15th November 2005
First meeting of the Global Kinship sub group, at The Fox, Elmswell.

The principles of kinship were reviewed, and the trail that had lead to the choice of Bialowieza in Poland as a target for a link were outlined. A presentation to the Steering Group and other interested parties was suggested, along with the creation of documents outlining both information on the area, and the inspirations that had brought things to this point.

[John]More pounding of the key board!! So far it’s just re telling of the same story!

13th December 2005
Second meeting of Global Kinship sub group, at GLT office, Lawshall. Progress with the Inspiration document was reviewed. A possible link via Leslie Reed’s son in Czechoslovakia was discussed and deferred. The proposed presentation was discussed, with agreement that it should be separate from the Steering Groups regular meetings. Ro Oliver, the groups school link co-ordinator was to be approached re. using educational exchanges as an opener.

15 January 2006
[Ric]Completely out of the blue today my partner Nigel received an Email from a lost friend, Ann. She had been Head Teacher at Hartest Primary School during the early Green Light Years and given tremendous support to the Forest for Our Children project. On leaving the school she had moved up North and we’d lost contact.

NOW to our amazement we learnt that she’d moved to Poland and is running a farm with her new husband near Poznan - and on the edge of a forest!!!

This all seem too good to be true….Could the forest be Bialowieza??? And will she be prepared to help us in our search for a link???...........

18th January 2006
Third meeting of Global Kinship sub group, at The Fox, Elmswell.

The meeting centred around the re writing of the inspiration document, in the light of Ro’s comments and advice. Ric reported the resurfacing of an old friend, Ann, now living in Poland. It was decided that the time was right to attempt making contact with some of the “known” e-mail addresses.

18th January 20O6
Driving home tonight from Elmswell through the Suffolk lanes I felt really optimistic for the first time. Leslie, a new SG member to me, attended the meeting and offered really insightful thoughts and ideas – and Ro the Elmswell school link popped into the pub to join us for some of the meeting and was hugely helpful in refining and editing the publicity doc.

AND now with a good friend who understands our work actually living in Poland (which seems like a sort of miracle) it feels like somehow, someway it’s really going to happen at last….

Some of these e-mail addresses are strange, not seen ones written that way before! Think I’ll send them with the usual@ in place of “at”!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------With or without the @ they all bounced! Wonder if they’re out of date? Where’s that web page? Ah - new e-ddresses - typical!

16th February 2006

Dzien dobry Ric

So good to hear from you!  I am now back from a wonderful trip to India to see my son and family.  I have enjoyed the sunshine and warm seas and am now adjusting back to minus temperatures and snow!!  All very beautiful though.

We are a long way away from Bialowieza which is a shame but I do have a contact near the forest area and I will email him at the weekend or before if I can get his address, to see if he can help establish a link.

It would be great to see you if you had time.  Our forest is not so special but we love it. Living here is like being in England in the 1950s.  Most people farm and are very poor so there is a complete mixture of methods and equipment – fascinating!

Love to you both
Ann

2nd March 2006
Fourth meeting of Global Kinship sub group, at GLT office, Lawshall.

Inspiration document as the single sheet edited by Leslie, confirmed. Ro and Ric had met with the school staff, who had confirmed in writing their willingness to be involved in a link with Poland.

E-mail’s to the addresses previously available had “bounced”, perhaps being out of date. Some new addresses had been found, and would be tried.

Well the E’s didn’t bounce this time, but they don’t seem to have induced any response either! Good news from the school!

23rd March 2006

Dear Ann

Have you had any luck yet with your contact who lives near Bialowieza National Park?

I am sending you the info that John has got off the internet. We have tried to make contact using the Email addresses under the Bialowieza Natural Education Centre but have had no response. Is there any way that you can check these for us? Or find out who we should be contacting there?

To help you know exactly what we're after I'm also forwarding you by separate Email the letter that John has drafted as an introduction.

Do you think this approach will work for Polish people? Any thoughts you may have on this would be hugely helpful.

Meanwhile, Elmswell School have now confirmed their keenness to get involved and make this a mutually valuable education link for both countries!

With love
Ric

23rd March 2006

Dzien dobry Ric

Sebastian was in the NE of Poland last weekend and as there was so much going on here I forgot to ask him about how he got on with making contacts on your behalf.  He is away at the moment lecturing on agro tourism in Lodz but he will be back on Sunday night so I will make your request a priority and ask him all these questions and then let you know his answers.  I still think he is the best person as he has so many contacts and could make the first link on your behalf.  He can also translate the email into Polish if he thinks that will help.  He owes me a favour as I got up at 4am yesterday to take him to catch a train!!! I promise to get back to you as soon as possible – this time!  I am sure that the Polish people would be very interested and there are a number of very passionate people who would really welcome the opportunity to make links with England and share their wonderful heritage.

I have been really busy sowing all my seeds for the garden.  As it is still cold here at night I have to spend time putting them out in the greenhouse each morning and then getting them in each night.  Spring does seem to be here now and we have just heard the skylark and seen flocks of geese and cranes fly over. The cranes are so exciting to see because they are huge.  We are waiting for the first storks to come back.

Ann 

29th March 2006

Hello Ric,

So, first of all, feel free to use ECEAT- Poland as your supporter in Poland. If want to know more about ECEAT, please have a look for: www.poland.eceat.org www.ecotraveller.pl

Now, if goes about the contact in Bialowieza:

1) Dr B. Jaroszewiczem - he is a chief of Geobatanic Station in Bialowieza Forest, b.jaroszewicz@uw.edu.pl < mailto:b.jaroszewicz@uw.edu.pl>

2) Mateusz Szymura from the Bialowieza National Park Museum, he work for education department in Bialowieza NT, museum@bpn.com.pl or mszymura@bpn.com.pl and additional contacts:

- Forest Research Institute Natural Forest Department : office@las.ibl.bialowieza.pl

I do not know those people personally, but friends of mine know them, so it should be enough. The coming weeks, till Easter I am quite busy but of course, I only could will help you,

Best Regards,
Sebastian Wieczorek

29 th March 2006
Fifth meeting of Global Kinship sub group, at the Fox, Elmswell.

Ann had put us in contact with a friend - Sebastian, who had provided new contact e’s. A simplified 1 st contact letter was to be written. Arrangements for the presentation meeting were agreed. The format of this log was discussed.

3rd April 2006
We’ve waited long enough. That last set of e-mails have produced nothing, time to give Sebastian’s list a try.

5th April 2006
Blimy that was quick,! Dr Bogdan - what -Jaroszewicz. I’m not even going to try to pronounce that! But he sounds really interested! This could be it!

5th April 2006
Global Kinship presentation to Steering Group and interested public, Blackbourne Annex.

Everyone appeared very interested, and the Wolves were a hit. I read out Bogdan’s reply and that really raised the roof.

Dear Mr Ibbetson,

Bialowieza is a very specific place indeed. We have three grades of schools in our village (from primary to forestry technical highschool) and probably they would be very happy to establish contact and cooperation with you. The problem could be in language barrier .... What is the age level of your pupils? How do you want to brake the language barrier? Or maybe someone already has answered your mail? If not, I will try to help you in establishing this link.

Sincerely,
Bogdan Jaroszewicz

HURRAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE HAVE OUR FIRST POLISH CONTACT AT LAST – AND OFFERING HELP AND SUPPORT. PERFECT TIMING FOR THE MEETING TONIGHT AFTER ALL JOHN’S FRUSTRATION WITH GETTING NO SUCCESS IN HIS EFFORTS TO CONTACT THE FOREST….

18th May 2006
Sixth meeting of Global Kinship sub group, GLT offices, the Foundry.

The introductory letter was examined and some refinements made.

The format of the “Log” was discussed and it was agreed that we would use a series of “voices”, neutral for the meetings, with personal comments intermixed.

Bogdan is going to be in Scotland around the middle of June, at a conference or something, if I can find a way of getting there - !

YES! I’ve booked some holiday, found some - relatively - cheap accommodation, made arrangements to meet Bogdan, and put together a package of documents to support the introductory letters going to the schools and Mayor of Bialowieza.

Never really been to Scotland before!

___________________________________________________________________________

It rained!

Every day except one! The day I met Bogdan! So we sat outside, in a quiet corner of Stirling University and talked for about half an hour. Nice guy, hope he thought the same of me (!!), at any rate he took all the bumf, and said he would - present it to the authorities back home.

Now we wait. AGAIN!

13th July 2006
Seventh meeting, Global Kinship Sub-group, GLT offices, The Foundry.

The meeting with Bogdan was discussed, and hope for a successful result expressed. The first draft of the log was reviewed, with ideas for further development discussed.

Dear John,

About one week after my return to Bialowieza I have met the teachers from kindergarten (children 5-6 years) and first classes of the primary school (children 7-9 years). I have passed to them letters from you and all of the materials/information about your community and your project. Now everything is in their hands. My job is finished. Of course I have promised them (as well as for you) that I am ready to serve as translator if they will need one.

Best regards,
Bogdan Jaroszewicz

Over the last weeks, Nigel and I have been seriously considering taking Ann up on her invitation to go to Poland ourselves, for a holiday on her farm. With John’s evolving support from Bogdan, our own evolving plan has been to combine the visit to Ann with a trip to Bialowieza to walk in the forest and meet the school teachers. This way we could explain Global Kinship face to face and hopefully recruit them as active partners.

Ric needs to be able to talk to Bogdan it takes too long for every thing to go through me.

When I tell John, he suggests I contact Bogdan direct to arrange a meeting with the school. Bogdan’s response is hopeful, but just before our departure there is a second Email. The school is on holiday and he’s been unable to contact the teachers. Urghh. This is just what I didn’t want to happen - to have to leave without anything being set up. I send him Ann’s Email address and ask him to contact us there.

26th August 2006
Arrive Berlin on the night train from Brussels. Then Berlin to Poznan. Then a slow country train to Chodziez where Ann is waiting for us. Her farm is outside a small village, a beautiful wooden homestead in an oasis of fruit trees and flowers.

30 August 2006
With a few Polish phrases under our belts (it’s a hellishly difficult language) we take the ‘ Inter City’ from Poznan to Warsaw. Sebastian, Ann’s friend, has given us contact details for an Agrotourist Guest House in Bialowieza and sorted out a car hire for us. BUT there’s still no news from Bogdan.

1 September 2006
At our hotel in Warsaw, a message from Ann:

“Bogdan says sorry but he has had no success with the teachers”.

I am thrown into a horrible feeling of failure and disappointment. After all John’s valiant efforts, after enrolling the interest of Elmswell School, and after coming all this way – is it all going to come to nothing??????? Nigel councils me well: We’re here. We’re going to Bialoweiza irrespectively. We’ll knock on the school door ourselves. And if all fails we’ll find a school in another community near the forest. He’s right. This is no time to give up.

It’s a 3 ½ hour drive from Warsaw to Bialowieza, the last ½ hour through continual forest. The township is a sprawling settlement of some 2,000 inhabitants, many still living in traditional wooden dwellings. The Guest House is called ‘Eco Dream’!

Sebastian’s contact details hadn’t worked so we’d not been able to book in advance. But the lady in charge, who speaks not a word of English, shows us a simple room with divan beds and a small wooden balcony. Luckily, her daughter pops in and, in a mixture of English and German, we are able to negotiate our stay.

The daughter turns out to be a Forester. Nigel urges me to grab the chance of seeking her help in achieving our mission. I thus try to explain the purpose of our visit and as soon as I mention Bogdan, her eyes light up. She knows him well. Better still he lives a couple of doors away – and within 10 minutes he is sitting across the table from us!

Tall and energetic, Bogdan is a passionate protector of the forest and very enthusiastic about the idea of a link between the Bialowieza school and Elmswell. On a personal level he sees the potential benefit to his own 2 children, both of whom are at the school.

The problem has been that the teachers have still been on holiday, not their lack of interest. This is music to my ears – I had obviously misinterpreted the message that we’d picked up in Warsaw. Bogdan promises to contact the teachers tomorrow. The school term begins on Monday so he believes they should have now returned from their holiday. We are planning our trek in the forest tomorrow and he will try to arrange a meeting for the early evening. He will leave us a message.

2 September 2006
Acquiring special passes and an English speaking guide we make a 5 ½ hour foray into the pristine, primeval forest. But that’s another story….On our return to Eco Dream the hoped for message awaits us:

‘I have set meeting for 6 o’clock. I will come to you at 5.30. Bogdan’.

The school is a largish building of concrete and glass in the centre of the township. Much of the old school, a traditional wooden structure was recently burnt down. We are cordially ushered into a classroom by 2 teachers; Barbara Leoniuk who has the 1st class of the Primary School, and Elzbieta Ulezlo who teaches the top class of the Pre-school.

In the centre of the room is a low table set with 5 plates, glasses, a generous plate of apple cakes and pastries and large bottle of strawberry water. As we sit down, Bogdan explains that he will act as interpreter since neither teacher speaks English.

Nigel starts by giving a brief account of Green Light. I then fill in with our approach to global linking and the Elmswell project. Bogdan translates with alarcity and our two teachers respond with nods of agreement and smiles of delight. Next it is Barbara’s turn to tell us about the environmental projects that she does with her class which she illustrates with an excellent series of photos. A strong handsome woman, she speaks with passion and is clearly immensely committed to her work. Then Elzbieta, petite and having listened to everything with wrapt attention, fills us in about the Pre-school and how her 6 year olds are already learning English. As both teachers speak, I can’t help thinking how much the Elmswell teachers would love them, and how an exchange between teachers at some point would be brilliant.

There is a wonderful feeling of mutual acknowledgement and accord as we munch the delicious cakes, still warm from Barbara’s oven, and through Bogdan, reach beyond the language barrier and the differences of our education systems. Both confirm their keenness to pursue the link, the support for it already given by their seniors, and the enormous potential that they see it offers. Both are also clear that it is their turn to approach the Elmswell school. They received safely the package that Bogdan brought back from his UK meeting with John – and now it is their turn.

We pledge our ongoing support, as does Bogdan, although our main jobs are done. It is now for the schools to move the partnership forward. Hurray! Mission accomplished! How pleased and relieved John will be – and what exciting things lie ahead….

13th September 2006
What’s all this! 4 mailings from - “Basia Leoni uk”! More spam! Hang about, what’s that second bit?

“Bia3owie?a - Elmswell” - that could be - !

Szanowny Panie John!
Otrzymałam Pański list ze zdjęciami elmswell, a także spotkałam się z założycielami Waszej Fundacji, którzy odwiedzili Białowieżę w ostatnich dniach sierpnia.
Nazywam się Barbara Leoni uk, jestem nauczycielką uczniów w wieku 7-10 lat w szkole podstawowej w Białowieży. W tym roku szkolnym pracuję z klasą III, czyli z dziećmi 9-10 letnimi, które prowadzę już trzeci rok. Od wielu lat zajmuję się propagowaniem ed ukacji ekologicznej wśród dzieci w młodszym wieku szkolnym, a za ich pośrednictwem wśród rodziców. Prowadzę w swojej klasie dodatkowe zajęcia z ed ukacji przyroniczej, ekologicznej, kultury własnego regionu wykraczające poza szkolny program
nauczania.
Moja klasa liczy 17 uczniów - 9 dziewczynek i 8 chłopców. Rzeczywiście, mieszkamy w samym centrum Białowieskiej Puszczy i środowisko leśne nie jest nam obce, bo na co dzień w nim przebywamy. Jednak fakt ten nie zwalnia nas wcale z obowiązku zadbania o to, by las przetrwał również i dla następnych pokoleń. Może nie sadzimy drzew (tka, jak dzieci w Emswell), ale za to uczymy się segregacji odpadów, oszczędnego gospodarowania zasobami Ziemi (woda, energia elektryczna), zachęcamy rodziców do
podróżowania rowerami, kupowania zdrowej żywności. Współpracujemy też z Białowieskim Parkiem Narodowym oraz Nadleśnictwem Białowieża, bierzemy aktywny udział w ekologicznych festynach, w akcji "Sprzątanie Świata", przygotowujemy różne inscenizacje o treści ekologicznej dla społeczności szkolnej.
Jeżeli to, o czym Panu napisałam w jakiś sposób zainteresuje nauczycieli z Emswell, chętnie nawiążę wraz z moją klasą kontakt z ich angielskimi rówieśnikami.
Pod tym listem podpisuje się również nauczycielka z przedszkola w Białowieży, pani Elżbieta Ulezło, która prowadzi tam zajęcia z dziećmi 6-letnimi, a które za rok przejdą do szkoły i trafią do mojej klasy.
Nasze dzieci już od pierwszej klasy uczą się języka angielskiego. Myślę więc, że przyda się to przy nawiązywaniu nowych znajomości z przyjaciółmi z Emswell.
Oczekuję zatem odpowiedzi z Państwa strony. Łączę wyrazy szacunku,

Barbara Leoni uk

OK, I have no idea what that says, but I know what it is, and we need to get it translated! Now there were a number of ideas as to who we might approach, and I think Ro had one that sounded the most promising!

Dear Mr John!

I received your letter with photos of Elmswell. I also met members of your foundation who have been in Bialowieza in the last days of August.

My name is Barbara Leoni uk and I’m a teacher of 7-10 years old students in the primary school of Bialowieza. This year I’m working with the third class, that means with 9-10 year old students. For many years I have been involved in ecological education for kids and through them to their parents. In my class I teach kids about ecology, nature and the history of their region which is over and above the programme (I give them more information than any other teacher).

In my class there are 17 students – 9 girls and 8 boys. It is true that we live in the centre of Puszca Bialowieza (National Park) and wild nature is very familiar for us. That is why we have to care about it to make sure it survives for the next generations. However, we don’t plant tree seeds (as the kids do in Elmswell), but we learn how to separate waste (recycling?), not to waste natural resources (water, electricity), we persuade parents to travel by bike and buy healthy food. We co-operate with the National Park of Bialowieza and the Forestry Administration of Bialowieza. We take part in actions like “Cleaning the World” and make many shows for other students on the subject of ecology.

If what I have written to you would interest you and Elmswell’s teachers we would be glad to make contact with a group of English students of the same age. At the bottom of this letter I want to sign also the teacher of the nursery school in Bialowieza, Mrs Elzbieta Ulezlo. She takes care of 6 year old children and in the next year her students will join my class. Our kids from the first class learn the English language, so I hope that will help them with making a contact with friends from Elmswell.

I am waiting for your reply.

Sincerely,
Barbara Leoni uk

Note from Bartek, who kindly translated the letter:-

"Hopefully you will not have any problems with reading this letter. I know I made many mistakes in it but I am still learning."

Dear Barbara.

I have at last got a translation of your e-mail. It has taken longer than I hoped, but it has been worth the wait.

What you have written is exactly what we hoped to hear, and I will now be putting it to the other members of my group, and to the staff and administrators of our school, in order to move things forward.

Is it OK for me to send my messages to you in English? If it is a problem then I can get them translated here. It will take a little longer, but if it helps it can be done.

I will be back in contact as soon as I have anything further.

Sincerely,
John Ibbetson

9 October 2006
8th Meeting of GK subgroup, The Foundry, Lawshall.

Much discussion of Ric and Nigel’s visit to Poland and meeting with the teachers at Bialowieza.

Next steps:

1) Ric will arrange a meeting with our teacher, either via Ro or direct, to discuss next steps, and begin drawing up the contract.
2) Letter of thanks to go to Bartek, plus a “gift”!
3) Some sort of event - perhaps a Tea Party to be organized to celebrate!
4) Thought to be given to contacting other Polish people in our area!
5) Log to be updated!

Dear John, following our meeting on Monday evening:

1. Thanks so much for doing the message on our Website Message Board - it's perfect and I've responded.

2. As you'll see from my Email to Rosemary, I've had to contact the school directly myself to arrange the meeting. Unfortunately the best time for them is 9 o'clock, next Wed. morning (18th Oct). So I've had to go with that, But I'll keep you posted.

3. Regarding the 'Thank you' to Bartek - after our meeting, Nigel suggested the obvious, which is to drop him round a bottle of wine or box of chocolates as an immediate thank you - along with your note.

I know this raises the issue of his address, but maybe Mary can extract this from Ro asap. As we agreed, WHATEVER HE RECEIVES HE NEEDS TO RECEIVE IT THIS WEEKEND AT THE LATEST.

4. I talked over the 'tea party' idea with Nigel. He agrees it's a good one and should NOT wait till Christmas. Our feeling is that a simple celebration to mark the beginning of the Link could work well. The Steering Group, teachers, Bartek and family and any Polish friends he may have could be invited. It could simply be tea and cake at an easy to find venue. Invites could be something like:

...................................

You are invited to a

Tea Party to Celebrate our Link with Bialowieza, Poland!

Elmswell Community Wood - Global Kinship group

....................................

I could give the story of our trek in the forest. You could describe the relationship with and support from Bogdan and a teacher (if we can get one to come) could read out Barbara's letter. Then Bartek could be invited to tell us a bit more about Poland.

CAN YOU TALK THIS OVER WITH MARY ASAP.

I could manage the following w/es: Nov, 4-5, Nov, 18-19

I'm out of the office now till Monday, but would be happy to talk it over with either or both of you by phone this w/e.

Ric

It’s all got a little hectic, particularly with everyone seeming to be all over the country at various times!

We got Bartek a jar of Roses chocolates! He’s 17 and going to collage in the area - Ipswich I think! 17 - he looks more like 14!!

Ric arranged his meeting with the teachers, and there is a rough draft of a contract, and the school have taken up the idea of a Tea Party, as part of a “Poland Day” they are planning! Got to get some time off work so I can be there, hope Ro can persuade Bartek to come, and hope he’s free!!

Mustn’t forget Barbara!!

18 th October 2006
Planning Meeting with Elmswell Primary School

Ric met with Lindsey, Alison and Jo, the 3 teachers who will be moving the school linking forward.

Within a time constraint of half an hour, the following agenda items were dealt with swiftly:

1. Ric’s Poland vist: Ric gave a very brief summary of his visit to Bialowieza and the meeting with the 2 school teachers Barbara and Elsbieta.
2. Barbara’s letter: The freshly translated letter from Barbara was looked at.
3. Formal Agreement: The need for a formal Agreement between the 2 schools was discussed. Ric provided an outline template from GLT for the teachers to fill in and adjust for their needs. Draft to be sent asap with a cover letter welcoming amendments/additions from Barbara and Elsbieta.
4. Language : It was agreed to suggest that the 2 schools communicate in their own language and take responsibility for getting their partner’s communications translated.
5. Poland Day: The teachers were already planning this and aiming to combine it with the ‘tea party’ to celebrate the launch of the Global Kinship link. Invitations will be sent to Bartek, our translator, his family and any other Polish people living locally.

Ric offered to do a storytelling of his trek in the Bialowieza forest and John has also offered to provide maps, wildlife photos, and the story of how he was inspired to pioneer the link. Ro will continue to liaise between school and the community wood group.

6. Communications: Lindsey will be the school point of contact and all

Emails will be cc.d to John and Ro.

The meeting closed with a warm sense of enthusiasm and anticipation of the many benefits that the school linking will hopefully bring….

14 November 2006

Dear Barbara and Elzbieta

Thank you for your letter telling us about your school.  We enclose our suggestions for the agreement between our two school and we welcome your suggestions for the agreement in return.  Please alter the agreement to suit you and return it to us - the school email address is - admin@elswell.suffolk.sch.net

We suggest that we write  to you in English and you translate our communications and that you write to us in Polish and we will translate what you have written.

Our children are in Years 3 and 4 so they are aged 7-9 years old.  We have 3 classes of about 25 children each.  We are having a 'Polish Day' on November 28th when we intend to hear some Polish stories, eat some Polish food, do research about Poland and have other activities to enthuse our children about our link with you. 

We look forward to linking with you and developing understanding between our schools.

Amanda Cheese  Lindsey Bilston  Jo Bendall

Global Kinship Partnership Agreement (Draft)

Between

ELMSWELL COMMUNITY PRIMARY SCHOOL , ENGLAND

And

BIALOWIEZA PRIMARY SCHOOL and PRE-SCHOOL, POLAND

General Aims

To enrich the life of partner schools through a deepening of environmental & cultural understanding and respect

• To be aware of environmental issues facing the planet now and in the future
• To encourage children to think beyond their own experiences and appreciate and embrace cultural differences

Specific Objectives

• To gain cultural and environmental knowledge and understanding of another country
• To communicate with children from another cultural background
• To foster an awareness of the need to care for our environment wherever we live

Through our stated aims and objectives we hope to give every child in our schools a true sense of the ‘other place’ and a growing appreciation of the similarities to and differences between life there and in their own community. We also believe that the teachers and other adults involved in the partnership will have much to gain in terms of their own personal and professional development.

We hope that the signing of this Agreement will mark the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership. To allow for unforeseen factors and to enable the partnership to unfold naturally, we will review and evaluate our progress on an annual basis and amend the Agreement if/when necessary.

Signed for Elmswell School

Name: Position: Date:

Signature:

Signed for Bialowieza School

Name: Position: Date:

Signature:

Elmswell School works closely with Elmswell Community Wood Group

Elmswell Community Wood is affiliated to Green Light Trust Reg. Charity no.1000977

Chair of Elmswell Steering Group

In July Ric suggested to the Steering Group that we apply for grant aid from Awards for All to help us develop the Global Kinship project with Bialowieza. We’d already had so much help from Ric and the Greenlight Trust (so many meetings!) – but all this comes at a cost, and without some kind of funding it would be difficult for us to go on drawing on his support.

“It’s a bit of a long shot”, he said, “but worth a try”.

So we pored over the application form and all the accompanying bumf and Ric helped us answer all the questions. We tweaked it a bit here and there, making sure we provided all the information requested and that we matched up to the funding criteria. Eventually the application booklet – in best handwriting! – was signed, witnessed and despatched.

More waiting……..

But it was worth it – because we got it!! £2500 to cover training, guidance, producing educational materials, creating a website, liaison with Poland, stationery, artwork and stamps!

This is how we described the activities that the grant would allow us to undertake:

• Build an exchange of information and ideas focusing around our new community woodland and their primeval forest.
• Establish an educational programme between link schools of environmental and citizenship studies.
• Organise woodland events to celebrate and promote the link.
• Encourage our local Polish community to get involved.

This is great news for the Steering Group. It’s also an important breakthrough that grant aid can be given for mentoring and training by GLT – an acknowledgement of the hugely important work they do in this field.

It’s a tremendous boost to our global kinship project, to our community woodland group and to Elmswell. We’re already thinking of our next event and the possibilities of getting other village organisations interested in the link – I’m sure the footballers will have lots in common!

SUB GROUP MTING AND THOUGHTS FOLLOWING POLAND DAY

15 November 2006.
Meeting of Global kinship sub group, The Cedars, (Ro Oliver’s home) Elmswell.

The meeting was arranged in order to sort out communication difficulties, and to put in place arrangements for the forth coming “Poland Day” being organized by Elmswell Primary School.

Ro outlined the arrangements being made by the school, and some limited suggestions as to additions were made. It was agreed that as many members Elmswell Community Wood as could make themselves available should attend, and that Bartek and his family should be invited, and asked to participate, perhaps by helping with the pronunciation of Polish words/phrases. Ric would be doing a “story telling” of his walk in the Forest, and John would do a small piece on how he “discovered” Bialowieza.

Having had a chance to “talk” the group felt much happier about what was happening!

28th November 2006

Elmswell Primary School  
Today we launched our Polish link at school by holding a 'Poland Day'.  The 3 Key Stage 2 classes were busy all morning - all the children made a sheet about themselves complete with picture, name, age and interests.  Some Polish cookery was undertaken - honey cakes and noodle cake.  Research about Poland, using the Internet and books was presented on large sheets by groups of children and Polish flags were produced to turn into bunting to decorate the hall in the afternoon.  After lunch, the hall was prepared and we were delighted to have Ric, Rosemary, John and members of the Community Woodland Group with us.  After a warm welcome by Rosemary, Ric treated us to a spell-binding tale of a journey in the Polish forest.  The children were enraptured.  John continued to tell them about the wood and the animals it contains.  One of our parents, Mre McGowan was able to join us to teach the children some Polish words which they eagerly picked up (and have continued to use since!).  She passed round dolls in traditional costume for the children to handle.  The afternoon ended with a feast of food - the honey cakes and noodle cake, 2 lovely Polish flag cakes made by Rosemary and some different types of rye bread.  We now look forward to hearing from Barbara and Elzbieta and moving our link forward.

28th November 2006 After the School event.

I think that went well. The kids all seemed to enjoy themselves, and in particular they liked Ric’s story of his walk. And Anna!!! All that time looking for a translator and there was a parent of Polish decent, and fluent! After the main event was over and we were sitting eating the children’s food Anna was looking at the name - Bialowieza, and said to me - “That means White Tower doesn’t it”, which it does. She then said - “My mother came from there”!!!

15th January 2007

Dear Ric,

We have now received a parcel from Barbara and the Bialowieza school.  They have signed our agreement without alteration.  They have sent us photos of the school, the children in the forest, pictures of the forest, Christmas pictures, pictures the children have drawn of themselves etc - altogether a very impressive collection! 

We are now deciding how to respond with some of our children's work!  One item was written in Polish and Mrs McGowan was happy to translate it for us - it explained who'd done a particular set of pictures we were sent.

Happy New year!

Regards Lindsey (for Elmswell School)

Pheww - This is the good news we’ve all been waiting for!!!

It’s the last link in the chain to securing a formal commitment between the 2 schools. Although, having met Barbara and Elzbieta, I’ve been confident that they were personally committed to the Global Kinship idea – it needed this acceptance of and signing of the formal Agreement to cement the partnership.

Now I can take a back seat in this part of the linking and turn to supporting John and the sub-group in finding ways to include the wider community in the Global Kinship endeavour….An excellent point to have reached at the start of a new year, with lots achieved and lots more challenges to meet and explore!!!

31 January 2007 - SUB GROUP MEETING

A new year and a great time for making new plans! The GK sub-group met on January 31 st to discuss ways of taking forward our Polish project. Present were: John, Ro, Mary and Ric with new Green Light worker, Judith attending for interest.

The school part of the project is now embedded, with language problems sorted out thanks to the very welcome help of a parent. A Polish theme will be introduced to forthcoming school sessions to help keep the link alive in children’s minds. Photographs and perhaps something from the children explaining what they are doing could form part of the next tree planting session on 27 th February. The rainforest session could be adapted to encompass global kinship, and might evolve into an annual Poland Day.

The T shirts for Bogdan’s boys (with the Elmswell Community Wood logo and their own names embroidered on) arrived just after Christmas and were much appreciated. John will ask for a photo to go into the next Elmswell Newsletter to provide a great visual example of the link for the wider community. In his latest email Bogdan describes the snow in Bialowieza – what a contrast with our incredibly mild January!

We agreed to keep Bogdan up to date with all activities, and if he has plans to come to the UK, we must invite him to Elmswell.

The project might evolve in unexpected ways. Perhaps our local Polish community could contribute by helping to find answers to some of our questions – what do we all want from the project?

We discussed ideas for taking the project into the wider community, including:

• Making the link manifest so that people have a visual reminder: e.g. a sign or board at Kiln Meadow – “a community conservation project linked with Bialowieza, Poland”, with text in both languages; an interpretation board on display showing animals/birds in each place and explaining the links between them (Ric showed us a wonderful example from Lawshall!)
• This could link into involving older children in the project – perhaps some could make this part of a school design course. Or we could try to find a willing artist in the community.
• A small area in the school grounds or at Kiln Meadow could become the Bialowieza corner, with some feature that links the two (a special tree? One specimen each of the main trees found in the Bialowieza forest? Acorns planted from their forest? A sculpture? Something made by a local Polish group?).
• A celebration/event for the community with a Polish flavour (Polish dance group, Polish food, a film of Bialowieza).
• Exchange CDs of music/folk songs which could be played during events (the school here has already made its own CD).
• Write to other village groups and clubs, telling them of the link and offering to do a talk/display.
• Put together a display featuring both communities (theme: “Planting/Protecting”) and ask to put it in various well-used venues.
• Joint meetings with the History Group or Gardening Club with talks that would appeal to both.
• A summer barbecue/picnic at Kiln Meadow, with a Polish link/flavour.

Lots of food for thought here – we’ll discuss all these ideas at our next steering group meeting and report back on our decisions!

Well, hasn’t everything gone well!!

I have to admit to being a little taken aback by the speed with which we’ve arrived at the present state of affairs! I really thought that it would take much longer, and involve endless letters, e-mails, phone calls and even visits to agencies, charities, government departments etc. Instead everything seems to have just - happened, one happy chance after another! And that perhaps is the lesson to be learned from the story so far, you have to take the chances that are presented to you!

The question is - “What next”? I really hadn’t given it much thought. All my attention has been focused on getting that first breakthrough contact, and now its there, and - !

We need to expand, get more and different people involved, get - what!

OK so it has all gone well and quickly so far, so perhaps its time to take a breather, step back and have a think about what we really do want!

Deep breaths…..

12 March 2007 - GLOBAL KINSHIP GROUP MEETING

Present; Ro, Ric, Mary, John.

1. Ro reported that the school had thanked the school in Bialowieza for the recent “package” which now formed a display. They plan to reply with photos of the next planting session, whenever that takes place - weather permitting.

2. A centre spread in the village newsletter included items from the “package”, replacing photos of the tree planting which was postponed. There will also be a piece in the church newsletter.

3. Details of an information board for Kiln meadow, to include the link with Bialowieza were discussed.

4. Ro agreed to discuss with our school the possibility of changing the “rainforest day” for a Poland (forest) day.

5. Possible ways of engaging Polish people to help inform and direct the GK link were discussed. Existing contacts are probably of limited additional use. Ro reported that the RC church in Stowmarket had initiated a programme to draw in locally resident Poles!

6. While our initial focus on the school link has been successful, and we had some ideas for the future, it was agreed that we had got a bit lost as to where the project should be heading next. Ric reminded us of the four cornerstones of GLT policy - Children, Community Spirit, Wildlife, Global Kinship - and suggested that we use these as a basis for a display which would remind everyone that we are not just a woodland group.

7. A formalized statement of the GK objectives was agreed as a reminder of what we are trying to achieve.

• Environmental Concern
• Cultural learning
• Friendship

The formally agreed school link is one way this has been achieved.

8. A campaign to find local Polish people with similar interests in wildlife/nature was decided on as effectively hitting all our targets allowing GLT mentoring to be most useful.

9. Having refocused, it was decided to shelve the proposed presentation to village organization, scheduled for June. Instead it was decided to organize a social event at Kiln Meadow (or elsewhere), which would:-

• Engage the local community.
• Celebrate the Bialowieza link with the installation of the information board.
• Launch our new display on its travels
• Introduce local Polish people to Kiln Meadow and Elmswell.
• Be an enjoyable occasion for everyone.

11. Next meeting Wednesday 28 th March,the Fox.

School Update….

The parcel we sent to Poland last term included children's sheets about themselves, photos of Elmswell school and children's timetables of what goes on in our school day. 

We have now had a parcel back from Poland, containing some large collage lady birds and a wallet of annotated photos of the school inside and out, activities going on and the surrounding area/countryside.

All our classes have now had a look at the ladybirds and photos and after SATs we will reply with some further material, perhaps examples of actual school work….