FUNDACJA SENDZIMIRA

A very rich programme and comprehensive approach to the subject are characteristic for the course. The intention is to present the idea of sustainable development from scratch in such a way that is also understandable to those who are not experts in this field. On the other hand, a diversity of the subjects, an open approach and practical projects done by the participants make the course an attractive form of seeing the issues in a new light and broadening knowledge of people dealing with the environmental problems.

The workshops cover about a hundred hours of regular activities; in addition to this less formal activities come such as field trips, meetings, reading articles, videos projection. Each day of the three-week course is tightly filled with the activities. A typical course day follows a set pattern, i.e. after breakfast there are antemeridian lectures which continue after dinner break till afternoon hours (i.e. 4 or 5 o'clock). In the evening everybody has time for individual activities like reading articles, working on projects, preparing oneself for debates, films projection, concerts and the like. One of the two weekends is intended for a mountain excursion whereas the other one is usually free.

The basis of sustainable development. Before the beginning of the course, the participants are obliged to become familiar with the basis of the idea of sustainable development by themselves: definitions, social and economic processes, ethical basis, strategies of particular countries, natural resources problem, economical and ecological basis etc. They can do it with the materials (lectures and articles) which they get from the course organizers.
The course programme is divided into three parts, each of which is performed by the instructors during one week.

I. Theory and practice of community sustainable development.
During the first week the lectures give information on the local aspects of sustainable development and preparation of programmes and strategies for the development of local communities is described, as well asthe methods of their implementation, evaluation and monitoring. The possibilities of the practical implementation of the SD principles on the strength of a number of examples from all over the world are shown. Besides the lectures the participants do practical projects and concern a selected borough from around Krakow (for many years we have realized this project in cooperation with Zawoja). The participants take part in a number of meetings with the people that are involved in borough life and with the local community representatives; they pay a visit to the organizations, companies and plants operating in that area. This results in preparation of the reports and strategies for sustainable development of the chosen borough.

II. Sustainable business.
During the second week of the course the issues concerning implementing the SD to industry and business are raised and practically handled. The guest lectures treat of dealing with the process of implementation of the environment management (ISO 14000 and others) and other possibilities of the practical realization of sustainable development in our country.

III. Practical aspects of sustainable development.
During the last week of the course the issues concerning the possibilities of the practical application of the idea of SD to various spheres and aspects of life (education, industry, management, architecture and construction) are raised. The guest lectures treat of sustainable architecture in Poland, sustainable transportation and other possibilities of the practical realization of sustainable development in our country.

Apart from the lectures, exercises and seminars, field activities are included in the teaching process. The students visit many places, which is a perfect practical complement to the indoor activities. So far there have been trips to the Municipal Office of Nowy Sącz, Częstochowa Steelworks, Tadeusz Sendzimir Steelworks, Ojców National Park, Babiogórski National Park, the Municipal Office of Cracow, the landfill site in Nowy Sącz, SlagRecycling company, a company producing solar panels, and many other places.
Excursions of a more tourist or rest nature are organized, too. We were in the Pieniny, the Beskid Sądecki region, the Bieszczady; we even rafted on the Dunajec. But certainly such excursions are also of tremendously informative value, especially when taking into account the fact that this course is concerned with the environmental protection. Moreover, the latest excursion to the Bieszczady was accompanied by outdoor workshops with Jacek Bożek as instructor from the Gaja Club. Last year we invited to Mogilany the musicians associated with ' The Magic Carpathians Project' who gave a truly magical and unforgettable acoustic concert. A completely different - but still very authentic - sort of music is played by Joanna Słowińka with the band. Every year we take part in a concert of a group of folk musicians from the Bieszczady whom we invite on the occasion of performances which are concomitants of the course.