A yuletide sanity clause

Santa Claus flew into Warsaw early last week for a special pre-Christmas visit.

The occasion was a yuletide celebration for 300 underprivileged children who receive care and support from the Children's Friends Society in the Praga-Północ district.

For many of these children, aged 6 to 15, it was the first time they had ever attended such an event.

There were games organized, a giant jumping castle, a computer corner, face painting and even a disco. But the highlight of the party was definitely the man in the big red suit.

Throughout the afternoon, a steady flow of excited children visited Santa's glittering grotto, and emerged with big smiles clutching their very own teddy bear and gift bag.

The event was organized by a hard-working team of volunteers and sponsors.

"It was a fantastic day for these children because Christmas for them looks very different compared to children from more secure families," said Wanda Jaworska-Malicka, president of the Children's Friends Society in Praga-Północ.

"These children don't always have something to eat for Christmas or receive presents, so this was a big day."

The Society, founded under a different name in 1918, provides after-school care for these 300 children at one of four centers in the Praga district. The centers are a place for the children to have dinner, do their homework and play before returning home at 7 p.m.

According to Jaworska-Malicka, around 86% of these children come from alcoholic families. Others live in poverty or in unhappy homes.

"I really think our centers make a difference to the lives of these children," said Jaworska-Malicka, who has worked for the society for five years. "We help shape their characters and sensitivity. They feel loved and accepted in these centers. It doesn't mean their parents don't love them, but many have trouble showing their feelings and that's what we teach the kids in the centers … they can always come to us and tell us their problems or cry them away."

To run the centers, Jaworska-Malicka receives just 27 groszy per-child per day from Praga Północ District Social Care. The rest is made up with whatever donations and sponsors Jaworska-Malicka can arrange.

Craig Lewis Darbey is one person who has been a long-time supporter of the Society. Over the past five years, Lewis Darbey, his friends, colleagues and business associates have raised around zł. 250,000. He was also the driving force behind the Christmas party, which he hopes will become an annual event.

At the Christmas party, companies such as Galeria Mokotów, KFC, PepsiCo, Pizza Hut, Cadbury Wedel, Colgate-Palmolive and Marriott International, donated food and gifts for the children. Also lending a hand on the day was moving company AGS International Moving & Storage; accounting firms KPMG and TMF and real estate companies, Celtic Asset Management, Healey & Baker and Jones Lang LaSalle.

Around 50 volunteers - many of them from another long-time Society supporter, the expat Frogs & Co. Rugby Club - spent the day helping organize the 300 children.

The Scottish expat organization, The Caledonian Society, showed its support by donating seven new wheelchairs. Magda, 14, who attends one of the Society's after-school care centers, received a new wheelchair at the party.

"I'm having a great day," Magda said. "Usually Christmas is a family thing but (the Society) is just like my family."

Darbey is already working on his next fundraising event - The Groszy Appeal. If you would like to find out more details, please e-mail Craig Lewis Darbey at darbey@celtic.pl.

Celia Barnes