt":"2023-12-28T11:57:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/17yearsjourney.com\/?p=276"},"modified":"2024-04-23T11:23:16","modified_gmt":"2024-04-23T10:23:16","slug":"chapter-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/17yearsjourney.com\/?p=276","title":{"rendered":"Chapter I: What I built from scratch"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Successes of 17 years\u00a0<\/h6>\n

What I built from scratch
<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

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I have reasons to be proud of what I’ve created. I dedicated many years of my life to turn a small association into a smoothly operating public benefit organization.
Without any support from governmental agendas, either Polish or Irish, I created an organization that, from a small group of people, went through all organizational levels \u2013 from an association to a charity public benefit organization.<\/p>\n

I created an organization that had no financial resources from its inception, and in 2023 employed 8 full-time employees and 9 contractors, had two offices in Cork, and was respected and recognized throughout Ireland.
This was my hard work during nights, hours spent on discussions and partnership building.
I informed the Board about everything, they applauded, praised, and patted me on the back. However, it wasn’t sincere.
In the last year of operation before I resigned, I left the organization with over \u20ac300,000 in the account and with development plans, new projects, and a ready strategy for the next 3 years, which I wanted to implement.
May they not waste it.<\/p>\n

What I managed to accomplish over these past 17 years \u2013 it’s hard to list everything, but below are just a few that I remember:<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

    \n
  1. obtaining charity status in 2012 \u2013 it was my work and preparation of documentation so that we, as the first among Polish organizations, acquired the status of a public benefit organization.<\/li>\n
  2. I organized the first Legal Social Advice Center as a pilot with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2010 \u2013 the first in Europe. This was also my hard work and presenting the idea at events organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the EUWP Migration Monitors, where I had the opportunity to introduce this idea to others in Europe after the mass arrival of unprepared Poles in Western countries after the opening of the European Union borders. For them, we launched all support programs.<\/li>\n
  3. I implemented a modern CRM system for client management in 2020. We tested a lot of services, since 2006 we had a special system prepared for us called Immigrant Assistant. However, we wanted something more comprehensive and tested various systems that could encompass all our services in one place. Finally, the IT specialist implemented the CRM system.<\/li>\n
  4. \u00a0I influenced the inclusion of our Independence Day celebrations in the calendar of events organized by the City Council in Cork and the hoisting of the Polish flag at the City Hall and illuminating the Town Hall. For 6 years, I managed to maintain these traditions. We hosted guests from the Polish Senate for this occasion.<\/li>\n
  5. \u00a0I introduced new HR systems for staff management in 2019. The system allows for recording working hours, overtime, and holidays.<\/li>\n
  6. \u00a0I prepared the entire therapy program and rules of operation for therapeutic services. I prepared therapy programs first for addicts, which included individual and group therapy along with acupuncture elements, which were consistent with the Case Management system for Cork\/Kerry and compliant with the national Irish protocol N.D.R.I.C. It was also compliant with the Health Research Board reporting system. Then I prepared protocols for general psychotherapy services. I prepared service regulations, documentation forms, all of course in English, to comply with the Irish Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy standards. Additionally, for the Gambling Awareness Trust and earlier in the COVID-19 pandemic, I prepared an online therapy protocol and an online appointment system and found and negotiated discounts for a secure encrypted video system for medical needs in the USA and Europe.<\/li>\n
  7. \u00a0I developed all organizational regulations\/policies. I worked on them during training sessions organized by The Wheel and Carmichael Centre. It was my work, and in some cases, I was only assisted by one director from the Board, Sylvia.<\/li>\n
  8. I have development 5 local Polish schools in Cork area<\/li>\n
  9. \u00a0I implemented a comprehensive support program for Ukraine \u2013 social support in the form of employees + therapies + support for the elderly + employment supports + English courses and many other initiatives. It was my initiative to cooperate with the Retired Teachers Association; it was my work to adapt some support models that the organization already had to the needs of the Ukrainian community. Finding a therapist who spoke Russian and Ukrainian for trauma therapy, preparing protocols for support groups for Ukrainian women, and also support groups for elderly Ukrainians and social support programs \u2013 all worth thousands of euros, which were obtained for the realization of these tasks thanks to my proposals and built relationships.<\/li>\n
  10. I established relationships with the Cork Education Board and prepared education programs for adults funded by ETB \u2013 it was my hard work.<\/li>\n
  11. \u00a0I represented our interests in the crossdepartmental team of ministries in Ireland for supporting refugees from Ukraine (Integration Department, Department of Social Protection, Department of Employment, Education, Housing, Office of the Prime Minister of Ireland).<\/li>\n
  12. I introduced the organization to the inter-organizational Forum for Ukraine operating in Ireland (Ukraine Civil Society Forum).<\/li>\n
  13. \u00a0I actively participated in the Community Forum run by the Cork City Council.<\/li>\n
  14. I prepared and implemented a special psychological support helpline for refugees called “Call Tanya” Mental Health & Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) helpline for Ukrainian refugees. The helpline was operated by Ukrainian psychologists.<\/li>\n
  15. \u00a0I prepared and implemented the entire PR strategy for promoting Ukraine and Poland in Ireland.<\/li>\n
  16. \u00a0I introduced a special strategy for empowering the Eastern Europeans’ voice in 2020.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

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