Women’s Day at Apollogic. Get to know stories of experts involved in voluntary initiatives

I don’t remember how I found out about the Rak’n’Roll Foundation, but one day I decided to cut my hair short and thought it would be a shame to waste it. So I grabbed a ruler to check if I had the required minimum length of 25 cm. It turned out that I did, so I quickly found a salon cooperating with the foundation and changed my hairstyle to help others. Of course, due to technical reasons, this can’t be done often. ? So I repeated the whole process after four years.

For me, donating blood is no big deal, just an everyday gesture. Since I was a child, I’ve known that I have a type that qualifies me as a “universal donor” and that I will want to share it in the future. Especially that in my family, it’s a kind of tradition – we donate blood because for us it’s only 450 ml, but for someone else, it can change everything. The first time I went to a blood donation center was on the occasion of my eighteenth birthday and then I signed up to be a bone marrow donor, which I strongly recommend to do.

Three years ago, my colleagues from Apollogic – Tomek Ostrowski and Piotr Ożga – started collecting funds and supplies for an animal shelter near Poznań called “Przytuliska u Wandy”. Financial and material help for dogs and cats has become our annual tradition. For two years now, I have been involved in this initiative and together with a group of volunteers we take supplies to the shelter. The most enjoyable part of such a trip is taking friendly pups for a walk. The company of dogs is pure pleasure, so I never had the feeling that I am doing charity work and I put a lot of effort into it. I recommend everyone to join us and visit one of the local shelters this year.

During my studies I was involved in the Student Association of Cultural Activities, where, among other activities, I organized one-day trips for high school students, during which participants had the opportunity to visit Poznan’s cultural institutions, and then spend time together with a sweet treat and a movie show. I also support my dad, a multiple Polish and World Motoparagliding Champion, in humanitarian aid. Flights with him are often put on auctions, and he’s invited to various shows and events. I am his translator, assistant and technical crew member. I assure you that the joy of children getting candy dropped from the sky is priceless. ? When I can, I support my friends whose relatives are ill – I share information about auctions & fundraisings and donate at least small sums. Every year I also contribute money to the Grand Orchestra of Christmas Charity and I give away my clothes to those in need ?.

For a few good years, I have been an activist for the Foundation Viva! As a volunteer, I co-organize educational campaigns and other activities such as street actions, film shows and culinary events aimed at promoting a plant-based diet and animal rights. If time allows, I also help at local shelters by going for walks with their four-legged residents or organizing fundraisings ?.

I’m happy to contribute to charities with donations and to be a part of local initiatives by offering my elderly neighbours help with their daily groceries. The support doesn’t have to be solely institutional and provided within a larger association. Everyone can help individually, and I encourage everyone to do so.