Volunteering opportunity at the Emigration Museum in Gdynia
Why do we like volunteering so much? Can a volunteer be part of a team? How to effectively prepare the tasks so that the participants have a sense of meaningfulness of their work? At the Emigration Museum in Gdynia we strongly believe that the volunteers’ commitment constitutes a unique potential for an institution, and it requires exceptional care and effort. This is why we have been developing the idea of volunteering practically since the very beginning of our institution’s existence. In our newest publication – the Volunteering Guide to the Emigration Museum in Gdynia – for the first time, we present the Culturally [Co-] Operative Program. We unveil all the opportunities for growth that we offer our volunteers and we advise on the rights and expectations they are entitled to in terms of the institutions employing their services in Poland. The publication can be downloaded as a PDF from our website.
The Emigration Museum in Gdynia is currently in an organization phase, but after the opening, the institution intends to invite volunteers to engage in nearly every field of its activity – starting with a cinema, through educational programs, archiving of its collection, cultural and entertainment actions, journalistic tasks at the Oral History Archive, and ending with guiding tours around our permanent exhibition. The volunteers will have a unique opportunity to get acquainted not only with the work of the museum experts, but also with event managers, scientists, curators, copywriters, cinema projectionists, cultural animators, librarians, journalists, even artists. We want the Museum to be full of life, to bring generations closer to each other, to break through the stereotypical notions of both younger and older people. Therefore, we invite to us people of all ages, experience, and education.
The selection of the tasks entrusted to a particular volunteer depends on his/her expectations, predispositions, aspirations, and – most of all – availability. With the help of our recruitment process, interviews, trainings and regular evaluations, the Museum will make sure that the pool of tasks is flexible and tailored to the specific needs and the particular people. Long term volunteering gives the most opportunities for growth, but even occasional support for a chosen event may prove to be a great adventure. It is a perfect proposition for those who have less time at their disposal, but want to try something new for the first time. Every person looking for an interesting place to get engaged in volunteering activities should take the Emigration Museum in Gdynia into consideration – especially now, in this exciting time of establishing a new institution, when one can participate in the preparation of a historical opening ceremony and join the competition for that unique ID tag with number 1.
Volunteers have been supporting the Museum since the very beginning of its existence – some gain valuable professional experience, for some it is just a healthy distraction from their routine responsibilities, while others want to grow their social or professional networks through their passions. Various people have various motivations, so with the help of the Culturally [Co-] Operative Program, we will do our best to find the right positions for all of them – said Agata Zielińska, Coordinator or the Program, who has been a volunteer since 17. We’re happy Agata joined our team and that our program will remain in good hands thanks to her 13 years of experience in Volunteer Management, for example in Amnesty International or Greenpeace – added Karolina Grabowicz-Matyjas, Director of the Emigration Museum in Gdynia.
In the current phase, the Museum doesn’t need to recruit volunteers in a continuous manner, but rather cyclically and for chosen projects. The recruitment for the next one – AN IDEA FOR THE MAY BREAK project, organized on May 2, on the occasion of the Day of Polonia and Poles Abroad – is now open. Applications may be submitted by e-mail to a.zielinska@muzeumemigracji.pl or by telephone: +48 58 623 35 99. In the meantime, we encourage you to get acquainted with our Guide [HERE].
Agata Zielińska – Coordinator of Volunteering at the Emigration Museum in Gdynia.
Born in 1981, citizen of Gdańsk. Graduate of Polish Philology at the University of Warsaw, currently specializing in “Development Management of Local Communities” in Collegium Civitas in Warsaw, in the Department of Political Science. Volunteer since the age of 17, she worked closely with the “Znak” Theatre and with the “Maitri” Movement of Solidarity with Poor Countries of the Third World. Volunteering Coordinator for Poland at Greenpeace in years 2005-2013. Coordinated and managed educational activities of Amnesty International in years 2000-2003 in Pomorskie voivodeship. EVS volunteer in Belfast and in environmental protection projects in India. Instructor of soft skills, she graduated the Study of Personal Competences for Instructors and Leaders in the School of Instructors of Communication Based on Empathy.
