In October, we announced the launch of our development and educational program, Women’s Bridges. The program is ongoing, and participants have already completed their first Retreat, which took place in the Ecological Folk University in Grzybów from March 3rd to March 6th, 2023.
During the Retreat, we had the opportunity to meet with Ewa and Peter Stratenwerth. First Ewa welcomed us, sharing her personal story and highlighting values such as sisterhood and the strength of women. Peter then gave us a tour of the farm, cheese dairy, and bakery, sharing the principles that guide their daily work in Grzybów. This was not the only study visit; we also visited the Zielona Rzodkiewka farm run by Agnieszka Makowska, where participants gained insights into the perspective of a female farmer in Community-Supported Agriculture.
The retreat program was intensive, covering a wide range of fascinating topics: agroecology and food sovereignty, short food supply chains, and edible cities. We thoroughly examined the food system from various angles, including human rights, women’s rights, the environment, climate, politics, and local engagement.
An important part of the retreat was a Design Thinking workshop and the initial collaborative work on local projects. During these sessions, we witnessed the remarkable diversity and talents of the women gathered in one place. We eagerly await the local projects that promise to flourish.
Throughout these four days, there was time for morning exercises, evening gatherings, and rejuvenating body-focused activities.
Now, our participants are looking ahead to regional meetings of the Flying School and working on local projects focused on food.
For those interested in our project, we invite you to follow us on Facebook at Women’s Bridges.
This project is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants as part of the Active Citizens – Regional Fund Program.