Day Care Home for Seniors and the ConceptLAB robotics workshop - these two places can be used by the residents of Hrubieszów from January.
40 years ago, in the now non-existent Skarpa cinema in Warsaw, the premiere of the now cult "Seksmisja" („Sexmission” in English) by Juliusz Machulski took place. The bon mot spoken by Max, played by Jerzy Stuhr, is as iconic in Poland as the film itself:
"Direction - east! There must be some civilization there"
Back then, these words had a very mocking nature. Suffice it to say that the censorship in Poland cut out the fragment about the East and civilization, and in the USSR the film was shown in a shortened version.
You're probably wondering how to connect this short story with Hrubieszów. Let me explain. Hrubieszów is the easternmost Polish town. A far-fetched association? Perhaps, but thanks to what the town is doing with the help of the EEA and Norway Grants, words about civilization in the East are no longer funny, but become an expression of appreciation for the town that cares about the needs of its inhabitants - the youngest and the slightly older ones.
Meeting of seniors with the mayor of Hrubieszów, Marta Majewska (photo: Hrubieszów City Hall)
Warmth and care
In Hrubieszów, one third of the inhabitants are over 60 years of age.
"Day Care Home, as the name suggests, is supposed to be a place that seniors will associate with home, i.e. with warmth and care. This was also the goal when we decided to establish a Day Home for Seniors in Hrubieszów. It is a place where seniors can spend time actively and safely" - said the mayor of Hrubieszów, Marta Majewska, in July 2023 in a statement for Catholic Radio Zamość.
Half a year later, in January 2024, the home opened its doors to seniors. For now, seniors are spending time together in a temporary location - at 3 Maja 6 street, but this will change soon. The renovation of the manor house at Staszica 9 street will be completed in June. This place will become the facility's final headquarters.
The manor house at Staszica 9 street, which will ultimately house the Day Home for Seniors (photo: Hrubieszów City Hall)
Active seniors
Senior citizens of Hrubieszów are already taking advantage of various activities. At the beginning of March, they were visited by police officers who, as part of the "Stop Fraudsters" campaign, advised seniors how not to be scammed "by a grandson" or "by a policeman" methods. They also talked about the safety of seniors on the road and emphasized how important it is to wear reflective elements after dark.
A few weeks ago, seniors met with Agnieszka Stankiewicz, who works as a psychologist at the Hrubieszów Prison, and took part in relaxation classes.
Music therapy classes started at the beginning of March. Seniors also participate in age-appropriate physical exercises and artistic activities.
Gymnastic classes for seniors (photo: Day Home for Seniors)
Best practices from Norway
When planning this type of support for seniors, local government officials from Hrubieszów use the best examples. They cooperate with the Norwegian municipality of Elverum, which has extensive experience in caring for the elderly and activating seniors.
In November 2023, officials from Hrubieszów visited Elverum. On site, they observed how the Jotuntoppen residential and care center operated, the work of participants of the Askeladden textile workshops and the functioning of the Sundsvol activity center.
Visit of Hrubieszów local government officials in Elverum, Norway (photo: Hrubieszów City Hall)
Meanwhile, renovation works are in full swing at the future headquarters of the Day Care Home for Seniors. According to the agreement, the investment should be ready no later than June 9, 2024. In the manor house at Staszica 9 street will be built, among others: rehabilitation point, relaxation room, recreation room, toilets and kitchen and utility rooms.
"We also plan to create a 'Senior's Guide' containing basic information useful for older people, e.g. a list of emergency telephone numbers, addresses and telephone numbers of the most important public institutions, health institutions, non-governmental organizations and pharmacies" - says the project website.
Meeting of seniors with a psychologist (photo: Day Home for Seniors)
Transformers from Hrubieszów
This article started with a quote from the movie „Seksmisja”. Perhaps it should start with the Transformers. Henry Orenstein was born in Hrubieszów. He is an extraordinary character. During the war, he was a prisoner in several concentration camps. After the war, he created inventions, ran various companies and was involved in philanthropy. He patented, among other things, Transformers - toys that transform from robots into cars and vice versa. The youngest certainly know them from the films were a huge box office success a few years ago.
Why are we writing about this? On January 30, 2024, the ConceptLAB robotics laboratory was opened at Primary School No. 3 in Hrubieszów.
"The inspiration for creating the studio was Henry Orenstein. This studio was intended to commemorate him. The entire decor is inspired by robots and Transformers. The location of the ConceptLAB studio is not accidental either. A few years ago, a mural depicting Henryk Orenstein was created on the building of Primary School No. 3. This is a continuation of the intended plans that the city is implementing to commemorate this figure" - explains Anna Wójcik-Dąbrowska from the Local Development Project Office of the Hrubieszów City Hall in a statement for Polish Radio Lublin.
Opening of the ConceptLAB robotics workshop in Hrubieszów (photo: Hrubieszów City Hall)
Programming development
"ConceptLAB is a creative world of construction blocks and an introduction to robotics, to the idea of IoT (Internet of Things) and IoE (Internet of Everything)" - we read on the project website.
Programming and design classes are conducted there. ConceptLAB has created design, prototyping and testing stations in the areas of:
- 3D printing,
- design using CAD and other tools,
- tool station (e.g. basic carpentry, electronic and electrical tools, etc.),
- private cloud computing (server).
Opening of the ConceptLAB robotics workshop in Hrubieszów (photo: Hrubieszów City Hall)
In February, training for teachers began at ConceptLAB.
"They will also acquire new skills, which they will later share with their students. This is certainly a big step towards the future, so that our children leave Hrubieszów with better skills, acquire these competences, but also are not afraid of operating various equipment that they will surely encounter someday" - says Marzena Bednarczuk to Polish Radio Lublin , principal of Primary School No. 3 in Hrubieszów.
Comprehensive project
The creation of a robotics workshop and a Day Care Home for Seniors are just two elements of a much larger project that is being implemented by Hrubieszów with the help of the EEA and Norway Grants. The project is called "Local Development of Hrubieszów - from participation to implementation" and includes, among others:
- creation of the environmental EkoLab workshop and purchase of new containers for waste segregation,
- construction of the Hrubieszów Communication Center,
- organizing urban space and adapting it to the needs of older people and people with disabilities,
- promotion of the city, e.g. by developing and publishing a publication about historic Hrubieszów (including its underground) and developing an audio guide and a walking map of tourist attractions in the center of Hrubieszów,
- development of an "open governance",
- strategy at the Hrubieszów City Hall,
- establishing bilateral cooperation with the City of Elverum,
- creation of the Creative Center for Education and Economic Cooperation in Hrubieszów.
The project closing conference took place on March 6, 2024 at the Municipal Public Library in Hrubieszów (photo: Hrubieszów City Hall)
We encourage you to visit the project website.
The town obtained PLN 15.33 million for the project from the EEA abnd Norway Grants under the Local Development Programme.