Open World “NGO Development” delegation in Philadelphia
A five-member delegation on the topic of “NGO Development and Fundraising” spent a week in Philadelphia – the first capital of the United States. As part of the professional program, delegates had the opportunity to meet representatives of many non-profit organizations that operate in various areas and learn about the specifics of the functioning of the third sector in the United States. It was a good opportunity to make observations and to see differences and similarities in the work of NGOs in both countries. All meetings with organizations were valuable, but the meetings with organizations (Mural Arts, Nationalities Service Center, Pathways to Housing) deserve special attention, as they turned out to be very inspiring.
Mural Arts has been connecting artists and the local community in creating art projects in the city for over 35 years. Due to the involvement of the community in Philadelphia, approximately 100 new murals are created annually. The work of Mural Arts can be seen in almost every neighborhood in Philadelphia. It is not without reason that this city is called the kingdom of colorful murals. The organization points out that when creating art, it is important that everyone has the opportunity to express themselves and their opinion, which is why they carry out a social diagnosis before each project. Residents participate in the entire process of creating murals, from the emergence of an idea to its implementation. They take part in meetings where they jointly decide where the mural will be created, what its theme will be, what elements should be on it and what value it will be for a given community.
Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine, the delegates have been involved in helping Ukrainian refugees who were coming to Poland. During the conversation with the Nationalities Service Center - an organization that works for immigrants and refugees, they exchanged their experiences and observations on the forms of helping refugees. The organization briefly presented the activities it conducts and shared tips on how they recruit and engage volunteers in its initiatives and what tools help them to expand the network of people willing to help.
In the United States, many people experience homelessness. In Philadelphia alone, about 5,000 people struggle with homelessness. Delegates met with Pathways to Housing, a non-profit organization whose mission is to help homeless people, and talked about the homelessness crisis and how to deal with it. The organization talked about the model of the "Housing First" program, which is dedicated to homeless people with mental disorders and addictions. First of all, the Program aims to make housing available to the homeless for an indefinite period, and then to surround these people with support and ensure access to health and social services. The delegates had the opportunity to ask about the rules of the program and its functioning.
As part of the cultural part of the Program, participants of the delegation had the opportunity to visit and discover the city with a guide, go to the National Constitution Center - an interactive museum, and to the Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed and the Constitution of the United States was adopted. The program also included spending time with host families, who willingly talked about their country and its culture and listened with curiosity about Poland and Polish traditions.
The Open World Program is funded by the United States Congress and is operated by the Congressional Office for International Leadership.
