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Nowadays, despite our experience, we face
problems of social integration. There is no
concrete enemy that would mobilize our nation.
Nevertheless, we are obliged to maintain strong
national solidarity. A state is internally
strong when there is solidarity between its
citizens. As history has proved, such society
cannot be easily manipulated. Nowadays we are
not threatened by any hostile empire, but by
consequences of economic stratification. The
deeper contrast between the rich and the poor,
the more serious problems and conflicts.
A question arises: how can social
integration be built? Seemingly, financial
support is the best solution to the problem.
However, distribution of money leads to nowhere.
Those who are relegated to society’s margins
cannot use their money in a rational and
constructive manner. These problems cannot be
solved by creation of ghettoes supplied by
charity organizations. On the contrary, these
groups should be integrated by their involvement
in local issues. Such engagement gives
opportunity for development. Owing to Centers of
Social Integration and Centers of Social Economy
and other non-governmental organizations people
in need are given such opportunities.
One of the strongest human instincts
is our need to be respected. Nevertheless, this
innate desire is not taken into account in case
of distribution of goods. Unemployment benefits
suggest lack of resourcefulness. Obviously, it
is a fundamental misunderstanding. Need for
financial support is not an individual’s fault
in many cases. It is our common burden, as we
are building a country, where citizens’ worth
depends on their wealth. We must avoid mistakes
which were made by other states. States which
are the models we should follow as far as their
political system is concerned.
Apart from work, one of the most
important components of life are hobbies. Human
being without any passion, who does not spend
his spare time actively, cannot develop. Human
being cannot be only a worker. Sport is a
crucial factor in the process of social
integration. Thanks to sport everyone can feel
relaxed and satisfied. Sport is an invaluable
factor in the process of building self-respect.
Sport is also the only hobby shared by people
who are on the verge of social isolation.
Unfortunately, sport which is watched on TV, not
practiced. Majority of Poles watch football
matches and ski-jumping. Every success of the
Polish representation gives us great
satisfaction. This great potential should be
used to integrate people with whom our
organization works. We should build social
integrity by promoting active participation in
sporting events. Our aim is to help in setting
up football teams and organization of league
contests. We want to prove that, apart from
reading sports section in a magazine, everyone
can practice sport.
Sport Association for Social
Integration ‘Barka’ ( Sportowe Stowarzyszenie na
Rzecz Integracji Społecznej ‘Barka’) in
partnership with IW EQUAL ‘ Social Economy
Project’ ( ‘ Ekonomia Społeczna w Praktyce’)
helps with organization of spare time. ‘Barka’
promotes the idea of self-fulfillment through
sport from a local to international level.
According to our point of view satisfaction in
this field motivates to improvement on other
areas: work, civil activities etc.
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One
of the strategies to help young people
may be based on street football. Players
start from matches played in the yard of
their houses. If the team is successful
its players may become members of the
Polish Representation. These are the
reasons why the Polish Street Soccer
League has been established. League
which consists of amateur teams from
whole Poland.
Our aim is to organize league contests
and the National Cup of Street Soccer.
Participation in these sporting events
will be free of charge. An
adventure which starts in slums and ends
in the Polish Representation proves the
importance of sport in the process of
social integration. Local groups are
proud when one of their members becomes
a World Champion. It reinforces
community solidarity and
integration-extremely important factors
as far as future works with these groups
are concerned.
Motivation which stems from
prospects of building self-confidence
and self-respect cannot be
overestimated. It inspires young players
to take care of their health. As a
result good physical and psychological
condition improves their performance on
other areas. At the beginning social
integration starts on the level of a
local team and its supporters. Next, it
expands on other groups when the team
plays successfully in the League.
Football team, like every other group,
gives the best effect of therapy. Human
beings cannot develop on their own. That
is why our association supports other
projects, not only those connected with
sport. For example we are opening local
integration clubs. |
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First of them will be set up at Śródka-the area
which is being revitalized by citizens from
Śródka accompanied by non-governmental
organizations and the city authorities. The club
is supposed to be a place accessible for
everyone, where people from the district can
meet, have some inexpensive coffee and food,
talk with their neighbors or watch TV without
drinking alcohol. People connected with a social
cooperative, which is under our protection, will
be employed in the club. Establishment of the
social cooperative is one of important issues
concerning social integration. Local groups
integrate when their members are in charge of
some business. At the beginning we are going to
concentrate our efforts on the Srodka area.
Matches of the Polish Street Soccer League will
take place at the Center of Social Integration
which associates teams from various regions and
various non-governmental organizations.
To sum up, sport helps build social
integration. Programs which are based on sport
should be necessarily implemented. We are
obliged to help in every field people who are on
the verge of social isolation. As practice has
proved, such attitude is the most effective. Our
desire is to involve other organizations and
institutions in our project. We hope our
programs will be implemented in many other
regions. We wish to create a program for social
integration through sport that could be treated
as a model. Our plan for future is to cooperate
with other regions on base of common methods.
 
Our conceptions and methods have
proved to be correct as other states (e.g.
Holland) have made a request for help in
implementation of similar program. Moreover,
international organizations, like Homeless World
Cup and Street Soccer World have approved of our
methods. We have been requested by these
organizations to represent the idea of street
football on international forum. Furthermore, we
are taking part in competition for the best
place to organize the most important sporting
events of this type.
To sum up, a program for social
integration can be, and should be, based on
sport. Sport and other leisure activities are
crucial elements of human condition. Sport
teaches how to establish good relationships with
others. In order to revitalize people who need
our help we should take into account not only
their career but also development of their
passions and active forms of recreation.
text and all photos by Jacek Kaczmarek
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