Quo Vadis II Essay Contest 2010- Third Place
What ground-breaking initiatives would you propose to second and third-generation Polish North Americans to foster a greater pride in their heritage?
The Clock is Ticking: Bridging the Gap Between Young and Elder Polonia
by Kamila Podbielski
Of great importance in the spirit of heritage, unity and leadership are innovative changes that are required in order to establish better communication between young and elder Polonia. It is important that we understand this relationship as we are racing against the clock in terms of passing on knowledge and experiences between the two groups.
The gap between the young and elder Polonia is crucial to understand and improve. Young Polonia must be patient and respectful of their elders and appreciate their hard work and dedication. There are lots of occurrences nowadays where the young Polonia ignore and do not consider the history or experiences of their elders. We must realize that their knowledge and experiences growing up were different from ours. For instance, the Polish Combatants' Association of Canada (SPK in its Polish acronym), an international non-profit organization provides aid for Polish war amputees, helps maintain Polish military ceremonies and also maintains Polish traditions and cultural activities by supporting the Polish Scout movement in Canada, various folk dance ensembles, schools and church libraries. I have volunteered numerous times at SPK, and I am sad to say that there are not many young people volunteering at SPK events. It is very interesting to listen and learn from our elders. However, nowadays, it appears that the Polish culture and appreciation is slowly declining. Students often attend Polish school on Saturday mornings because their parents force them to or in order to receive a high school credit. Quite often, these students start university and/or college and lose their connection with the Polish community because they do not know how to go about signing up for clubs, dance ensembles, etc.
An idea to bridge the gap between the elders and young would be to have active Polish university students go to the polish schools and give presentations explaining how to get involved in university and how to continue to stay connected with Polonia, specifically their elders. For instance, the Polish Students' Association at the University of Toronto, on which I am currently Public Relations, hosts their annual soirees or parties at SPK in order to stay connected with their polish roots. However, lately prices have risen and the elders are becoming less open to hosting university parties at SPK. In order to gain their trust, we must show that we are capable of carrying out our tasks and are willing to volunteer or attend their annual events (i.e. The Tribute to Canada's Wounded Warriors on May 8th). Another idea is for young students to visit during important holidays - religious, historical, etc. and prove to the elders that they are interested in helping out and volunteering. A relationship must be built on trust. The main slogan for youth to keep in mind should be "no deposit, no return". In order to gain the elder's understanding and open-mindedness we must demonstrate our willingness and appreciation for them as well. For instance, a new organization, "the Polish Students' Initiative of Canada" (PISK) on which I am currently Public Relations, volunteered their time during the holiday season by singing carols at the Copernicus Old Age Home (a Polish nursing home). Not only did this bring a vast amount of joy to the elders but it also sparked an appreciation and care for a continuation of our Polish culture and heritage. Many of these elders do not have any relatives left in Canada or Toronto and do not have a chance to speak polish or share their pasts. Therefore, a new incentive that could help bridge the gap between the young and elder Polonia could be for young Polonia to form a group of mentors whereby each individual is assigned to an elder and visits them at least once a month. This will establish a connection between the two generations and also form an understanding and appreciation for one another's experiences within the Polish community.
In order to bridge the gap between the young and elder Polonia the elders must also be more open-minded and welcoming to new, more ‘modern' ideas from the youth. I have tried to attract other youth to come out to the SPK Toronto Branch 20 Building which is located very close to the University of Toronto campus; however there is always a low response and interest. A great idea to consider in order to bridge this gap would be to incorporate more of a student setting in this building (for instance, a pool table) or to make one night of the week a student night. However, this is difficult to do because the building is only open in the evenings on Thursdays or weekends when scheduled events are already happening. Students must show respect and kindness towards the elders in order to gain trust from them. We cannot assume they will leave the building open to us right away, this will take time. Furthermore, another economical suggestion for the elder Polonia is not to sell real state and buildings to non-polish organizations. These buildings and parks should be kept for the future Polonia and they should renovate and build new sports facilities or cabins for polish teams. This will encourage polish teams to play in their areas and promote their culture and traditions. For instance, at Paderewski Park, there are huge fields which could be used for concerts or sports events. They could build an outdoor and/or indoor rink to encourage young people to attend polish events. There should be no entrance fees, except for special occasions, i.e. a concert or sports event. Otherwise, the park should be open to the public on a day to day basis so families could enjoy picnics or a beautiful day out in the sun. They should publicize these events on TV to attract young people. In addition, the elder Polonia should support more scholarships for active Polish youth that contribute to their community. This will encourage the younger generation to stay active and through scholarships and/or awards they will feel rewarded for their actions. Overall, I think the elder Polonia need to be more open-minded to new incentives the younger generation has because if not the future Polonia community will deteriorate.
Another change that would help bridge this gap is if the older generations would allow younger Polonia on the executives of various clubs and associations. The older generation can act as mentors for the young people who will be the future leaders of Polonia. It is critical for the younger Polonia to be aware of the polish traditions and history. The elder Polonia do not have to resign from their positions as presidents or other roles, but rather show trust to the younger generation and help them lead new clubs and carry on their older ones. This is essential or else many clubs may end up with few members in the future. Furthermore, I think it would be a great advantage for Polish school teachers to be cognizant of the lack of relationship, and actively foster that growth. Through their energy, enthusiasm and connection they can inspire the younger generation. They should keep an interest in inviting active young Polish individuals to come in and speak about their experiences in their classes. By doing this young Polish "engaged" people will be more of a regular occurrence, rather than an exception. This growth of relationship can only be achieved if both parties realize the importance of each other's knowledge.
Bridging the gap between the younger and elder Polonia is not an easy task, however it is possible. Trust, determination, open-mindedness and kindness are key characteristics that must be demonstrated between both generations for changes to flourish. It will take time and effort but it can be done! CR
