Anita Rucioch-Gołek

On a regular basis I run workshops in the Garczyński high school library, where I work, with the aim to counter discrimination based on sex, look, social status, religion, etc. I work together with educator Paulina Chłopkowska.

I have ran high school workshops on discrimination based on gender (such as “Training little girls” or “Women’s image in contemporary media”).

In 2016 I held library workshops entitled “A Step Ahead” for students from the local vocational school (School Complex No 2 in Zbąszyń). Their aim was to make young people aware of the reasons for social differences in contemporary world and of the factors that determine our life. In consequence, we learned to become sensitive to the needs of others, their differences, problems and suffering.

Over winter vacation, “Zbąszyń Balagan” group organized “Around the World to Israel” workshops in collaboration with boy scouts and girl scouts for the local elementary school.

Sessions introducing children to Jewish culture were organized as part of classes led by members of 3^rd Cub Scout “Forest Spirits” group and 1^st “Elements Pathfinders” scout group. In the course of the workshops, participants sought basic information about the State of Israel and learned the most important concepts related to Jewish culture through fun and games. They also had the opportunity to try delicious kichach cookies baked by my students and to listen to “A Tale of Three Wishes”, a story written by Isaac Bashevis Singer. Afterwards, inspired by what they heard, children drew their own wishes that could be presented within a minute, when – according to Jewish tradition – the sky opens on the night of Hoshana Rabbah, the final night of Sukkot and all wishes come true. To close the workshop we sang a song in Hebrew.

Back when I was a supervisor of the student self-government, one of the female students initiated the local edition of Amnesty International letter-writing marathon, which is continued to this day in Zbąszyń.