This year's edition of Summer in the Backyard is forty days of three-hour educational and animation activities planned to be carried out from June 20 to August 25, 2022, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in four backyards in Świdnica:

● Mondays: Zarzecze Estate
● Tuesdays: Zawiszów Estate
● Wednesdays: Youth Housing Estate
● Thursdays: Park at Gdyńska Street

Each session was led by two facilitators from the team, and the main theme of all the sessions was (carefree). Following the previous session, which focused on the challenging topic of children's rights, we focused primarily on the value of childhood. We invited our project's participants to join us on adventures, experience nature, engage in free play, engage in spontaneous movement, and use their imagination – activities that brought a childlike carefreeness to the playground, often missing in everyday life filled with school and homework. At the same time, in this session, we incorporated elements of self-care and caring for the world around us – hence the brackets in the phrase "(carefree)." In a light and accessible way for children, we addressed topics related to caring for one's well-being, recognizing and managing emotions, and expressing one's needs. On the other hand, we focused participants' attention on the natural world around them, its needs, and how they can care for it, thus shaping their awareness and sense of responsibility for the environment they live in. Above all, however, we celebrated childhood – a time of joy, one that should be devoid of sadness and worry. A time when all those growing and maturing should be surrounded by understanding and care.

All the topics were implemented in accordance with the project's objectives, based on specially prepared educational cards – developed substantively by experienced educators Magdalena Kreis and Natalia Romaszkan and graphically designed by Wrocław-based artist Kamil Lach. Printed as A5-sized cardboard cards, black and white, and divided into four sections – each with a separate task to complete – they formed the basis for conducting activities in the courtyards. You can find the cards in the "Creative Cards" tab. downloadable materials.

The variety of exercises proposed allowed for:

● open conversation with children,
● asking important questions, discussion, rebuses, sudoku,
● exchange of experiences,
● creative team games (e.g. scavenger hunts with marking the route, secret signs...),
● art activities,
● design (e.g. a travel map of Poland, a holiday business card, a carefree portrait made of letters and numbers, your own great playground),
● drawing on a large format (e.g. when creating a poster of your own body and the things/people that make you feel good),
● individual work (e.g. a card in thanks for…, I like my body for…),
● courage and openness (e.g. when playing hide and seek),
● establishing relationships (e.g. communicating one's emotions),
● communicating important values.

In addition to working with cards, which, despite being fun and creative, was demanding for the children, the classes also included movement games, mindfulness elements, integration activities with the Klanzy Scarf, proven backyard games and additional workshops with invited guests:

● meeting with a Municipal Police officer on safe holidays and important phone calls,
● meeting with employees of the Shelter for Homeless Animals in Świdnica on how to behave towards an unfamiliar dog, how the shelter works and how it helps animals,
● creative workshops on painting figurines,
● movement workshops in kickboxing, zumba,
● workshops with Clown Fifi,
● sign language workshops,
● performance of the UTWorki theatre group.

As part of this year's Summer in the Backyard, we also planned an Intergenerational Backyard Theatre, to which we invited our volunteers, students of the Świdnica University of the Third Age, and two experienced instructors, Monika Masłowska and Elżbieta Wilk, who led the group through a series of rehearsals leading up to the final performances in individual backyards. The group decided to present their own play, written by Elżbieta Wilk, entitled "A Gift from the Eagle Nation." The performances were surprisingly popular, and the large audience warmly welcomed our artists.

As part of Summer in the Backyard, we also produced one screening of "Cinema on Blankets"—an outdoor family screening. The film was planned by Lech Moliński from the Wrocław Film Foundation, based on our guidelines for the theme of carefreeness. The screening took place in Zarzecze.

photo: Kalina Żaczek

This year's edition of Summer in the Backyard is forty days of three-hour educational and animation activities planned to be carried out from June 21 to September 26, 2021, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in four backyards in Świdnica:

• Mondays: Zarzecze Estate
• Tuesdays: Zawiszów Estate
• Wednesdays: Youth Housing Estate
• Thursdays: Park on Gdyńska Street

Each session was led by two facilitators from a team of seven people whom we invited to collaborate after conducting a two-stage recruitment process this spring and a series of training sessions preparing for participation in the project. The main theme of all the sessions was children's rights, divided into individual weeks.

1. What are children's rights, what does it mean to have rights, who protects them, etc.
2. The right to be different from others
3. The right to express emotions (it would be great to touch on what emotions are and what emotions they know)
4. The right to education
5. The right to live without violence, to feel safe and have personal integrity
6. The right to privacy and confidentiality of correspondence
7. The right to respect and personal dignity
8. The right to decent living conditions
9. The right to speak and express one's opinion.
10. What can you do when your rights are violated?

All topics were implemented in accordance with the project's objectives, using specially prepared educational cards – developed substantively by experienced educators Magdalena Kreis and Natalia Romaszkan and graphically designed by Wrocław-based artist Kamil Lach. Printed as A5-sized cardboard cards, black and white, and divided into four sections – each with a separate task – they formed the basis for the outdoor activities. The variety of proposed activities allowed for:

• open conversation with children,
• asking important questions, discussion,
• exchange of experiences,
• creative team building (e.g. cardboard hideouts),
• artistic activities (e.g. painting a sign showing respect for others),
• design (e.g. your dream room),
• drawing on a large format (e.g. when creating an island of happiness in the shape of your own body),
• individual work (e.g. when decorating a personal "fear repellent"),
• courage and openness (e.g. when asking questions to residents),
• establishing relationships (e.g. during pair tasks), as well as
• communicating important values (e.g. when creating a garland with an inscription about personal dignity).

Each participant also received a card with space for stamps collected throughout the weeks of their attendance. The back of the card included verified helpline numbers for children and young people – our goal was not only to ensure they knew their rights, but also how to respond and where to seek support when their rights were violated.
During the last session, all participants received a paper version of the Convention on the Rights of the Child – a children's version provided by the Go'n'Act Foundation. Besides the card work, which, while fun and creative, was challenging for the children, the sessions also included movement activities, mindfulness elements, integration activities with the Klanza Scarf, tried-and-true outdoor games, and additional workshops with invited guests:

• meeting with a Municipal Police officer on safe holidays,
• a meeting with employees of the Shelter for Homeless Animals in Świdnica on how to behave towards an unfamiliar dog, how the shelter works and how it helps animals,
• creative workshops on keychain making and mini macrame,
• music and rhythm workshops,
• movement workshops with taekwondo elements,
• movement theatre workshops,
• performance of the UTWorki theatre group.

As part of this year's Summer in the Backyard, we also planned an Intergenerational Backyard Theatre, to which we invited our volunteers, students of the Świdnica University of the Third Age, and two experienced instructors, Monika Masłowska and Elżbieta Wilk, who led the group through a series of rehearsals (over 20 hours) leading to the final performances in individual backyards. The group decided to present their own interpretation of "Cinderella," which concluded with a clip containing demands for children's rights. The performances were surprisingly popular, and the large audience warmly welcomed our artists.

As with last year, as part of Summer in the Backyard, we also organized 10 screenings of "Cinema on Blankets" – outdoor family screenings. The film schedule was planned by Lech Moliński from the Wrocław Film Foundation, based on our guidelines on children's rights. The screenings took place in alternating sessions in three housing estates: Zarzecze, Zawiszów, and Osiedle Młodych, each week on Friday evenings.

photo: Kalina Żaczek

In 2020, we brought our "Summer in the Backyard" program to Świdnica's backyards for the fifth time, offering educational activities to children living in the surrounding neighborhoods. We were present in five locations, Monday through Friday, regardless of the weather (during rain, we sheltered with our hospitable partners).

We based the classes on educational cards, specially prepared by the Dodizajn team, focused on the theme "Future." In addition to the animation workshops led by experienced educators and instructors, we also held 10 unique outdoor screenings of "Cinema on Blankets," which attracted a large, multi-generational audience. The 2020 edition also brought about the fulfillment of our dreams of an intergenerational volunteer program, in which students of the University of the Third Age in Świdnica, as well as young people from Świdnica, supported the outdoor activities through invitations to a series of training sessions.

This was a special edition because, as a continuation, we launched the Future Project, which responded to the effects of distance learning. As part of the program, we invited primary school students to study together, do homework, and participate in creative activities led by experienced facilitators, in a calm, safe atmosphere while adhering to sanitary guidelines.

‘'Summer in the Backyard' and the Future Project were able to take place once again thanks to funding from the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, the Świdnica City Hall and the Lotto Foundation.

photo: Kalina Żaczek

In 2019, for the fourth time, we hosted our "Summer in the Backyard" project in selected backyards in Świdnica, where free entertainment and various educational activities took place throughout the summer, all led by an experienced team of educators and cultural organizers. Since then, we've expanded our activities to five different locations. This is our idea for helping children with the common problem of forming relationships, as well as inspiring and stimulating the development of their skills and talents.

We utilize the context of the courtyard as a shared space, with significant potential for community integration. As part of "Summer in the Backyard," free entertainment and educational activities are held throughout the summer in selected courtyards in Świdnica, led by an experienced team of teachers, educators, and cultural organizers.

The activity is co-financed from fees for the sale of alcohol as part of the implementation of the Programme for the Prevention and Solving of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Problems in the Municipality of the City of Świdnica for 2018.
Project co-financed by the Wawel z Rodziną Foundation.
Co-financed by the Minister of Culture and National Heritage from the Cultural Promotion Fund.
The project partner is the Smartwork Employment Agency.

Providing our own contributions to the projects and carrying out activities in the two new courtyards is possible thanks to the contributions of those who support us through online and public collection boxes, thank you very much!

photo: Marta Sobala

In 2018, for the third consecutive year, we hosted the "Summer in the Backyard" project in selected backyards in Świdnica, where free entertainment and various educational activities took place throughout the summer, all led by an experienced team of educators and cultural leaders. Last year's edition was organized in cooperation with the Department of Social Affairs and Social Policy of the Świdnica City Hall. The backyard program included preventative, entertainment, visual art, artistic, sensory, and sports activities for the city's youngest residents.

„"Summer in the Backyard" is a cultural animation and social revitalization project that aims to utilize animation methods and diverse artistic means of expression in the process of social change. Above all, however, it is a project in which the residents of Świdnik come together to create something valuable for the children in their immediate surroundings. In 2018, animators and volunteers visited the backyards 24 times, and over 400 children, aged 2 to 12, participated in the activities. As part of the third edition of the project, we also prepared a special training program for our animators and volunteers, supporting the development of their skills and competencies.

How did we work in Świdnica's backyards? As always, our animators had no shortage of creative ideas. We created an Indian village, a volcano that actually erupted, sack races, building a cardboard city, and traditional backyard games were held. The children also learned dance and English. Thanks to the collaborative work of residents, volunteers, and partners, culture in its many manifestations has once again found its home in Świdnica – the space closest to us, the everyday, the backyard. We deeply believe that it is precisely through initiatives like these that we can build a community based on empathy and interpersonal connections, and the involvement of Świdnica residents motivates us to continue working with the youngest.

The activity was co-financed from fees for the sale of alcohol as part of the implementation of the Programme for the Prevention and Solving of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Problems in the Municipality of Świdnica for 2018.

photo: Kalina Żaczek

For the second time, Summer arrived in Świdnica's backyards. Creative activities for children took place directly in the backyards, in areas identified as socially challenging (Przechodnia Street, Gdyńska Street) and in areas that were recommended to us by residents during the project due to the large number of children living in the area (Zarzecze Estate). By participating in the activities, the children gained an alternative to spending their free time during the summer holidays. It was also an opportunity to socialize, get to know each other, and acquire new skills.

Another new element of the project was trips to places important to Polish cultural and historical heritage. Thanks to the project, children from the Świdnica-based SPDC Serce (Heart) branch visited Wawel Castle and Hydropolis, children from Sokołowsko near Wałbrzych had the opportunity to visit the Wrocław Humanitarium, and children from Lądek-Zdrój visited the Puppet Theatre and the Pan Tadeusz Museum.

The program of each trip was tailored to the preferences expressed by the caregivers. Additionally, the Świdnica seniors had the opportunity to participate in a performance by the Śląsk Song and Dance Ensemble, which took place at the Church of Peace in Świdnica.

Photo: Dorota Diakowska

The "Summer in the Backyard" project aims to initiate activities in the field of cultural animation and education, as well as the dissemination of culture, supporting the process of equalizing opportunities in access to culture and cultural education for children and young people from Świdnica, especially those from socially difficult backgrounds.

Our activities covered four selected courtyards in the center of Świdnica, where as many children as possible could benefit from our services. As part of the project, we focused on organizing engaging and valuable entertainment, educational, and artistic activities for children, but we also met their parents and other residents of the surrounding neighborhoods, allowing us to better understand their situation, needs, problems, and everyday challenges. Observing their activities and conducting interviews with them were an important part of our diagnosis, essential for the process of social revitalization in these specific areas. We encountered great interest and a warm welcome everywhere, and the response to our activities was very positive.

Participation in all activities was open to everyone, and all activities were free of charge. Two or three days in advance, we hung distinctive posters featuring a yellow teddy bear and balloons in the courtyards where we planned activities for a given week. We also provided refreshments during the activities – there were courtyards where children simply came to us hungry. Therefore, we always tried to have sandwiches, lemonade, and fruit on site. Regularly visiting a few selected courtyards allowed us to make friends, gain the trust of parents, and learn about the local context and the situation of the given micro-community.

As part of the project, we provided 150 hours of entertainment. Nearly 200 children took advantage of our program throughout the summer. For many of these children, this was their only exposure to culture throughout the entire summer. Our outdoor activities included cardboard building workshops, dance lessons, talent contests, clanza-style activities, outdoor games, neighborhood picnics, art classes, and film screenings. All of these activities served as an integrative activity, while also allowing them to develop new skills and talents and learn how to function in a social environment.

Our diagnosis didn't end with the research phase; we could say we continued it throughout the project, gaining a deeper understanding of the environment in which we worked and earning trust. The information we gained will help us better plan our activities in the coming years, ensuring they are tailored to the needs and expectations of our audiences and reach those most in need.

The project was implemented with funding granted by the Municipality of Świdnica.