Welcome! 

The Pay it Forward Foundation of Doctor Piotr Janaszek is young organization  that came into existence in February 2004. The initiators of the Foundation are able bodied and disabled people with great experience in the field of work for the benefit of the civil society. The Foundation was created as a tribute and according to the ideas of Doctor Piotr Janaszek, well known medicine doctor and who died in tragic car accident in December 1998.

The Pay it Forward Foundation operates in the following fields:

• The Voluntary Center (the member of Network of Voluntary Centers in Poland which unites both able bodied and disabled volunteers at any age, trains them and prepares to work with the people in need
• First Contact Group- disabled volunteers reach to the casualties of accidents who suddenly became disabled, help them to adjust to the new situation
• The Advisory- Information Center - created with the thought of unity and development of non-profit initiatives in the region (led in cooperation with the PISOP Society)
• Pupil's club- artistic and computer activities, tutoring for disabled children in Paprotnia

The Pay it Forward Foundation has been leading regularly:

• Sports trainings and active rehabilitation sessions for the disabled people moving with the help of wheelchair in the Gym, at the swimming pool and in the countryside. Free diving sessions also take place within these activities
• Educational Programs- associated with integration, disability threats connected with breaking spinal cord as the result of the water jump for the pupils of schools and students of the universities or colleges
• Training sessions for volunteers within the rules of volunteer work, his rights and duties as well as proper assistance to the disabled person, psychological and informative one, first aid providing

The Pay it Forward Foundation organizes:

• integration and outer parties both for able bodied and disabled children of towns and villages, the greatest enterprise in that field is holiday fete in Agroturism Farm named "POD BRZOZAMI", Rychwal Commune
• Holidays in the form of Survival Camp for the children from poor families,
• conferences, among others "The disabled can achieve more" or "Willingness is enough to practice sport"
• Annual concerts- as a way of appreciation of the sponsors and friends of Pay it Forward Foundation  (the star of 2004 edition was  Kasia  Groniec , 2005 Basia Melzer and  Jacek Wójcicki, 2006 Myslovitz)

The Pay it Forward Foundation  realized:

• Project "Active Holidays in Sweden" realized in the summer 2004 in cooperation with the Youth Program and thanks to great help of UNITY LINE.
• Project of Family Saturdays realized in 2004  thanks to the support of  J&S Pro Bono  Poloniae and Provincial Governor of Wielkopolska
• Project  East -West Bridge (February 2005 until September 2006) financed within the program of Polish American Freedom Foundation Region in Transition Rita run by Education for Democracy Foundation.
• Conference "The disabled  can achieve more" (March 2005)  financed within the program of Leader School of Civilian Society run by Leader School Association.
• Pupil's Club Project (November 2004  until 2007 with the prospect of 2008) within the Colorful Academy - Program of Stefan Batory Foundation  sponsored by Commercial Union  and  funds of PZU Foundation.
• The Project of Summer Survival Camp (holidays of 2005 and 2006) completed thanks to the support of Provincial Governor of Wielkopolska, Local Government Administration of Konin, Skulsk Commune, The Halina Sroczyńska Foundation and thanks to Konin entrepreneurs.
• Project "By helping others we help ourselves" (2005/2008) financed from the means of Ministry of Social Politics, from the Government Program of Funds of Civil Initiatives.
• Conference "Willingness is enough to practice sport" (September 2006) sponsored by J&S Pro bono Poloniae Foundation.
• Project "Voluntary of the Third Century" (2006/2007) - completed within Joining Generation Program led by The Academy of Development and Philanthropy and PZU Foundation.
• Project "Voluntary in Action"- (October- December 2007) realized thanks to Ministry of Work and Social Welfare within program Fund of Civil Initiatives.
• Project "Youth Center" (2007/2008) done within the program "Equal Chances" of The Polish Children and Youth Foundation.

Operation of the Pay it Forward Foundation is possible thanks to the support of many people, friendly companies, institutions and organizations. We appreciate any kind of help! Thank you!

The Pay it Forward Foundation has signed contract with The City of Konin connected with getting the building at Poludniowa Street in Konin to use from July 2007. It is an enormous chance for us for development, taking care of the bigger number of children and families, training and qualifying greater number of volunteers. However, the building demands overall renovation.

Please help us to build our future!!!

Download our presentation in Power Point format (8,5 MB)

PLEASE KEEP YOUR FINGERS CROSSED. WE COUNT ON YOUR HELP!

 Doctor Piotr Janaszek

„Heart on the hand" that are the best words that could describe the person who left us in December 6,1998. Doctor Piotr Janaszek was 51 years old and had endless vigour. Piotr was a wonderful person full of creativity, consistent. He always had high aspirations and achieved what he aimed at. Piotr met many obstacles on his way, but he was persistent enough to not give up- even more he found strength in it.

Piotr was brought up in Poznań under his parents supervision whose example he followed. Both parents effectively motivated him for education and work. During his study Piotr interested in disabled children. Under Professor's Dega guidance Piotr discovered new method of rehabilitation by scout's play. After graduation he started work at hospital in Konin, where he created warm and friendly children rehabilitation ward-first in Poland on the provincial level. Piotr also started summer actions, at the beginning in Słupca and Giewartowo, then in Mielnica. Mielnica became the island of happiness for disabled children from entire Poland where they met for over 30 years at rehabilitation camps.

Development of the Center was possible thanks to many friendly people, also friends from abroad. In 1989 Piotr built Mielnica Foundation in Konin with the branch in New York. Many actions took place there then-two Workshops of the Occupational Therapy appeared( The Workshop of The Occupational Therapy was one of the first in Poland. The Workshops of The Occupational Therapy in Mielnica was built few years later),Sheltered Workshop, Rehabilitation Clinic, Disabled People Sport Club called "Spartacus" Center of education for Instructors of The Occupational Therapy, editorial office of "News from Mielnica", Hostel for Mother with Child.

Piotr Janaszek organized many meetings, conferences. He had a lot of friends from all over the world. Thanks to them Piotr managed to organize a stay for disabled people in Sweden, Netherlands, France, Germany, The Czech Republic. While he was staying in USA he organized the first arrival of the group of disabled people to USA in 1989 and later in 1991 and 1992. This trips were possible thanks to cooperation and support of many friends from United States of America.

The year 1998, when Piotr died was the year of the 20th anniversary of rehabilitation camps in Mielnica, 10th anniversary of "Mielnica Foundation" in Konin and 5th anniversary of the Workshops of Occupational Therapy of Mielnica Foundation in Konin.

Piotr had always high aspiration and never gave up. His life aim was to help people in need. What is more Piotr was very modest, he never boast of his distinction, he hide them in the bottom of his drawer. It is known that the most important distinction for him was the Piotr Marcinkowski reward he was given in 1984 by Medical School in Poznań, The University Piotr graduated from, Hanna Dworakowska reward called "Heart on the Hand"(1988), and "Order of The Smile" the most important for Piotr, because given by children. The One who Piotr devoted his life to.

ACTIVE REHABILITATION

Activities have been carried out within a Framework of the Project "Active Together". The aim of the project is to increase the activity of people with physical disability especially these moved on wheelchair.

The jobs of Active Rehabilitation are based on rehabilitation activities which purpose is increasing independence of disable people. The activities are run by disabled people moved by wheelchairs

The forms of offered activities:

• Wheelchair movement technique- (overcoming the architectonical barriers - curb, elevation, unevenness, even stairs, abilities necessary for displacing without help or with small support.
• Shape building activities - physical exercises with using gum, dumb-bells, mattresses that improve general condition, grow in strength.
• Swimming - swimming pool activities are one of the best form of rehabilitation. Thanks to its properties water has positive influence on prevention of bedsores, grow the flood blow of the whole organism.  Water exercises increase lung capacity and efficiency of the organism.

Active Rehabilitation Activities also includes:

• Self-Service Activities - means to move from wheelchair to bed, chair, shower, car, standing up after falling from a wheelchair, and finally techniques of dressing.

Sport Activities:

• Table Tennis - has a very good influence on improving movement coordination

• Boccia - Team play, that has a properties based on sport and rehabilitation, and is a great example of integration play. One of the most important advantage that this play has is very simple rules of playing . The play allows its player to participate in the play without exceptions. It does not need expensive equipment or even sports room.

• Team Games- Basketball or wheelchair rugby are the sport disciplines devoted to people with dysfunction of the move organ . People who do this kind of sport increase their concentration , divisibility of attention, develop the group cooperation principles and learn how to be responsible for other people.

 

Active Rehabilitation Activities take place twice a week and are directed to disabled people moving on wheelchairs. Participation is free of charge.

FIRST CONTACT ADVISORS

FIRST CONTACT ADVISORS is a special group of volunteers of PODAJ DALEJ Foundation. These are the disabled who want to help other people.

First Contact Advisors support people who became disabled as a result of different kind of injuries, inconsiderate water dives, traffic accidents, work accidents, but also people who are disabled since birth and have to move on wheelchair. The only thing they need is support to encourage them to take part in social life.

FIRST CONTACT ADVISORS

1.  
   1. Help in appropriate choose of specialist rehabilitation and orthopaedic equipment that has to be fitted to each person
   2. Give the basic information in the range of education and its later development on the secondary and post-secondary level 
   3. They motivate disabled people to participation in social and cultural life 
   4. They support disabled people in the area of professional life and legal awareness.

First Contact Advisors support disabled person and his family until gaining maximum independence.

 THE BOARD

ZUZANNA JANASZEK -MACIASZEK- Zuzanna was born in June 17,1975. She is the daughter of Piotr Janaszek who as Zuzanna always says: taught her love to other people, sensitivity and inculcated in willing to help other people. Since childhood Zuzanna took part in rehabilitation camps that came into existence thanks to her father. After Piotr's tragic death in 1998 Zuzanna together with her sister Olga enriched the work of Mielnica Foundation that also was the idea of Piotr Janaszek. In September 2003 when both sisters could not put their ideas into practice they left Mielnica Foundation and after few months in cooperation with voluntaries who followed them Zuzanna and Olga started PODAJ DALEJ Foundation. The Foundation is the place where they want to represent the ideas of Doctor Piotr Janaszek and use all of this Piotr taught them. Zuzanna graduated from University of Economics in Poznań and School of Employees of Social Services, Leader School. In private: mother of Gabrysia and Jagódka.

KAROL WŁODARCZYK - Karol was born in February 8,1979. Karol has got few years of experience in voluntary work. His adventure with voluntary started during rehabilitation camps for disabled people as the lifeguard and protector. Karol also cooperated during organization of integration parties, competitions, meetings, courses for disabled people. In 2002 Karol together with his disabled friends started The First Contact Group. Its aim is to help disabled people after different kind of accidents especially car accidents, and unfortunate water diving, Karol also does the courses for bus drivers and for voluntaries who work with disabled people. Now Karol is Vice President of the Board of Pay it Forward Foundation that he built. Karol graduated from Państwowa Szkoła Zawodowa in Konin -specialization Social Worker and Akademia Pedagogiki Specjalnej with specialization Career Guidance.