International voluntary organization "One World"
They have their "ark" in Warmątowice

"Barka" ('barka' means 'ark' in Polish) was created by the homeless for the homeless. Father Józef Krawiec was the one who initiated the formation of the shelter. The young from all over the world has been arriving in Warmątowic Kaczorowice.

This year volunteers from Italy, Switzerland and Poland from "One World" Association have been familiarised themselves with the way the similar shelters as Barka work. For this reason they were helping to run the household and in everyday life of people who live there for two weeks.
Mr Jan has lived in Barka for three years. He says he has got used to those young people with different and distant culture. He lost his house after the smelter Małapanew had gone down. Later on his rent arrears started to rise. Finally they were so high that the bailiff appeared-the flat was municipal. They turned him out into the street.
Lena- from Switzerland- has chosen work camp in Poland not on account of the country but because of the issue of homelessness. The problem is existing all over the world. I wanted to see how people cope with everyday life in communities like Barka. In Switzerland most of the homeless are in big cities, begging in the streets. The centre like this is something new for us. In Switzerland any help is usually temporary and the aim of it is to bring the person back to the society. Lena studies social work, and works in the organisation which helps people from South America. Barka is not just a shelter for the homeless. People who find work outside the centre live in separate room, they prepare meals on their own and pay bills for electricity-It is because we want to make those people more self-reliant-says Małgorzata Tarczyńska , workcamp "chief".

"Dom" and "Stajenka"
Barka Mutual Help Association created its first home in Grange Doroszów in Błotnica Strzelecka. Father Jan Krakowiec, prison chaplain in Strzelce Opolskie, was the prime mover and the author of relocating the idea and the Community. In 1998, thanks to his activity, the adapting of new buildings took place. Also here the first farm was founded. Today the homeless breed goats and horses, cultivate 40-hectares area. In year 2000 in Parmątowice Kaczorowi -in Strzelce Opolskie commune area -another shelter was created. In 2002 Barka Cross Help Association was registered. The most important achievements of the association are the construction of ecological waste-water treatment plant situated in Warmątowice and formation of the ecological boiler house in Doroszów, instead of the old one which used coal. The former State Owned Folwarks buildings were adapted. Twenty people live permanently in "Dom" and the homeless from all over Poland live in "Stajenka". Sometimes 60 people live there from October to Easter.
They sleep even on a floor.
-You can not say that people live here permanently. Whenever someone appears drunk -it's over. We do not tolerate alcohol in here-Mr Jan claims.

Volunteers build fences
Alessandro is long-term volunteer , he came from Eternal City, where the homelessness originate from the Empire Times. He can't describe how many homeless people there are exactly in his city-he only says that a lot.- Not only food vouchers are given to the homeless, ex-prostitutes, addicted but also those people are provided with shelter. They are registered and they have to check in order to confirm the registration.
What does such a camp mean to him? As he replies - it's a lesson on tolerance. It enables to overcome stereotypes connected with different nationalities.
Young volunteers help to run the farm. They have painted windows this year, cleaned rooms. The fruit of last year camps is a playground for children and a fence made of wattle.

"International evenings" are the traditional part of the camps. Each volunteer dances, sings or prepares a traditional meal to present his country to other participants. After that conversations with occupants from Barka take place. Volunteers listen to stories from their lives.

I haven't been on 'gigant'
Jan is very willing to tell about his life in Barka. He describes himself as " man that can fix everything". However he is specialized in central heating service. He was working in a smelter for 40 years. After he had lost his flat in Krasijow, he sheltered himself in a shed not to live in a street.
- People from City Centre of Social Service told me about Barka. I took my bike and came to see the centre. I liked it. I came back to collect my things. Part of them I brought on bike.

Jan's story hasn't had an ending yet. He doesn't know if he stays here. In three months he is going to receive his pension. However he is aware that it is not enough to cover all necessary costs.
- I have never been on 'gigant'. Life made me come here. People who have been "on their way" from 15 to 20 years usually come here. They don't want to obey the rules which exist in this place. I feel like a co-host in Barka. I want this place to look and function properly.
Last week Bark association opened another house in Redowice. This time is a centre for mothers who raise their children on their own.
-Voluntary camp in Barka is one of such meetings organized by SCI not only in Poland but also all over the world (in over 40 countries)-says Małgorzata Tarczyńska. Almost everyone can take part in camp. The subject matter is very wide: antiracism, refugees, ethnic minorities, disability, children, youth, the old, environment, art, culture, history. Wojciech Dobrowolski