CHANGE THE WORLD. BUDIMEX 50 YEARS OLD – APPROACHING THE FINAL! The jury selected the 3 most interesting projects. 600 thousand PLN for social projects from Białystok, Gdynia and Warsaw.

Out of 254 ideas submitted to the competition “Change the world. Budimex 50 years”, 100 met all formal requirements. Among them, during the first deliberations of the jury, 3 projects were selected that made it to the finals. On September 5, their authors will personally present their ideas to the jury. The chairman of the jury, entrepreneur Rafał Sonik, and Dr. Konrad Maj from SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, together with the other jurors, will select the winning project, which will receive PLN 500,000. PLN.

Additional prizes in the competition are a total of 100 thousand. PLN: 45 thousand PLN for the second place, PLN 35 thousand. PLN for the third place and PLN 20 thousand. PLN as an award for Internet users (from 14 August on the website
www.zmieniajswiatbx50.pl
you can vote for the best project from among the three pre-selected by the jury).

– I am taking part in this project because Promoting the idea of helping through business involvement in social problems is close to my heart. I believe that sharing knowledge and experience, as well as providing financial resources for social purposes is very important nowadays – emphasizes the chairman of the jury, Rafał Sonik, a well-known entrepreneur, athlete and visionary.

Among the 3 projects selected by the jury in the finals were: infrastructure for the first real forest school in Poland, submitted by the Trzy czte ry! from Białystok, an innovative project to create a year-round tropical garden at the “Amber Haven” hospice for children, implemented by the Hospice Association. st. Wawrzyńca from Gdynia and the ReStore Center of the Habitat for Humanity Poland Foundation from Warsaw. Projects submitted to the “Change the World. Budimex 50 years” definitely exceeded our expectations – admits Cezary Łysenko, a member of the jury on behalf of Budimex. All of them are characterized by originality and ingenuity. It was very difficult for us to choose 3 winners, but we were guided by specific criteria: not only the innovation of the project, but also the breadth of the group of beneficiaries, the durability and feasibility of the project, reliability in the preparation of the budget or the idea for maintaining the investment in the future – he adds.

It is worth noting that all 100 projects that met the conditions of the  regulations are  at a very high level, both in terms of content and social value. The authors showed not only great creativity, but also knowledge and commitment. The formula of the “Change the World. Budimex 50 years” assumes that 3 projects will go to the finals, but each of the 245 ideas deserves great recognition and congratulations – emphasizes Maria Mikołajczak, a member of the jury on behalf of the organizer.

The winners will be announced on September 5, 2018. during the ceremonial finale in Warsaw.

Descriptions of the final projects:

1. Infrastructure for the first truly forestry school in Poland. Pilot educational innovation in the country, Three Four!

The submitted project assumes the creation of the first truly Forest School in Poland in Białystok. On the initiative of the Three Four Times! as many as 30 forest kindergartens were established in Polish. The construction of the Forest School, which is the next stage of education initiated in forest kindergartens, is a response to the needs of parents and students from all over Polish.

At the Forest School, children discover, experience, and learn in close contact with nature, regardless of the weather. Better cognitive abilities mean better health. Children who learn and commune with nature  at the same time develop their skills faster. The effect of forest education is an increase in public awareness of the broadly understood prevention of Nature Deficit Syndrome and eliminating its negative effects (ADHD, obesity, depression, problems with sensory integration) by re-establishing a bond with nature. It is also a shared responsibility of our generation for the development and shaping of an informed citizen and his or her well-being in the future. The initiative has already found its supporters throughout Poland at this stage of planning, and there are plans to launch more such schools.

Winning the “Change the World. Budimex 50 years” will allow us to really, boldly and passionately take the next step on the way to the creation of the first truly Forest School in Poland. Schools where children discover, experience and learn in close contact with nature – no matter the weather. A school that responds to the problems of modern education. A school full of happy childhood, safe growing up, which develops skills and shapes a wise, responsible, sensitive person.  Our goal is to share experience and knowledge, raise awareness of the society, parents, educators, teachers – says Agnieszka Kudraszow, President of the Three Four Times Foundation!.

2. Biophilia (therapeutic and educational garden), Hospice Association. st. Lawrence

The project involves the creation of a year-round tropical garden with the first butterfly house in Poland at the “Amber Haven” Hospice for Children in Gdynia. This will enable patients, visiting their relatives and all interested people to be in constant contact with nature, including flowering plants, multi-coloured butterflies or umbrella ants. Young hospice patients, apart from feeling physical pain, suffer mentally. Observation of nature stimulates many senses, reduces stress, increases the speed of regeneration and shortens the recovery time. The evergreen space would therefore have a therapeutic, integrative and educational function.

The aim of the project is to promote the hospice idea among the society, to emphasize the importance of volunteering. The innovation of the project assumes setting new standards in hospice and palliative care in Poland. The creation of “Biophile” will contribute to the dissemination of rarely used fields of study not only in medical and nursing practices, but also in non-medical solutions.

We believe that the implementation of this pro-social project can be a perfect complement to everything that the “Amber Haven” children’s hospice in Gdynia has already done over the years. The concept proposed by the originators will allow for the development of new standards and will enable the setting of unconventional directions in solving problems in hospice care. We want to change this little world for the better. He has already changed us – says Dawid Graczyk, biologist, co-creator of the Biophilia project.

3. ReStore Center, Habitat for Humanity Poland Foundation

The ReStore Center, a place of local activity, which will be built on the site of a former industrial facility, assumes the promotion of activities that integrate the local community, based on circular economy solutions. A system for collecting used furniture and equipment from residents and businesses, craft and educational workshops are just examples of activities that will be carried out there. The availability of circular economy solutions for communities means cheaper recycled and upcycled products, a cleaner environment, but above all, an increase in environmental awareness.

The ReStore Center will be located on the map of the revitalized Praga Południe in Warsaw. Developing and adding life to this area will restore the ability of residents to use the resources of the place.

ReStore is a unique, comprehensive project that promotes charitable and ecological attitudes of Poles, connects generations, creates jobs, while responding to the needs of people in housing poverty and the challenges of responsible business. We offer well-thought-out system solutions for long-term implementation and reproduction throughout the country – says Jacek Renard, project manager of the ReStore Center.