Gdansk once again hosted the Freedom and Civil Rights Celebration, an event that reminds us of the importance of freedom, solidarity and civic responsibility. Meetings, debates, workshops and social events related to the anniversary of the June 4, 1989 elections were held from May 31 to June 4, 2025.
One part of the celebration was the Social Zone, a space created by NGOs from all over Poland. The 2025 was filled with more than 200 organizations that work daily in the areas of education, social welfare, human rights, health, activism, culture and local initiatives.
For the Simple Ways Foundation, participating in the Social Zone was an opportunity to be part of a larger civic community. As a small organization, working close to young people and their families, we gratefully benefit from such meeting spaces. It’s there to talk, learn about the experiences of other organizations, and show that mental health care, emotional safety and support in crisis are also important social issues.
Gdansk, freedom and community
The Freedom and Civil Rights Day refers to the elections of June 4, 1989, one of the most important dates in recent Polish history. The celebration in Gdansk every year combines historical memory with a conversation about the present: democracy, human rights, solidarity and responsibility for others.
This is a special context for social organizations. Freedom, after all, is not just a big word from history. In everyday life, it also means access to help, the ability to be heard, a sense of security and the belief that a person in a difficult situation is not left alone.
Social Zone 2025
The Social Zone was a meeting place for NGOs, volunteers, educators, activists and residents. The program included debates, workshops, talks and activities prepared by NGOs from different parts of Poland.
The presence of so many organizations showed how broad and diverse civil society is. Each of them brings its own experience, its own area of activity and its own way of responding to people’s needs. The Simple Ways Foundation was one of these organizations.
Participation of the Roads Straight Foundation
For our Foundation, participation in the Social Zone 2025 was an opportunity to meet and talk about issues that are close to us every day: youth support, mental health, emotional difficulties, family relationships and the need for wise adult presence.
We are happy to have been part of this event. Such gatherings remind us that even small organizations have their place in the greater whole. Not because they do high-profile things, but because they are close to specific people and their real stories.
Thanks for your presence
Following the event, the Simple Ways Foundation received a thank-you note for its participation in the Social Zone 2025. The document records words of gratitude for its presence, commitment and willingness to share energy, knowledge and passion during this unique event.
The acknowledgment was signed by Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, president of Gdansk, Jacek Bendykowski, president of the board of the Gdansk Foundation, and Basil Kerski, director of the European Solidarity Center.
We accept it with gratitude and humility. It is a nice distinction for us, but also an incentive for further work.
Continued presence
For us, participation in the 2025 Social Zone was also a continuation of our presence from the previous year. In 2024, we were also part of Gdansk’s celebration of Freedom and Civil Rights, as we wrote about in an earlier post on our website.
We thank the organizers for creating a space where community organizations can meet, showcase their activities and learn from each other. We also thank all the people who were with us during the event.
From Gdansk we take away good conversations, new inspirations and the conviction that caring for others is one of the simplest, yet most important ways to build community.