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First published in Polish by Karolina Suska

The CWL is an important place on the map of Lublin. It is a centre for the support, development and education of female social campaigners, leaders and activists. We talk to its founders, Gosia Kruszyńska and Paula Słomińska, who put their heart and soul into CWL's activities and make sure that every social campaigner / activist thinks/remembers (finally!) about herself. CWL teaches, transforms and inspires. Here is a conversation with women who inspire the change in a way of thinking and transform local community.

How did you come up with the idea of creating the Female Leaders Support Centre?

Gosia: The concept is a result of the experience of the dark side of being a pro-social activist. There are many challenges we face every day: lack of work-life balance, fatigue, perfectionism, and too much emotional involvement in the support offered. Attention to one's own sense of balance is fundamental to prevent activist burnout.

What is the role of the Centre? When was it established?

Gosia: The concept for the Centre was formulated in 2020, and in practice it came into being in 2021, after the National Freedom Institute awarded a grant to the Bona Fides Association for the Support of Activism. The first event that inaugurated the Centre was the 12th Forum of Active Women ‘Vigorous Activists or the art of being in well-being’. The conference was entirely dedicated to the issue of burnout among female activists. Key speakers included Katarzyna Miller, Poland's best-known psychologist, and Orina Krajewska, actress, co-founder and president of the Małgosia Braunek Be Foundation. 

Paula: The Women's Leadership Support Centre's mission is to promote women's work-life balance and well-being through development, social activism and the arts.

Who is the target group of your offer?

Paula: Our offer is addressed to all women working in the third sector, both in the structures of NGOs and informally, i.e. in civil society organisations. We welcome women who are presidents of large organisations, who work with NGOs, activists who carry out smaller initiatives, and volunteers.

Is it meant to develop and educate?

Paula: Yes, absolutely. When thinking about development, it is important for us to take a holistic approach, treating the person as a whole, composed of body, mind, emotions and soul. We design our services to address the needs and development of women on each of these levels.
Gosia: We listen to our participants and tailor what we offer to what they need. We also employ staff who are familiar with burnout, regardless of the particular issue supported. We believe in community and looking at various issues through different lenses.

To benefit from the Centre's support, do you have to be a leader?

Paula: In our opinion, a leader is any woman who takes action to benefit the society, even in the smallest way, to create a better reality for herself and her community.

Gosia: Because of the project criteria, at the time of enrolment, participants state the organisation/group they are part of and the area of activity.
 

What is the most popular offering among the beneficiaries of your activities?

Paula: Tutoring, i.e. support in creating individual development strategies, is very popular, and also workshops to improve leadership skills and tools to develop psycho-physical well-being and psychotherapy.

Gosia: I think that formats where we work on specific problems are often of benefit to our participants. I'm talking about making mistakes, feeling stressed, tired, not having enough time, disappointment, criticism and many other issues that bother us every day.

What makes the Women's Leadership Support Centre stand out on the map of your city?

Gosia: We take care of the well-being of those who take care of the well-being of others on a daily basis. It is also important that we provide specific tools to help them achieve a balance in their lives from a holistic perspective.

What can you learn by using the centre's services?

Paula: We offer a comprehensive package of support tailored to the needs of the women who come to us. We are currently running a project where women can benefit from: individual psychological/psychotherapeutic counselling, development workshops, and individual support from tutors and experts in areas where they feel they need to learn more. Soon we will be implementing a re-granting scheme, launching a platform for women activists and a resource base of well-being tools that will be available on our website at: 

www.centrumwsparcialiderek.pl.

What is in running the centre for you?

Gosia: Feeling that we're creating a good vibing place and providing a comfortable environment for sustainable development. It's rewarding and makes me believe that what we're doing matters to many women.

Paula: Feeling that we are helping women to spread their wings is the greatest joy for me. That's probably how I would sum up what we're doing. The centre's logo is telling. It presents women holding hands, supporting each other, in an energy of lightness and joy. In the background, not coincidentally, there is a circle symbolising wholeness. I am glad that through our activities we are able to increase the number of women who are simply fulfilled and happy human beings.

What are the plans that you have for the Centre in the near future?

Paula: By the end of 2024, we will have completed the project we have mentioned earlier. To continue our current activities, we will definitely apply for more grants. Our approach to running the centre continues to evolve. Our dream is to have a women's festival in the forest with valuable lectures, workshops and good music.

Gosia: We are always on the lookout for new tools and new ways of working within the centre. We want to build sustainable structures that will allow us to continue to work together.

Małgorzata Kruszyńska - Sociology and Cultural Studies graduate from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin. Coordinator and initiator of social activities. Vice-president of the Bona Fides Association for the Support of Activism and co-creator of the Female Leaders Support Centre. Currently, her professional interests focus on neuromeditation and horticultural therapy.

Paulina Słomińska - coordinator of educational and social projects, organiser of cultural events, social animateur, consultant in the development of local government strategy and trainer of psycho-social skills. Since 2010 her professional activities have focused mainly on developing, supporting and activating women. Co-founder of the Female Leaders Support Centre. She is fascinated by cymatics and by dance as an authentic form of expression. She leads sessions in movement meditation, body tension release and sound massage relaxation based on the Peter Hess® method.

Karolina Suska – sociologist, trainer, tutor, and director of cultural institutions. Graduate of the Jagiellonian University, PAFF School of Leaders and Academy of Cultural Leaders. Scholarship holder of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Author and animator of many socio-cultural projects. Rural activist fascinated by work for local communities, with particular emphasis on educational activities for women. Passionate about discovering the potential in people. Lover of dogs, travel and social photography.