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30 last news articles

On public speaking
2012-01-05 08:06:15

In August 12, 2011 an international group of students took part in the session on 'What we can get from biblical rethorics to improve our public speaking' as a part of the project run by the European Center for Communication and Culture.

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International Jesuit Education Leadership Program in Gdansk
2011-07-07 08:28:10

International Jesuit Education Leadership Program (IJELP) started in Gdansk on July 5,2011. This year we have participants from five different countries. Trainers came from USA, Holland, Italy and Poland. It is the last session of IJELP after 14 years of the program addressed to educational leaders from Eastern Europe and Middle East.

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New center for alcohol abuse prevention in Drohobych
2011-06-29 16:01:28

On June 25, Ivan Hnativ and Wojciech Żmudziński SJ have met in Drohobych to initiate the activity of the Catholic Counseling Center for people addicted to alcohol. The Center will start in few days in the parish church led by Fr. Ivan. Those who are looking for help will receive here pedagogical and spiritual support as well as they will be invited to make abstinence vows in the solemn liturgical setting. Men who decided to dedicate their time to help others have been saved from the dependency many years and now want to share their experience of freedom and to testify that sober life is beautiful and meaningful. All the best for the beginning.

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Second session on fundraising in Lviv
2011-06-29 15:37:36

In June 23-24, the Ukrainian Catholic schools' headmasters met in Lviv to learn about fundraising. It was the second session financed by the Communicantes Foundation. The second day of the meeting, led by Wojciech Zmudzinski SJ from the Arrupe Center, was dedicated to such topics as cooperation with business, effective research of individual donors, internal and external case statement.

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Egyptian High School Pupils Learned About Democratic Transformation
2011-06-29 05:53:44

A group of Egyptian pupils from Jesuit school in Cairo came to Gdynia for the youth exchange. On June 22 they have visited Arrupe Center to listen about the experience of democratic transformation in Poland and Albania. During the meeting Wojciech Zmudzinski SJ pointed out that the real and meaningful transformation will occur only if both oppressors and oppressed will change they way of thinking. To oppress oppressors is not the solution.

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Conference on fundraising in Lviv
2011-03-29 06:06:26

On March 24, 2011, in frame of the larger training program for Catholic educational leaders, Wojciech Żmudziński SJ was speaking in Lviv on fundraising in education (see interview). Participants met in the profesional aula of the National Bank of Ukraine. Training program will continue in June 2011. On the photo below: sister Eufrosinia - director of the Catholic kindergarden in Drohobycz, fr. Ivan Hnativ - responsible for Chatolic schools in Ukraine and Ms. Ljuba Wojtko - pedagouge and coordinator of in-service training programs for teachers.

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Pedagogical Conference in Moscow
2010-10-23 05:32:11

The Saint Thomas Institute of Philosophy, Theology, and History have organized in Moscow a pedagogical conference on Jesuit education. During the conference, Wojciech Żmudziński SJ, director of the Arrupe Center, presented a topic of INTERPLAY OF EXPERIENCE, REFLECTION, AND ACTION IN THE IGNATIAN PEDAGOGICAL PARADIGM and professor Dmitrij Szmonin spoke about PHILOSOPHY IN THE RATIO STUDIORUM. Higher education teachers of different fields of specialization took part in the conference. On the photo below: a main building of the Institute in Moscow on Fryderyk Engels street.

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Jesuit European Social Week in Brussels
2010-08-31 18:22:45

The Jesuit European Social Week took place in Brussels from 24 to 28 August. For three days, representatives of the social apostolate - province delegates, social centre staff and people involved in specific works such as JRS or the Worker's Mission - listened to experiences from the ground as well as to inputs from experts on insertion communities, schools for disadvantaged pupils, social research and Ignatian advocacy. Some of the emerging focus areas of the social apostolate in Europe are: the relationship between the intellectual apostolate and social commitment, the creation of a network of European social centres, insertion communities for Jesuits in formation, and relations between the European and African social apostolate.

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For a better school climate - conference in Bulgaria
2010-08-28 15:23:32

International conference entitled FOR A BETTER SCHOOL CLIMATE took place in Sophia (Bulgaria) in August 9-11, 2010. Participants came from schools, universities and ngo's from Bulgaria, Lithuania, Estonia, Czech Republic, Poland, and Serbia. Conference was organized by Madara Foundation and financed by the Open Society Institute. On the third day of the conference the INTERNATIONAL NETWORK OF EDUCATORS FOR A BETTER SCHOOL CLIMATE have been established. The internet site to facilitate exchange of experience and innovative solutions will be created soon. On the photo below: professor Irena Smetackova from the Carl University in Prague.

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Spiritual retreat in the Nazareth Center in Ukraine
2010-08-28 15:12:00

Wojciech Zmudzinski SJ offered a spiritual retreat for social workers and therapists working in the center for drug addicts and alcoholics in Nazareth center close to Drohobycz (Western Ukraine). Among participants were also employees of the Caritas. Thanks to the hospitality of Fr. Ivan Hnativ and Fr. Igor Kozankiewicz, director of the Arrupe Center had an opportunity to visit IJELP student sister Euvrosinia and see historical places of Drohobycz.

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From Belarus to the Arrupe Center for internship
2010-08-28 14:45:20

In July 2010, Ija Smirnova from Minsk came to the Arrupe Center to help us in international networking project. She was sponsored by the Polish-Amarican Foundation of Freedom and Education for Democracy Foundation. All expenses connected to her internship were covered by the RITA program. Ija Smirnova visited also other nongovernmental organizations and worked with disadvantaged children from Poland and Lithuania. On the photo below: Ija Smirnova, Elżbieta Kowalik, and Beata Samojłowicz - president of the Borussia Association, in front of the Borussia office in Olsztyn.

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Polish social after IJELP lessons - July 8, 2010
2010-07-08 22:26:07

After Italian and Lithuanian integration evenings the time came for the Polish one. We were singing, dancing, eating and presenting Polish history. Our friends from Lithuania, Ukraine, Italy and Siria sang the Polish folk song Krakowiaczek jeden. They did it without our help and almost perfect.

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Secrets of Jesuit education by Eraldo Cacchione SJ
2010-07-07 19:30:44

During the fourth day of the International Jesuit Education Leadership Program, an Italian Jesuit, Eraldo Cacchione, presented to the teachers and headmasters one of the most important documents of the Society of Jesus which explains all characteristics of Jesuit education.

The day before all participants of IJELP took part of the Lithuanian integration evening with national food and dances.

SEE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENING DANCES

This week we will continue to enjoy our IJELP community with Polish dishes and songs. Next socials will be prepared by Syrian and Ukrainian participants. The July session will end by July 18th. Next year IJELP will take place also in Gdynia in July 4-24, 2011.
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New edition of IJELP started
2010-07-05 17:51:01

A new edition of the International Jesuit Education Leadership Program started in Gdynia (Poland). Participants from Lithuania, Ukraine, Siria and Poland will work together for two weeks.

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Workshop on Youth Culture in Ukraine
2010-05-04 15:56:35

From April 30 to May 2, 2010, Arrupe Center trainers, Bożena Prątnicka-Olszewska and Zbigniew Kruszewski, have been leading a workshop for teachers from Catholic schools in Ukraine. The topic of the training was YOUTH CULTURE. More than 30 participants from 6 schools took part in 16 hours of presentations and activities. At the same time director of the Arrupe Center visited places, in which Catholic Church is planing to build a new school and the orphanotrophy. Coming back to Poland, trainers and the director, came by the famous former Jesuit College in Chyrow (1886-1939). On the photo below: a small part of the walls of a Jesuit College in Chyrow.

More photos from Chyrow in PHOTO-GALERY of BYĆ DLA INNYCH magazine. Photos from the workshop see below clicking on more.
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440th Anniversary of the Jesuit High School in Vilnius
2010-03-07 20:28:03

On March 4, our friends from Jesuit High School in Vilnius celebrated 440th Anniversary of the foundation of the school in year 1570. Fr. provincial Gintaras Vitkus presided the Holy Mass in the Saint Casimir Church, and students with their teachers gave an excellent concert in National Philharmony. Director of the Arrupe Center and the chaplain of the Jesuit High School in Gdynia were among invited gests. Former and present headmaster of the school in Vilnius as well as a group of teachers are the alumni of International Jesuit Education Leadership Program offered by the Arrupe Center. On the photo below: main entrance to the Jesuit High School in Vilnius.

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Second training session in Egypt
2009-10-16 13:54:46

During the second session of the IPP workshop in Minia, participants learn about the dynamics of the integral pedagogical paradigm and the role of a teacher. They also work on active methods aimed to deeper involvement of students into the lesson activities, on multiply intelligences, cooperative learning, case studies, mind mapping, students' portfolio, how to deal with talented student, and how to create positive school climate.

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Arrupe Center continue educational mission in Egypt
2009-09-12 22:21:43

Arrupe Center in cooperation with Egiptian Jesuit Counsulting & Training Center is working in Minia on the formation program for teachers involved in educational projects in Minia, Armand, Luxor and Asuan. The first four-days workshop was concluded in September 12. The next will start on September 14. Because of Ramadan the schedule provides longer brakes for prayer. It also gives an opportunity for the trainers to rest little bit and have rest from very high temperatures. Egiptian teachers, both Christians and Muslims, learn how to motivate students to work during lessons in the school, how to move their will and heart to reflect on the meaning of what they learn and experience.

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Conference in Leuven (Belgium)
2009-09-12 21:59:27

In September 7, 2009, Wojciech Zmudzinski SJ spoke at the Catholic University in Leuven. The speech about the leadership approach to difficult situations was addressed to doctoral and postgraduate students from different european countries. On the photo below: cathedral in Leuven.

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Educational challenges in Belarus (RITA program)
2009-07-20 11:11:59

Polish-Belarussian meeting, financed by RITA program and dedicated to educational challenges started in Gdynia (Poland) in July 17, 2009. The next step of the project will consist of the research among teachers and parents living in big cities in Belarus. Results of our research will help us to build a counseling internet site dealing with educational problems parents and teachers experience in their difficult role to upbringing children.

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Last session of the International Conference on Leadership
2009-07-15 04:31:30

On Sunday, July 12, participants of the IJELP International Conference on Leadership have presented some results of previous IJELP sessions since 1998. Representatives of 10 countries have been working on strengthening international network of educational leaders and new ideas of international cooperation have been born. The seventh edition of IJELP is planed in July 3-18, 2010.

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International Conference on Leadership in Gdynia
2009-07-10 03:46:21

The International Jesuit Education Leadership Program Conference is being held between 8th and 12th July 2009 in Pedro Arrupe Centre in Gdynia, Poland. The 5-day event has been organized by the Arrupe Center (Poland) in cooperation with the Socires Foundation (Holland) and gathered representatives of catholic educational establishments from Belarus, Ukraine, Lithuania, Romania, Croatia, Denmark, Italy, Norway, Poland and Egypt.

The focus of the conference is on leadership and effective management of educational institutions. The special guests, who will share their knowledge and experience with the participants, are:

Christopher Lowney from the USA - a former Jesuit, who later joined J. P. Morgan & Co., serving as a managing director and management committee member in Tokyo, Singapore, London, and New York until 2001, author of the widely acclaimed book Heroic Leadership: Best Practices from a 450-Year-Old Company that Changed the World.

Alfred Darmanin SJ from Malta, theologian, philosopher, mathematitian and psychologist specializing in psychology of leadership, Head of the Psychology Department at the University of Malta between 1988-1994 where he teaches as a senior lecturer, author of books The Skilled Leader: An Integrated Approach to Leadership and Developing Leadership Skills. A Training Manual for Leaders.

Erik Bloemkolk from the Netherlands, an international cooperation expert, trainer in lobby and advocacy as well as strategic planning, experienced lobbyist and project manager, Director of SOFT Tulip also working for Socires Foundation in The Hague.

Thomas Roach SJ from the USA, longstanding Headmaster of Jesuit schools in the United States of America, working as President of Georgetown Preparatory School Washington for the last 15 years, the Secretary for Education by Superior General of the Society of Jesus in Rome.

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Reflective teacher - workshop in Buczacz (Ukraine)
2009-06-27 07:17:56

Teachers from Ukrainian Catholic schools participated in a course led by the Arrupe Center in June 22-25, 2009. Participants, gathered in Bazilian monastery in Buczacz (Ukraine), were introduced to different models of staff development and they learned how to grow professionally and personally through reflection on their own experience. Two Arrupe Center trainers: Elżbieta Lauk and Wojciech Żmudziński SJ shared their experience in facilitating students' and teachers' growth. It was third meeting for the same group of teachers involved into leadership formation project promoted by the Patriarchal Commission of Catholic Education and supported financialy by Koch Foundation from USA and Magis Foundation from Poland. Two other meetings took place in Lviv (January 2009) and Ivano-Frankovsk (March 2009).

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Workshop for Christian Ethics teachers
2009-06-27 06:50:45

Today, June 21, 2009, a workshop for Ukrainian teachers of Christian Ethics was concluded. The topic was BIBLE IN TEACHING AND EVANGELIZATION. Almost 50 participants worked hard for three days and asked for future cooperation in frame of ARRPE CENTER BIBLE ACADAMY PROJECT and Biblical Formation promoted by the Pedagogical and Catechetical Institute of Ukrainian Catholic University.

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IPP workshop at Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv
2009-06-25 13:38:35

On June 17, 2009, three days workshop for students and teachers from Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv began. The main topic is Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm.

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Workshop for teachers in Ukraine
2009-03-27 13:19:27

A training session for teachers from Catholic schools in Ukraine has been started today. The training will be conducted by Krzysztof Durnaś from Łódz and the subject of the session is parent-teacher / parent-school cooperation. The Pedro Arrupe Center has been cooperating with Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church for over two years now, providing professional training on teaching methods as well as education management and administration to teachers and headmasters from the region.

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Help from Australia
2009-01-10 15:35:57

Thanks to efforts of Mr. Chris Sadowski, the chief of Medical Mission of Australia, once again we have received the finicial support for our activities. This time, for gained funds we repaired our minibus, which was standing immobile for a few weeks and was waiting for benevolent donors. Since January 6th , i.e. from Holidays of the Epiphany, we are motorized and on the wheels again. We thank God for this help, knowing that we can always count on our friends from Australia. Above all minibus Trafic Renault serves us for foreign missions and mostly we use it during our departures to Belarus and Ukraine, where Arrupe Center together with Educational Clinic are reaching with a formational help to teachers that work at schools and educators that are working with the addicted people. On the photo below, minibus in Belarus in 2007.

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Teacher in a Catholic school in Ukraine
2009-01-10 15:34:10

In January 2-4, 2009, Arrupe Center in cooperation with Educational Committee of Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, organized workshop for representatives of ukrainian Catholic schools. Activities on spiritual and moral development have been offered by alumnus of IJELP, responsible for Educational Committee, father Ivan Hnativ. Olesia Bik, a psychologist from Lviv Technical University, spoke about relationship between teachers and parents and Wojciech Zmudzinski SJ, director od the Arrupe Center, introduced participants into Ignatian Pedagogical Paradigm. For the three days workshops, 36 teachers came from different parts of Ukraine.

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Educational Clinic for Drug and Violence Prevention
2008-11-01 11:53:38

By the end of October 2008 the Personal Development Program for youth started again. Our educators visited several schools and they invited high school students to join personal development groups. More than 70 students answered the invitation. Group work is going to start on November 8th. Young people will work on their own personal growth throug workshops and involvement into volunteer service. On the photo below, students are puting their names on the list asigning them to groups.

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Integral Pedagogical Paradigm for Ukrainian and Belarussian teachers
2008-08-26 16:33:30

Ukrainian and Belarussian teachers came to Gdynia to participate in four-days workshop offered by the Arrupe Center as a part of Educational Leadership Formation Project. All participants learned about the methodology of teaching focused on direct experience and reflection. Moreover, they had an opportunity to listen about the best educational practices in Polish schools. The project has been supported by an anonymous foundation from Germany and the Mayor of Gdynia.

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