On Tuesday, July 27th2010 Gdańsk Convention Bureau (GCB) organized press conference for media representatives. Conference  was held at the Hilton Gdańsk Hotel. Aim of the meeting was to summarize the first edition of “Volunteers for Gdańsk” project (original name: Gdańscy Akcjonariusze), present volunteers activities and their influence on major events in Gdansk. Regional Volunteer Centre in Gdansk (RCW) was project partner. The project is carried out from August 2009, financed mainly from NGO Fund. It’s goal is to create a friendly environment to host events in the city, thereby attract great number of new events. This initiative enables to raise awareness of volunteering, overthrow volunteering stereotype, create Gdańsk identity among the participants.

Hosts of the conference were: Maciej Lisicki – Gdańsk Deputy Mayor, Agata Walczak -  “Volunteers for Gdańsk” Project Coordinator, Anna Górska - President of Gdańsk Tourist Organization / Gdańsk Convention Bureau, Agnieszka Buczyńska - Regional Volunteer Centre in Gdansk, Project Partner.

"Volunteers for Gdańsk project is also a new quality of conferences and business meetings held in Gdańsk & Region, that Gdańsk Convention Bureau promotes. Many cities in the world are wondering how to attract conferences to their destinations. It is not easy especially for a city such as Gdańsk, ie. secondary city (not the state capital). Gdańsk & Region wants to offer conferences or business meetings organizers, complimentary help of volunteers in organizing their events. This is another operation that shall set Gdańsk among european business destination leaders" -  Anna Górska, Gdańsk Tourist Organisation / Gdańsk Convention Bureau CEO.

 

"Our volunteers (professionals) would be happy to assist conferences, events, festivals, etc. Initially, we assumed that we will encourage 100 people to help while big city events. At the moment we’re working with over 200 well-trained, ambitious and involved in our events  volunteers. Till July 2010 we took part in following events: Globe Forum Conference, UNICA Independent Film Festival, Stadium - Open Day (PGE ARENA), Gdańsk Citizens World Congress, the European Poet of Freedom, Streetwaves, Baltic Sail Gdańsk, WikiSym and WIKIMANIA conference" - Agata Walczak, Volunteers for Gdańsk Project Coordinator.
 

One more time we’re happy to announce that the project will be continued (starting from August 1st, 2010). Project name changed a bit: "Volunteers for Gdańsk - consistently to the goal" and will be runned until December 31, 2011. Gdańsk Convention Bureau  received funding from the Operational Programme of Civil Initiatives Fund. New project set a loyalty program for volunteers, that includes free training on their own project external funding. 300 volunteers will gain important life experience  and professional skills. While events we provide meals, insurance and travel costs  reimbursement.


Here you can find more information on Volunteers:  http://www.gdansk4u.pl/akcjonariusze
Don’t hesitate to contact Ms Agata Walczak (Volunteers for Gdańsk Project Coordinator), email: walczak@gdansk4u.pl phone number +48 58 3000 659.