The Catholic Culture Centre "Wiatrak" [Windmill] is non-public educational institution being a centre for a non-school activities. It was established in 1995 and since then it has been operating in the City of Bydgoszcz. The target group of Centre members is children and teenagers, however the adults may take part in its activities as well. Our main aim is to support the psychical and physical development of children and teenagers. We provide them with entertainment in many fields - education, culture, tourism, sport, music, art, and others, regardless the physical and mental differences (we provide the care for disabled persons) and financial status (as many of the children cannot afford to pay regular fees).
During the current school year, the Centre has been offering the regular non-scholar activities for more than 2000 participants per month. Our offer covers 36 sections and evening classes: English and German courses, dance lessons, chess, football, music and art, sections.
Our activity includes occasional events as well (concerts, exhibitions, street fairs, competitions, summer and winter camps) - these were attended by few thousands of children and teenagers during last year. These events were addressed to citizens of Bydgoszcz, however some of them were of regional or countrywide range.
The purpose of our work is to offer teenagers the opportunity to discover and develop their talents and at the same time to protect them from dangerous social processes leading to depravation and pathology.
To fulfil these we have established Psychical Care and Help Centre "Przystań [The Haven], and a helpline, as well as New Religious Movements and Sects Information Centre. We have also come into close cooperation with Alcohol Dependency-Related Problems Help and Advice Centre in Bydgoszcz, municipal police, Mental Care Dispensary and "Medar" Association.
The number of children looking for their haven at "Wiatrak" is still growing which made us think of further development of our Centre. At the present moment all activities take place in rented church premises and near-by sport centres. We decided to build our own building at the localization of former chapel of our parish. The building shall bear the name of "Jubilee House" as the reminder of Great Jubilee Year and the beginning of New Millenium. It is an extensive and effortful enterprise but we hope for help from many people of kind and open hearts.
|