We would appreciate the dissemination of this information to those who may be interested.

Forum Polonia (FP) is a cooperative platform that brings together representatives of various Polish community organisations, the media, and individuals involved in projects relating to the Polish minority and its links to Irish society as a whole.
Since 2008, FP has been operating through information exchanges, mutual supports, social integration, and promoting and developing the interests of the Polish community in the Republic of Ireland.

The aims of the Congress are to:
• Focus on the integration of the Polish communities in Ireland, particularly in the southern counties;
• Facilitate information exchange;
• Monitor the current situation of the Polish communities, with a particular focus on employment, health and social welfare, education, lobbying, the arts , integration, and the promotion of Poland;
• Discuss the potential benefits of Poland holding the EU presidency in 2011;
• Restructure the Forum Polonia network by adopting an official constitution.

Draft Conference Programme –(the final timetable will be announced soon)

Draft Schedule

10.30 Registration & tea/coffee
11.00 Official welcome by the organising committee followed by an introduction to the
mission of Forum Polonia
11.10 – 11.20 Opening speeches
11.20 – 11.50 Introduction of participants (1 minute each)
11.50 – 12.00 Tea/Coffee

12.00 – 13.30 Monitor the current situation of the Polish communities, particularly in view of the fact that Poland will hold the EU Presidency in 2011. This will include group discussions on employment, health and social welfare, education, lobbying, the arts , integration, and the promotion of Poland;
Group presentations

13.30- 14.30 Lunch

14.30 – 15.00 Participant projects. The following are already confirmed:
• Planned Parenthood (B. Dorda and E. Marchlewska)
• The National Census of Ireland 2011 (E. Marchlewska)
• The Volunteer Year (B. Molendowska)
• The PRL Exhibition (B. Molendowska and A. Pospieszynska)
• The PLAY Film Festival (A. Pospieszynska)

15.30 – 15.45 Tea/Coffee
15.45 – 16.30 Grants and application procedures
16.30 – 18.00 Presentation and discussion of the FP constitution – structure, action codes and administrative principles
18.00 Closing

All those interested are asked to contact FP at info@forumpolonia.org. In the event of a large number of applicants, the organisers reserve the right to select participants.

Organisers:
Emilia Marchelewska (Cairde, Evening Herald, IPS)
Beata Molendowska (My Cork),
Barnaba Dorda (Siptu),
Anna Pa? (Polski Express),
Niamh Nestor (UCD, IPS)
Anna Pospieszy?ska (Mosaic Arts Movement)
Grzegorz Rekas (MyCork)
Iza Krygiel – Koz?owska (MyCork)
Anna Michalska (Multicity Kilkenny)

Host: MyCork association

Related posts:

1. SAINT VALENTINE Life music and dance party
2. Academic Seminar: Polish Diaspora in Ireland: Yesterday and Today this Sunday
3. ‘Peter Pans’ – Polish theatre show in the Project Arts Centre