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| Mr Miliband, come and see us. We'll show you how to do it | Mr Miliband, come and see us. We'll show you how to do it |
| (4 months later) | |
| Last week's speech by Labour leader Ed Miliband about the integration of immigrants has evoked a response from Merseyside Polonia, an organisation founded in 2008 to build bridges between the region's Polish community and other residents. According to director Gosia McKane: | Last week's speech by Labour leader Ed Miliband about the integration of immigrants has evoked a response from Merseyside Polonia, an organisation founded in 2008 to build bridges between the region's Polish community and other residents. According to director Gosia McKane: |
| When Poland joined the EU in 2004 everybody expected large-scale migration of Polish people to the UK but it didn't really happen then – it did later on. In Liverpool we had the peak in 2006 and suddenly everywhere you went you could hear Polish voices or see new Polish shops. | When Poland joined the EU in 2004 everybody expected large-scale migration of Polish people to the UK but it didn't really happen then – it did later on. In Liverpool we had the peak in 2006 and suddenly everywhere you went you could hear Polish voices or see new Polish shops. |
| She recalls how in that year, Liverpool hosted the leader of the Solidarity movement, Lech Walesa, and at a VIP dinner, local business people spoke to her about how well regarded the Polish community was, especially in terms of its work ethic. However, she felt there was more to the Polish experience than this. As a result, Merseyside Polonia was founded in 2008, initially as an eight-month-long project called Meet Your Neighbours, with monthly meetings. | She recalls how in that year, Liverpool hosted the leader of the Solidarity movement, Lech Walesa, and at a VIP dinner, local business people spoke to her about how well regarded the Polish community was, especially in terms of its work ethic. However, she felt there was more to the Polish experience than this. As a result, Merseyside Polonia was founded in 2008, initially as an eight-month-long project called Meet Your Neighbours, with monthly meetings. |
| We realised the need to inform new Polish migrants on local services but we didn't want to just restrict the events to the Polish community and the idea of community cohesion was the main aim of Merseyside Polonia. | We realised the need to inform new Polish migrants on local services but we didn't want to just restrict the events to the Polish community and the idea of community cohesion was the main aim of Merseyside Polonia. |
They invited local residents and sought to combat the "stereotypical image" of Poland that some people still had at that time | They invited local residents and sought to combat the "stereotypical image" of Poland that some people still had at that time |
| of grey ruins after the war and polar bears on the streets placing us somewhere close to Siberia. During this project we developed good links with local councillors, Fire Service, Police, PCT and many other services. We presented Polish cities, tourist attractions, Solidarity and Polish filmography. | of grey ruins after the war and polar bears on the streets placing us somewhere close to Siberia. During this project we developed good links with local councillors, Fire Service, Police, PCT and many other services. We presented Polish cities, tourist attractions, Solidarity and Polish filmography. |
| From the very beginning we put an emphasis on working with the media and presented the positive contribution of the Polish community locally. There were articles presenting our events in local press, I did a few interviews at the BBC Radio Merseyside, we were given time on ITV Tonight with Trevor McDonald and the highlight was that in December 2008 our Christmas Eve event was broadcast live at the BBC North West Tonight so we could share our traditions across the region. | From the very beginning we put an emphasis on working with the media and presented the positive contribution of the Polish community locally. There were articles presenting our events in local press, I did a few interviews at the BBC Radio Merseyside, we were given time on ITV Tonight with Trevor McDonald and the highlight was that in December 2008 our Christmas Eve event was broadcast live at the BBC North West Tonight so we could share our traditions across the region. |
A key part of Merseyside Polonia has been a determination to avoid ghettoisation. On the contrary, it has sought to build bridges with other communities. Gosia says: | A key part of Merseyside Polonia has been a determination to avoid ghettoisation. On the contrary, it has sought to build bridges with other communities. Gosia says: |
| In 2009 we hosted a Meet Your Neighbours event when a series of cultures such as Chinese, Congolese, Hindu, Yemeni, Irish or Zimbabwe was introduced through a presentation on the different customs, beliefs and history, with cultural performances and food to share at the end. In 2011 we presented a series of Polish short films from animations to documentaries then a year later there were films presenting Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and African religious communities. | In 2009 we hosted a Meet Your Neighbours event when a series of cultures such as Chinese, Congolese, Hindu, Yemeni, Irish or Zimbabwe was introduced through a presentation on the different customs, beliefs and history, with cultural performances and food to share at the end. In 2011 we presented a series of Polish short films from animations to documentaries then a year later there were films presenting Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and African religious communities. |
| Gosia also highlights an intriguing cultural event they have organised: | Gosia also highlights an intriguing cultural event they have organised: |
| One of the projects presenting the essence of community cohesion is our Annual Love in Every Language event when we invite people of all different nationalities living in Liverpool to present love poetry in their language and in English. For us the very important message is that it's OK to be different but there is something that brings us all together - love – the common denominator. | One of the projects presenting the essence of community cohesion is our Annual Love in Every Language event when we invite people of all different nationalities living in Liverpool to present love poetry in their language and in English. For us the very important message is that it's OK to be different but there is something that brings us all together - love – the common denominator. |
| Poland, of course, experienced more than any country the horrors of the Holocaust, and this is something of which Merseyside Polonia is acutely aware. In January 2009 we were invited to be part of Holocaust Memorial Day and we presented the loss of lives through images and poetry of Polish poets such as Tadeusz Rozewicz. The importance of this project was for us to be part of initiatives that are important here locally but as well to add the Polish dimension to it. | Poland, of course, experienced more than any country the horrors of the Holocaust, and this is something of which Merseyside Polonia is acutely aware. In January 2009 we were invited to be part of Holocaust Memorial Day and we presented the loss of lives through images and poetry of Polish poets such as Tadeusz Rozewicz. The importance of this project was for us to be part of initiatives that are important here locally but as well to add the Polish dimension to it. |
| Photographic exhibitions were held to mark the 30th Anniversary of Solidarity and the similarities of experience of Liverpool and Gdansk after World War II. | Photographic exhibitions were held to mark the 30th Anniversary of Solidarity and the similarities of experience of Liverpool and Gdansk after World War II. |
| Over the last few years we developed a whole calendar of Polish events and started cooperating with many local partners. From 2010 in partnership with National Museum in Liverpool we started delivering Polish Easter Family Workshops. We were surprised by 100 people attending but what astonished us even more how the popularity of the initiative grew as the year after we had 250 people and this year 500 people enjoying our Polish traditions. Now we deliver as well workshops presenting Easter and Midsummer customs and they are also very popular. | Over the last few years we developed a whole calendar of Polish events and started cooperating with many local partners. From 2010 in partnership with National Museum in Liverpool we started delivering Polish Easter Family Workshops. We were surprised by 100 people attending but what astonished us even more how the popularity of the initiative grew as the year after we had 250 people and this year 500 people enjoying our Polish traditions. Now we deliver as well workshops presenting Easter and Midsummer customs and they are also very popular. |
| The past year has seen visits by numerous Polish writers, artists and musicians, while Gosia has herself been a newspaper reviewer on BBC Merseyside. Convinced that Merseyside Polonia is an example of how to build bridges, Gosia concludes: | The past year has seen visits by numerous Polish writers, artists and musicians, while Gosia has herself been a newspaper reviewer on BBC Merseyside. Convinced that Merseyside Polonia is an example of how to build bridges, Gosia concludes: |
| Mr Miliband, come and see us and we will tell you how to do it!" | Mr Miliband, come and see us and we will tell you how to do it!" |
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