Representatives of Barka UK: Bernadette Cassidy and Ewa Sadowska partcipate in seminar on Human Rights in Rome. Important part of the program will be an audience with Pope Benedict XVI.

The Symposium of the Oswiecim Academy in Rome: Human Right in the civilisation of solidarity.

During 8 -11 of December there was a symposium organised under the patronage of Pope Benedict XVI. On the eve of the 61 anniversary of passing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Oswiecim Human Rights Award of John Paul II was presented for the second time. The recipient of the Award was Professor Andre Glucksmann, one of the greatest contemporary philosophers and a well-known promoter of the matter of human being. The symposium was organized by the Oswiecim Academy and the Civic Space Foundation of Pro Publico Bono. Representatives of Barka UK took part in the symposium.

On November 28-29 2009, representatives of Barka UK: Lech Bor and Ewa Sadowska participated in the conference entitled: “Experiences of developing Polish communities in the UK” at the invitation of United Polish Falkirk (UPF). The conference was held in Falkirk in Edinburgh.

The meeting was attended by more than 50 people from twenty-Polish organizations from across the UK. Consul General in Edinburgh was also present , Dr. Thomas Trafas, Scottish Justice Minister Kenny MacAskill and the Mayor of Falkirk.

In his speech, Minister Kenny MacAskill said the history of Polish-Scottish friendship started in the seventeenth century, when large numbers of Scots emigrated to Poland.
Ewa Sadowska, and Lech Bor had 40-minute presentation of programs for inclusion in Barka in Poland and €œBarka in Great Britain.

On Monday, November 30 Lech and Ewa participated in a meeting with representatives of the Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh and local organizations that work with citizens of the A10 countries in Edinburgh and Glasgow, were also invited by the Consul General in Scotland on the follow-up meeting at the Polish Embassy. Issues were related to problems of the citizens of Central and Eastern Europe countries in Scotland (40% of homeless people on the streets of Edinburgh are the Poles) and the start of programs for the integration of migrants in Scotland (similar to public private partnerships developed by the Barka UK in London).

Minister of Justice Kenny MacAskill has expressed willingness to cooperate with the Barka’€™s program to support a network of A10 migrants in Scotland.

Representatives list:

http://www.emito.net/praca/artykuly/lamiemy_stereotypy_638186.html

Delegation from Rotterdam City Council visited Barka UK – Migrants Support Program in London on November 26-27, 2009.

Rotterdam study visit itinerary, please see below:

Study Visit of the representatives of the Rotterdam City Council to the public &€“ private partnerships for support to vulnerable Eastern European Migrants in London, UK.

Day 1 (Thursday the 26th of November 2009)

11.30 -€“ meeting with the City & Tower Hamlets Councils partnership and the introduction to the Dellow Centre and the Barka reconnection project.

Delegates will learn about integration and reconnection programmes supporting vulnerable Eastern European migrants. The delegates will be given a tour around the Dellow Day Centre and will have a chance to meet with clients.

The meeting will be attended by local boroughs’ council representatives of the Corporation of the City of London and Tower Hamlets, Dellow Centre and Barka UK’€™s staff.

Location: 82 Wentworth Street, London E1 7SA.

13.00 -€“ working lunch

14.00 -€“ meeting with the Homeless Link.

The participants will learn about UK’€™s migration policy and economic migrants’ rights. Homeless Link is the national membership organization for frontline homelessness agencies in England whose mission is to be a catalyst that will help to bring an end to homelessness.

Location: Homeless Link Headquarters, 10- 13 Rushworth Street, London SE1 ORB

17.00 – Visit to the House of Lords (to be confirmed).

Meeting with Lord Roberts of Llandudno, Spokesman for Liberal Democrats, a committed advocate for economic migrants’€™ rights.

Day 2 Friday the 27th of November

6.00am – morning patrol on the streets of the City of London.

Delegates assisting Barka outreach team will have a chance to see the life of the London homeless people.

Meeting place: Liverpool Street Station (to be confirmed)

09.30€“ – meeting with the UK Government representatives (Mrs Michelle Binfield, Specialist Advisor to the Minister on homelessness/rough sleeping, Department of Communities and Local Government).

Location: CLG Headquarters, Eland House, London Bressenden Place, SW1E.

11.30 – meeting with Hammersmith and Fulham Council (the first local council in Europe involved in the partnership with Eastern European agency€“ Barka – to support economic migrants in difficult social and economic situations in London) – venue to be confirmed.

Delegates will learn about the cooperation of the Council with NGOs working with economic migrants.

13.00 – Guests depart the hotel and the airport.