FUNDATION – „RAZEM LEPIEJ” INTERVIEW WITH MAREK SZAMBELAN

What is “Razem Lepiej”, what does the organisation do and in what areas?
According to the founding act, the Foundation was established to help all those who need help. It’s a very wide range of activities that focus on countering domestic violence and providing support for families and single parents. Mainly, we help in solving life problems, provide legal advice and psychological support. We also undertake activities to publicizing and informing the society about problems that many Polish families struggle with.
How are these activities aimed at supporting the needy? What exactly do you do for them?
As I said, mainly we support them by providing legal advice and psychological assistance in solving problems, as well as indicating how to deal with difficult situations in life and ways out of violence. We also publicize some cases, in order to draw public attention to these problems. However, due to lack of funds, material aid to those in need is provided in a very limited way. We also provide training and briefings for various social groups that include professional help in domestic violence prevention.
Our activities, though, do not overlap the Public Service actions.
What does it mean “to help others wisely” and how, in your opinion, one can help wisely?
To help wisely, first of all you need a good knowledge about the phenomenas causing crises. You also need to be aware of existing possibilities and regulations that might be of help in solving one’s problem. In every such situation you should show possible way out, what his rights and chances in changing his/her life are. A single man has many ways to help others but also should have proper knowledge about a problem he wishes to solve. To put it colloquially, that person should not help a woman experiencing domestic violence, if he/she thinks that a wife should endure everything.
Recently, you have received an award for the Foundation’s activities , please tell me something more about this topic?
In September last year, in a small village near Parma, Italy during the World’s Day of Knight I was awarded a medal, diploma and a knight’s sword symbolizing my acceptance to the Order of Knights for my current charitable activities.
What makes the foundation “Razem Lepiej” different from others?
Despite a very modest funds we act extensively in entire Poland. Our activities are based mainly on voluntary acts of good will of people.

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