The "Help Children in Pogorzel, Poland" Foundation was founded by Elzbieta (Elizabeth) Zaremba-Swat and Krzysztof (Christopher) Swat in 1998 to assist in the health care and education of 120 children, grades K-6, who attend school in Pogorzel.

Pogorzel is a small rural community in northeast Poland. It lies in an agricultural region with a climate similar to Buffalo, NY. Most of the farms were collectivized after World War II. The collapse of the communist government heralded a period of neglect and rapid decline, and the people in the area now find themselves in the limbo of living on land they have worked for their entire lives, yet they have neither permission, nor equipment and materials to farm for themselves. There are no industries close by and it is a five-mile walk to the nearest bus line. Although the people of the area have been extremely hard workers, the present Polish government prefers to invest in "showcase" programs in highly visible areas, and the well being of remote, former collective farms is simply not a priority. The average family lives below the poverty level of $1 a day per family. At present, the area suffers from 40% unemployment and most of the attendant ills - one-parent families, high mortality among young males, malnutrition and a variety of diseases - to name a few.

Elizabeth first learned of Pogorzel and its problems during a 1998 visit to Poland, when an affluent private school in Warsaw hosted 20 children from the rural school for a one-time visit that lasted 7 days. For many of the farm children, it was the first time they had worn pajamas or slept in a bed of their own. For others, it was the first time they had eaten three meals in a single day. She learned that back home, many of them had to hunt for garden snails and rabbits to get protein into their diet, and occasionally, some of them had resorted to eating grass as well. On the flight back home, she resolved to take some small steps to alleviate the worst of the suffering. She shared her concerns with her husband, who agreed to help in any way he could. Today, Elizabeth and Christopher personally sponsor 3 families, as well as meeting many other needs and working hard to get others involved in helping this community.

The most immediate concerns were medical and hygienic. Some of the children had never brushed their teeth, and had no toothbrushes or toothpaste even if they had known how. Scabies, lice, acne, yeast infections and nutritional deficiencies were rampant, and since many of those conditions can lead to learning deficiencies by themselves, attending to them was the first order of business.

The Pogorzel school has neither a nurse nor a hygienist, and teachers are prohibited from providing any medical services, so during our 2002 visit, we brought vitamins, medicines and hair dryers to wage war on the most pressing problems. We provided examinations and followed up our clinical work with education in people's homes - instructing residents in basic hygiene and helping them to launder their clothing, sheets, pillowcases and curtains in an effort to starve the parasites and eradicate them. The excellent results have confirmed the success of our initial programs, and the enthusiasm that routinely greets us merely underscores how little medical attention the are is receiving. All told, during our 2002 visit, we assessed over 350 children and their families for general health conditions.

In 1999, a new school was finally build - but only after the principal waged a valiant, decade-long campaign to get the central government to replace the unheated wooden barracks that had been serving up until that time. The old school had had no halls, inside bathrooms or playgrounds. The new building is beautiful but small. It has no kitchen or dining area and the government's budget for it is still meager. We brought them much needed school supplies and old computers, and hope to keep a steady stream of supplies flowing into the school every year. Since the region gets bitterly cold, even the clothing is a health issue. Toys and clothing are collected regularly and distributed 3 to 4 times a year as well.

We also instituted a breakfast program to ensure that each child got at least a pastry and fruit each morning, and for many it is their only genuine meal of the day. The school serves as a haven for many of the children, who love to go where they are assured a meal and a place to play in safe, secure surroundings. We have provided some landscaping for the school grounds, and our next big project is a playground, which will cost around $2,000. A jungle gym and a swing set are just a few of the items on the wish list.

Eventually, we would like to start a small micro-economic project in Pogorzel, perhaps by buying some land and encouraging people to plant and tend their own gardens. More immediately, though, we are encouraging direct sponsorship. Direct sponsorship ensures that the sponsor's dollars will have maximum effect, and the effect can be monumental. One local 18-year-old boy dreamed of going to college but could not afford it. Just $720 paid for 2 years of his tuition. We also placed three women (who could not afford the $5/month for contraceptives) on a birth control program, helping to keep their 11 and 13 children families at their present number.

Our most important and pressing project is direct sponsorship of individual families. Currently, we have an urgent need for sponsors. The Foundation will provide you with guidance, advice and translation services if you wish to sponsor a family directly, or you can send your tax-deductible contribution directly to the Foundation and we will take care of your family for you. 100% of your funds will go directly to the children and their families, and you will receive a regular update about the family you choose. Just $100-150 sent four times a year can assist a single family at critical times by helping them to prepare for school in September, buy food for Christmas and Easter, and prepare them again for vacation time in the summer. Such specific donations are a tremendous personal enrichment in their lives, and coupled with the comprehensive health and school programs, aid morale and give hope as well.

Hope is the spring that makes the oasis green. It is the place where everything begins again, and it is the one thing we can provide to the children of Pogorzel this coming year. Last year, the children of Pogorzel made 500 beautiful holiday cards. They are already working on cards for this year, which will be available for purchase this Christmas season.

If you wish to help by sponsoring a family or child, by donating clothes (new or old) for children and adults, by donating toys or school supplies, or help in any other way, please check out the rest of this website or contact us at:
"Help Children in Pogorzel, Poland" Foundation
133 Tresser Boulevard, 15-E
Stamford, CT 06901
(203) 353-1963 (Tel/Fax)
Attn: Elizabeth Zaremba-Swat
or Christopher Swat
helpchpog@yahoo.com