Description of activities

Polish ASPnet once again organized the “Gift a Poem” campaign for students in Poland to celebrate the World Poetry Day. The campaign has been carried out in our schools for several years; during the COVID-19 pandemic and during the trauma caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This year, 12 institutions took part in the “Gift a Poem” campaign: 9 high schools, 2 kindergartens and a special education center.

The action was carried out in very different ways. Students exchanged handwritten poems with each other, gave them as gifts – as cards – to teachers, members of their families (for example, students from High School no. 4 in Warsaw and no. 1 in Żagań), but also organized actions for hospital patients and people in nursing homes (for example, students from High School no. 5 in Zabrze, no. 1 in Zawiercie, and no. 1 in Żory).

Over a hundred students from PACK High School in Kraków gave handwritten poems as gifts to refugees from Ukraine staying in Poland (in Ukrainian, in Cyrillic), distributing them at help points. Students from High School no. 2 in Jelenia Góra sent poems translated to English to students from their partner school in Turkey, to show them support following the devastating earthquake which hit their country.

Members of the School Literary Club ”Ad Rem’’Students from High School no. 3 in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, wrote down their favorite poems from childhood and handed them to younger students. Students from Prudnik Special Education Center gave poems to the representatives of institutions supporting the center, this way showing their gratitude. Similarly, preschoolers from Warsaw Kindergarten no. 422 richly illustrated handwritten poems gave to people performing social functions, such as postmen, suppliers of goods, and employees of many social and city institutions.

The action was described on the website of the Bielany District Office Akcja społeczna „Podaruj wiersz” (UNESCO) w Przedszkolu Nr 422 – Bielany (um.warszawa.pl). According to the coordinator of the action in the High School no 1 in Żory, “It turns out that participation in the “Gift a Poem” campaign is not only “handwriting” poems, but also a significant gift to another person – they are words which gain power. The overwhelming results of the action were a surprise to all, even to its organizers. They saw tears, smiles, and handshakes. All this is proof of emotion, consolation, and hope that the action evoked. Needless to say, it turns out that it was a very needed campaign, which brought many people together.” High School no. 4 in Warsaw, High School no. 1 in Zawiercie.

Schools involved

  • Kindergarten 327 “Colorful Land” (Przedszkole 327 “Kolorowa Kraina”) in Warsaw
  • Kindergarten No. 422 (Przedszkole nr 422) in Warsaw
  • Special Educational Centre (Specjalny Ośrodek Szkolno-Wychowawczy) in Prudnik
  • II High School named after C. K. Norwid (II Liceum Ogólnokształcące im. C. K. Norwida) in Jelenia Góra
  • Catholic High School No. 1 (Zespół Katolickich Szkół Ogólnokształcących nr 1) in Katowice
  • Private Academic Education Centre (Prywatne Akademickie Centrum Kształcenia) in Krakow
  • III High School named after W. Broniewski (III Liceum Ogólnokształcące) in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski
  • IV High School named after A. Mickiewicz (IV Liceum Ogólnokształcące) in Warsaw
  • II High School named after W. Kilar (II Liceum Ogólnokształcące) in Zabrze
  • I High School named after Stefan Żeromski (I Liceum Ogólnokształcące) in Zawiercie
  • High School named after S. Banach (Liceum Ogólnokształcące) in Żagań
  • I High School named after K. Miarka (I Liceum Ogólnokształcące) in Żory